10th June, 2022 - Concert with Festival Brass in Willowfield Parish Church, Belfast

9th June, 2022 - Presentation to Ballyclare Male Choir Charity

Ballyclare Male Choir very generously donated a spare keyboard to The Clare Chorale a few months ago and in lieu of payment it was decided that a donation would be made to Marie Curie, the nominated charity as chosen by the Ballyclare Male Choir Chairman, Mr. Barry McWilliams. Just before this evening’s practice Ronnie Lee from the male choir came to accept a cheque for £250 from Sheelagh Greer and John Weir. Ronnie was delighted to stay for the last choir practice of the season before the last concert of the season tomorrow evening at Willowfield Parish Church when the choir is the guest of Festival Brass.

28th May, 2022 - Ballyclare May Fair

It was the final day of the annual Ballyclare May Fair and the “Square” was bathed in sunshine as various performers took to the temporary stage at the top of the car park. A good crowd had gathered to enjoy the wide range of entertainment and family and friends of choir members came to support the choir as they took their turn on stage at 5:00pm. The audience enjoyed a number of the choir’s favourites as well as some new material that was introduced during Covid-19 lockdown. Some excellent feedback was received from many of those listening which made this new venture for the choir so worthwhile.

14th May, 2022 - 17th Annual Concert at the Theatre at the Mill.

17th Annual Concert

In early March 2020 the choir was looking forward to performing in its 17th annual concert in the Theatre at the Mill but with only a matter of eight weeks to go before that planned concert everyone’s world changed beyond recognition. Little did we know the impact that the coronavirus would have on all of our lives and no-one knew then that it would take two years to get back to some form of normality. It therefore came as a huge relief when lockdown eased and life slowly returned to something resembling what we had in early 2020. The green light was eventually given for singing and it was wonderful for the choir to be able to return to face-to-face and to perform once again in the Theatre at the Mill this evening, after an absence of 3 years.

The concert this evening was well attended by the choir’s many faithful supporters and they were entertained with wonderful renditions of many of the choir’s favourite songs including Caledonia, Danny Boy and Alexander’s Ragtime Band. A number of new pieces were introduced during lock-down when practices were only possible using the remote conferencing software Zoom - no-one had heard of it before lock-down! These included Que Sera Sera and Buttercup, and on Thursday evenings it was very strange to be practising alone at home with only a matrix of silent, but animated faces on a computer screen for company. Face-to-face practices only became possible in September 2021 as restrictions eased and it was then that the choir’s Director of Music, Sheelagh Greer, was able to polish everything to concert standard, assisted by the choir’s superb accompanist Darren Day. Darren himself featured in this evening’s concert singing his own composition, Mio Tesoro, supported by the choir.

The choir was joined on the night by the magnificent Festival Brass conducted by Alan Corry. Compere for the concert was advertised as Gerry Kelly but due to unforeseen personal circumstances he was unable to attend. The BBC’s Noel Thompson was able to stand-in at the eleventh hour and he was a thoroughly entertaining replacement.

Special guests of the choir were the Mayor and Mayoress of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Billy Webb MBE, JP and his wife Pat, Dr Michelle Rainey, Principal of Ballyclare High School and Choir President, Mr Richard Wallace and his wife Isabel. They are pictured above with Mr Alan Strong MBE, Choir Chairperson and Mr John Weir, Choir Treasurer.

Follow this link for more photographs of the evening - Annual Concert

28th April, 2022 - Presentation of Cheque to OG Cancer NI

It was a delight to welcome Helen Setterfield and Alyson Williams from OG Cancer NI to choir practice this evening to present them with a cheque for £2,878.

This money had been raised for this charity over the last 2 years, during the pandemic, when they and many other charities were struggling to raise much-needed funds. The presentation was particularly poignant coming so soon after the death only 2 weeks ago of our esteemed former President, Mr Leslie McAdoo M.B.E. Leslie had made use of their services during a previous cancer diagnosis, and this was a key reason for the choir’s choice of OGCNI as its nominated charity.

Helen and Alyson are pictured below with Sheelagh Greer, Alan Strong and John Weir.

12th April, 2022 - Tribute to Mr Leslie H. McAdoo M.B.E.

Mr Leslie H. McAdoo M.B.E.

It was with deep regret and sadness that choir members heard the sad news this morning of the passing of former choir president, Mr Leslie McAdoo, after a long illness. Leslie was president from 2016 until 2020, taking over the honorary role from Mr Cecil Millar who passed away only a few weeks ago. He had strong ties to The Clare Chorale with his son Michael and his daughter Susan, with her husband Robin, being well-established members and like them he was a former pupil of Ballyclare High School. Given these connections and his long-standing musical background with Ballyclare Male Choir he was an obvious choice for president when Cecil stepped down, and he was extremely pleased to accept the invitation to take on the role. Leslie was well known in choir circles having been a member of the bass section of the male choir since 1950. He took a keen interest in the progress of the then fledgling Old Ballyclarians’ Association Choir when it was formed in 2003 and he was very happy when his family joined its ranks a few years later. Together with his late wife Joan he attended many concerts and church services and thoroughly enjoyed the wide range of music that the choir sang. He was always supportive and generous with compliments to all members of the choir following such events and loved engaging with everyone at post-concert gatherings.

Leslie was a wonderful ambassador for charitable causes and in particular Macmillan Cancer Support and he was prolific in his fundraising for this charity over a period of many years. He was deservedly awarded the M.B.E. in the Queen’s New Year Honour List in 2010 for his services to charity during his tenure as Chairman of the Ballyclare Committee of Macmillan Cancer Support. This was the choir’s nominated charity in the 2016/2017 season and Leslie is pictured below receiving a cheque from the choir.

We as a choir family offer our sincere sympathy to members Michael, Susan and Robin on their loss and will continue to give them our support and comfort in the difficult weeks and months ahead. Leslie will be greatly missed by us all.

9th April, 2022 - Concert in Portstewart Presbyterian Church Hall

It has been just over two years since the choir’s last concert in the Great Hall in Stormont and members were delighted to at last be able to perform live in front of an audience once again as they travelled north for a concert in Portstewart. The choir committee had to be very innovative in finding a way to keep everyone singing and the now famous online Zoom virtual conferencing facility was put to good use throughout the pandemic. It was never an adequate replacement for physically practising together as a choir but it did enable everyone to learn some new music and when restrictions relaxed last September choir members were once again able to meet and practise in one location. An invitation was gratefully accepted to sing in a concert in Portstewart Presbyterian Church Hall, subject to any ongoing restrictions, and thankfully the choir was able to fulfil this engagement this evening.

The choir last sang in this venue in December 2018 and once again the hall was well filled with an expectant audience. A very warm welcome was extended to everyone by Rev. Stuart Morrow and the concert opened with one of the choir’s favourite show pieces, Alexander’s Ragtime Band, which was very well received and set the tone for the evening. Sheelagh took the opportunity to introduce a number of new pieces that the choir had learnt during the lockdown period and these included Que Sera Sera, Somewhere Out There and the very moving Like a River in My Soul which has been dedicated to the memory of a former choir member, Elaine Topping, who sadly passed away a few weeks ago. Brian Johnston, a very good friend of the choir, was again compere for the evening and the audience thoroughly enjoyed his hilarious stories and jokes.

Sincere thanks are due to everyone in the church who was involved in the organisation of this very successful concert and for the hospitality extended to the choir as members enjoyed a delicious supper at the end.

10th March, 2022 - Tribute to Elaine Topping

Elaine Topping

A Brief Reflection – Choir Practice on Thursday, 10 March 2022

We knew Elaine as a fine, committed and very valuable member of The Clare Chorale who had attended Choir just four weeks ago on Thursday, 17th February. She left early that evening and the following day became ill, suffering a severe stroke from which she never recovered. She died peacefully at hospital on Monday, 7th March after this very short illness. She was the dearly-loved wife of Ivan, much-loved mother of Claire and John, mother-in-law of Christina and loving grandmother of Katie and Penelope. 

Elaine was a popular school teacher for many years in Glengormley Primary School, and she sang in The Clare Chorale and formerly Kilbride Parish Church Choir. She was an avid gardener, loved reading, enjoyed a glass of wine and was renowned for her quick-witted humour. She will be dearly missed by her close friend and fellow-chorister, Kate Henry, as well as all of us.

The Choir has dedicated its musical piece ‘Like a River In My Soul’ as a tribute to Elaine – its opening and very appropriate line is, “I’ve got peace like a river, like a river, in my soul.”

A Service of Thanksgiving will be held in Kilbride Parish Church, Kilbride Road, Doagh on Monday, 14th March at 12.00 noon followed by interment in Rashee Cemetery.  

Let us offer our deepest sympathy to Ivan and remember Elaine with great fondness and through many memories by observing a Minute’s Silence.

Alan Strong  (Choir Chairman)

8th March, 2022 - Tribute to Mr. G.C.G. Millar

Mr G.C.G. Millar

It was with great sadness that the members of The Clare Chorale learnt of the death of former choir president, Mr G. Cecil G. Millar, on 1st March 2022. The Clare Chorale has its roots in Ballyclare High School where Mr Millar was principal from 1971 until 1990 and many members of the choir were pupils at the school during his time as principal. He was well known as a very firm, but fair man, who ran a tight ship and such was the respect that he was held in that even many years after leaving school former pupils always addressed him as Mr Millar, despite his invitation to just call him ‘Cecil.’ Somehow that never caught on! He was highly respected within the teaching profession and during his tenure as principal the school thrived and expanded, and gained a reputation for high academic achievement on a par with the top schools in Northern Ireland.

Cecil had a particular love of music and Gilbert and Sullivan operas were introduced to the school soon after he came to Ballyclare. In many cases participation in these operas was the first serious introduction to singing and acting for many pupils. Under the musical direction of Mr Roy McKay and Mr Ivor Stinson the operas became very popular and it was quite an accolade to be a member of an opera cast. Subsequent music teachers continued the tradition and the musical prowess of the school increased over the following years.

Cecil was a very accomplished musician in his own right and he particularly excelled at playing the organ. He wasn’t a regular church organist but if cover was needed he was frequently asked to play in his home church, Christ Church, in Ballynure. Indeed he made himself available on similar occasions in various other churches around the district.

When The Clare Chorale was formed in September 2003 Cecil was the natural choice for choir president and when approached by the choir committee he was delighted to take on the role. He regularly attended choir concerts and church services with his late wife Joan, and he enjoyed taking the ‘chair' to oversee the business of annual general meetings. He particularly enjoyed interacting with former pupils and teachers attending the choir’s annual concerts, many of whom would stop to say a brief ‘hello' or have a short conversation. When Cecil stepped down as president in 2016 his strong interest in the choir continued and on the rare occasions when he couldn’t attend a concert he would always send a generous donation, accompanied by words of encouragement and support. He took great pride in his connections with the choir and in all it has achieved.

Many choir members were able to attend Mr Millar’s funeral today in Christchurch, to pay their respects to his family, and to celebrate the life of a man who had such a strong and positive influence on so many people in the Ballyclare area and beyond. His presence in our choir family will be greatly missed but the legacy of his love of music will live on with us all.

21st November, 2020 - Presentation to Mr Leslie McAdoo

8th October, 2020 - Choir Practice ‘Zoom’ Style

Choir practices aren’t what they used to be and as the possibility of physically getting together to sing is as remote as ever the ‘Zoom’ technology is proving invaluable. More and more choir members are becoming very comfortable with the use of ‘Zoom’ and numbers joining this evening were the highest so far. It’s wonderful to see everyone on-line and to be able to have tuition from Sheelagh. Sessions are now held every Thursday evening just as they were in Ballyclare High School.

29th August, 2019 - Children’s Heartbeat Trust

The charity that The Clare Chorale will support for the 2019/2020 season has just been announced and it will be the Children’s Heartbeat Trust. This charity is based locally in Belfast and has been working since 1984 to provide practical, emotional and financial support to children and young people living with heart disease, as well as their families. The main fundraising event will be held next year in The Great Hall, Stormont on 28th February when the choir will be joined by the senior choir of Greenisland Primary School together with singers and musicians from Ballyclare High School. Everyone is looking forward to meeting the charity’s fundraising staff soon to hear more about the important work that the charity does.

Visit the charity’s website by following this link: Children’s Heartbeat Trust

30th June, 2019 - Sing Out

The Clare Chorale featured on John Anderson’s ‘Sing Out’ programme on BBC Radio Ulster on Sunday afternoon. The first piece in the programme is ‘Spiritual Jubilee’ which was recorded by John Anderson and Stephen Hamill on 25th April, 2015 at the choir’s annual concert in Ballyclare High School.

Follow this link to listen to the programme - ‘Sing Out’

Note this may be time limited.

6th June, 2019 - Choir AGM

The choir assembled in Ballyclare High School for the last time this season to hold its annual general meeting. The business of the evening included a presentation to the small group on the general committee that had organised the recent tour to Yorkshire. Dorothy Crampton, Kay Johnston and Gillian Logan were all thanked for the wonderful work they had done to ensure that everything went smoothly during the trip.

31st May - 3rd June, 2019 - Choir Tour to Yorkshire

The Clare Chorale has just returned from a very successful and an extremely enjoyable tour to Yorkshire. Based in North Bingley the choir was able to explore the wonderful scenery in the Yorkshire Dales and sang in Bradford cathedral on Saturday evening in a joint concert with Steeton Male Voice Choir. The Hope Chapel in Hebden Bridge was the venue for the second and final engagement of the tour before returning home on Monday evening. Look out for photographs of the tour on the gallery page in the next few days.

29th May, 2019 - Darren Day Recording of Mio Tesoro

Follow this link to hear Darren Day singing his own composition, Mio Tesoro, accompanied by The Clare Chorale at the choir’s annual concert last Saturday evening in the Theatre at the Mill.

Mio Tesoro by Darren Day

25th May, 2019 - Annual Concert in the Theatre at the Mill

The choir held its annual concert on Saturday evening in the Theatre at the Mill for the fourth consecutive year. The choir welcomed Conor Taggart and the Phat Katz as its musical guests for the evening and again the compére was the wonderful Gene Fitzpatrick whose special entertaining style is always appreciated. The choir has introduced a number of new pieces to its repertoire in the past year and performed a number of them for the first time during the concert. They, together with a number of old favourites, were enjoyed by a very appreciative audience. Conor Taggart and his band are well known across Ireland and their high energy mix of classics, funk, swing and jazz delighted the audience. In a first for the annual concert the choir’s acclaimed accompanist, Darren Day, took centre stage when he played, for the first time in public, a magical contemporary classical piece that he had recently composed called New Beginnings. His composition talents came to the fore again in the second half of the concert as he sang and played a wonderful piece entitled Mio Tesoro, with supporting vocals provided by the choir. Sheelagh Greer, the choir’s Director of Music, was delighted with the choir’s performance and congratulated everyone on their tremendous enthusiasm and energy which shone through throughout the evening.

2nd May, 2019 - Action Mental Health Charity Certificate

The Action Mental Health charity very kindly acknowledged the donation made by the choir in a letter and certificate which were received recently. The money was raised in a very successful concert held in the Great Hall of Parliament Building in Stormont on 22nd March.