Press

Evening Echo
11.12.06

Cork kids' chorus was big in Japan

By DAVID GILBERT

LORD MAYOR Cllr Michael Ahern hosted a reception for Cork Children's Chorus following their cultural and artistic tour to Japan.

The chorus attended the Third International Music Festival for Youth in Kagoshima last July. While on their 10-day tour, they performed for the Irish Ambassador at his residence in Tokyo and in addition, they toured South Japan and gave numerous performances as part of the festival.

Chorus director Sonya Keogh said: "The children experienced Japanese culture first-hand as they stayed with host families, benefited from rich and varied schools' programmes and enjoyed sightseeing excursions arranged by the cities visited."

One of the most memorable moments of the tour was when the children were greeted to their first city by 20 Samurai on Harley Davidson motorbikes.

The tour was developed in partnership with EU-Japan Fest and Cork Opera Works, who previously worked together to bring Japan's children's jazz orchestra Little Cherries Tamae to Cork last year when the city was Europe's Capital of Culture.

The Cork Children's Chorus consists of more than 100 children ranging in ages from 10 to 17 from all over the city and county.

Evening Echo
01.06.06

Concert helps kids get to Japan

FUND-RAISING for the Cork Children's Chorus trip to Japan in July is reaching its final stages following a gala concert held in City Hall last night, which brought the group's tally so far to €300,000.

The chorus will travel to Kagoshima in Japan to take part in the third International Music Festival For Youth, as part of EU-Japan Friendship Week.

Some 68 children will travel at a total cost of €328,000.

Last night's concert acted as a major rehearsal for the children, who were joined on stage by vocal group Seraphim, pianist Ciara Moroney and vocalist and Cork Opera Works director Sonya Keogh.

"It was a good rehearsal for them. The idea was that they wouldn't go to Japan worried about their performance," said Ms Keogh.

Once in Japan, the chorus, which comprises 10 to 16 year olds, will experience Japanese culture firsthand.

Efforts to raise the final €28,000 needed for the trip, will continue with a jazz night at Cyprus Avenue on Monday night.

96FM
31.05.06

Concert Publicity

Irish Examiner
30.05.06

City Hall to rock for fundraiser

CITY HALL is set to soar tomorrow night as three groups come together to raise funds for a children's choir to travel to Japan - and it is all the brainchild of singer Karen Underwood, a parent of one of the singers in the choir, who will also perform on the night.

Underwood has persuaded her fellow band members to join swing band The Roaring Forties and The Flying Monkeys on stage to help raise the €90,000 needed to send Cork's Children's Chorus (CC) on a concert tour to Japan.

The Children's Chorus perform tomorrow at 8pm. Tickets: €25 and €20. Followed by Cartoon, The Roaring Forties and The Flying Monkeys, at 10.30pm. Tickets: €20. A ticket for both concerts available for €30 at (021) 432 1785.

Evening Echo
29.05.06

Cork singers to tour Japan

Young music ambassadors forge links

Louise Geaney

AROUND 70 young singers from Cork city and county will have a once-in-a-life-time opportunity in July when they travel to Japan to perform in concert.

The Cork Children's Chorus, whose members are aged between ten and 17, will perform three concerts in south Japan as part of an ongoing cultural, artistic and social exchange programme.

The cultural exchange arose last year as part of the Cork 2005 celebrations, when representatives of the EU-Japan Fest first made contact with Cork Opera Works.

The Cork Children's Chorus hosted the Japanese Junior Jazz Band, Little Cherries Tamae, in October.

Next month the hospitality will be reciprocated when Cork Children's Chorus will
tour Kyushu and will perform in the International Music Festival for Youth, while staying in traditional host family accommodation.

The young ambassadors will be accompanied by 20 young artists, including Seraphim, an eight-voice female chamber ensemble; Sonya Keogh, mezzo soprano; Ciara Moroney, piano; and John O'Brien, conductor.

"We're very excited about the tour and the children are really looking forward to it now," said director of Cork Children's Chorus, Allin Gray.

"It really is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for these children to travel to a country like Japan and see how things are done there.

"It's a fantastic chance for them and they will be treated very well over there by their Japanese hosts."

While in Japan, the members of Cork Children's Chorus will experience Japanese culture first-hand when they attend school, rehearse, socialise, and perform with Little Cherries Tamae in the Third International Music Festival For Youth as part of EU-Japan Friendship Week.

As well as participating in the music festival, the young travellers will also get an opportunity to tour the region, as well as exploring the city of Tokyo.

"It's a very safe place to visit and the children will see just how disciplined the Japanese system is in comparison to the Irish system," added Mr Gray.

"While in Japan, the troupe will perform, in concert, a true celebration of our Irish heritage, identity and culture."

As a non-profit cultural integration programme, the Cork Children's Chorus promotes an equality of access to artistic opportunities among communities throughout Cork county.

Its status has grown steadily over the last 12 months.

Thus us due in particular to its involvement in both the official opening and closing ceremonies of Cork 2005: European Capital of Culture, and their Irish television debut in Carols From Cork 2005.

"We recruit kids from a wide variety of backgrounds, and from every walk of life in Cork," explained Mr Gray.

"We don't require that they have any training as such but what we look for is that they can mix well as part of a large group.

"It's about the group, as opposed to the individual."

The programme was developed by Cork Opera Works and is supported by Cork City Council, Cork County Council, RAPID, Culture Ireland, EU-Japan Fest and the Arts Council.

Fundraising for the Japanese trip began last year and will culminate in a gala night in Cork City this Wednesday.

On that night, the Cork Children's Chorus will accompany Seraphim, Sonya Keogh, Ciara Moroney and John O'Brien on stage at City Hall where they will perform their programme line-up for Japan.

Joining in the double bill celebrations will be Madrigal '75, Four Star Trio, The Fuchsia Band and Crawford Piano Trio.

The Roaring Forties, Flying Monkeys and Cartoon will take to the stage later that evening.

Tickets for the gala evening cost €20 and are available from Pro Musica, Oliver Plunkett Street. Ring (021) 4271659 for more details.

Lyric FM
26.05.06

Concert Publicity

Evening Echo
25.05.06

Lord Mayor's Weekly Schedule

[...]

WED., MAY 31

RECEIVE 28 students, aged 14, involved in a European project from College Saint Felix, Brittany, for courtesy visit to the Lord Mayor's Chamber.

Receive Branch Committee of SIPTU's Cork No. 8 Health Branch for courtesy visit to the Lord Mayor's Chamber.

Attend Cork Children's Chorus and Friends in concert, in association with Cork Opera Works, at the Concert Hall.

[...]

Evening Echo
23.05.06

County News

This coming July, Cork Children's Chorus will become an artistic and cultural ambassador for Ireland when it travels to Japan as part of an ongoing cultural, artistic and social exchange programme.

70 young members of the chorus, aged between 10 and 17 years and hailing from all over Cork city and county, will visit Tokyo, tour South Japan, perform three concerts, and stay in traditional host family accommodation.

They will be accompanied by twenty young artists, including Seraphim (an eight-voice female chamber ensemble), Sonya Keogh (mezzo soprano), Ciara Moroney (piano), and John O'Brien (conductor).

While in Japan, the Opera Works troupe will perform in concert a true celebration of our Irish heritage, identity and culture.

As part of the fundraising drive, Opera Works presents a Double Bill of Entertainment on Wednesday, 31 May 2006 at City Hall, Cork.

At 8 p.m. Cork Children's Chorus, Seraphim, Sonya Keogh (mezzo soprano), Ciara Moroney (piano), and John O'Brien (conductor) will perform their concert programme for Japan. They will be joined on stage by Madrigal '75, Four Star Trio, The Fuchsia Band, and Crawford Piano Trio.

At 10.30 p.m. Roaring Forties, Flying Monkeys and Cartoon will take the stage and rock City Hall into the early hours.

This evening is sponsored by Barry's Tea and supported by Cork City Council.

Tickets for both events cost €20 and are available from Pro Musica, Oliver
Plunkett Street, Cork on 021 4271659. All proceeds from these events will go
to support Cork Children's Chorus - Japan 2006.

96 FM
22.05.06

Munster Rugby Shirt Auction.
Concert and Exchange Publicity

Kiss
05.06

Real Girl - "Don't call me an opera snob!"

Gillian Fenton Leigh's love of opera has lead her to appear on TV, record a CD and possibly travel to Japan this summer to perform at the International Youth Music Festival.

"My love of classical music began at a really young age. I think it came from my dancing; I've been doing ballet since I was three. I'm still dancing now, it keeps me fit and helps me move gracefully on stage.

When I was nine I joined the choir in the Cork School of Music and for the past two years I've been part of the Cork Children's Chorus, based in the company, The Cork Opera Works. Our choir sometimes performs in The Cork Opera House. Last year, for example, we performed Hansel and Gretel for the House's 150th Birthday.

It was amazing because we had the chance to work with professionals. The main parts were given to opera singers from around the globe including Sonya Keogh, an opera singer, who is our voice trainer at the Cork Children's Chorus. I was an angel in it and because of my dance background, I was also given a small dance part.

Last Christmas we did Carols from Cork 2005 with RTE in the Cork's North Cathedral, which was aired on Christmas Eve. That was brilliant because we had the chance to play with the flutist Sir James Galway and we also met G4 and President Mary McAleese. We also performed at the Civic Opening of Cork last January where we performed The Red Sun, a 35-minute long musical drama, which I had the main part in. A lot of hard work went into it, but I loved every minute and ambassadors from all over Europe attended.

I think there are a lot of misconceptions about opera. A lot of people think that it's really heavy but a lot of the singing we do is light. I mean, Hansel and Gretel, which is a children's opera, would be considered a light opera.

Another thing that some people may think is that you have to sing in German, French or Italian, but at the moment we're actually singing in Irish and when we did Hansel and Gretel it was translated from German to English for us.

Some people may also consider opera snobbish but it's not at all. In fact, the aim of the Cork Children's Chorus is to get children who wouldn't usually get the opportunity to sing opera - I suppose you would say the people from 'disadvantaged areas' all around Cork City and county - involved, so it's definitely not snobby.

You don't have to be a classical music fanatic to get involved either. A lot of people in the choir wouldn't listen to classical music, but when it comes to performing and singing it, they all enjoy it. The Cork Opera Works give us voice-training as well, but you don't need a big operatic voice because we're in such a large group. It's really just about learning the songs. We don't enter competitions either; we're more into performing and we're not put against each other in the choir either as we sing as a group. In that sense, I'd really recommend it for anyone who's shy, as you've got support there.

For me personally, opera helps me get my mind off things, like when you're on stage and performing, you've got to concentrate on that alone, so you don't think about school work or whatever. It also does the world of good for your confidence and because you spend so much time together rehearsing you make friends too. I've made quite a few lifelong friends from it.

I just really enjoy it and it's given me some really fantastic opportunities. For instance, last year the famous composer CSL Parker wrote a composition of music for the choir. He came over and spent a term with us and asked us to write stories about music and also about water, the sea and ships because Cork has a harbour. He actually used lines and words from our stories and last October we spent two days recording the CD, Ships and Waltzes.

It looks like we'll be going to Japan in July to perform at the International Youth Music Festival. It would mean performing in various places for over a week and staying with host families, which would be brilliant. We still have a lot of fund-raising to do but it's looking good. And this Easter I'm also going to London with a friend to do a Performing Arts Course at the Lane Theatre School. At the moment I don't know if I'll end up doing performing arts professionally, but I do love it and it'll always be a part of my life anyway."

For more info on the Cork Opera Works log on to www.operaworks.ie

Douglas Weekly
24.03.06

Pupils, Principal, Past Pupils and Parents snapped in Regina Mundi College last week celebrating Seachtain na Gaeilge

Seachtain na Gaeilge 2006 was celebrated in style in Regina Mundi College. Students and teachers alike made every effort to converse "as Gaeilge" throughout the week.

Many activities were organised including a "trath na gceist boird" (table quiz) and the staging of some "dramai as Gaeilge" (drama productions). The week's activities
culminated in a ceili which doubled as a fundraiser for the Cork Children's Chorus.

Cork Children's Chorus is a chorus of more than 100 children aged between 10 and 17 years from Cork city and county. Since its establishment in 2004, the members of the chorus have represented Cork in many civic events, staged productions and national and international broadcasts.

In June 2006 Cork Children Chorus will become ambassadors for Ireland when they tour Japan as part of a cultural, artistic and social exchange programme.

As a number of students of Regina Mundi College are members of Cork Children's Chorus the school was delighted to have the opportunity to co-ordinate such an enjoyable fundraising event.

"Go n-eiri go geal leo sa tSeapain"

Evening Echo
15.03.06

Yes, working women really can have it all

Today's woman can succeed in the workplace and also be a good mother, insists TAMARA O'CONNELL, who meets a Cork mum who is a shining example

YOUNG girls today are told that they can be anything they want when they grow up; a doctor, an accountant, a scientist or even an astronaut!

Having a career, or at least a job and the regular income that goes with it, gives women great independence and freedom.

Unlike previous generations, we don't have to rely on men to provide us with food, clothes, a car or even a house.

But, while women don't necessarily need a man for economic survival, most do want one for emotional support. Women want to have a career, but they also dream of finding a good man to share their lives with. Many also want to have children.

Without a doubt, we can succeed in the workplace and we can also be good mothers. But the real question is can we do both at the same time?

Sonya Keogh is an opera singer and co-founder of Cork Opera Works, a professional company set up in 1994. She also manages the Cork Children's Chorus, a group of more than 100 children aged between 10 and 17.

On top of her busy workload, Sonya has four children of her own; Sam, aged 11, Sophie, aged 4, Arthur aged 3, and Oscar who is a year old.

While Sonya admits that working and raising four children can be difficult at times, she believes that she has managed to achieve the perfect work-life balance.

"My work and my children are both extremely important to me. When I first got pregnant, I did worry about what it would mean for my career as an opera singer," said Sonya.

"But when Sam arrived, I just thought the whole experience of labour, birth and having a new baby was fantastic. I immediately decided I wanted to have a large family."

But, how does Sonya manage to have time for both her work and her children?

"When I started having babies with my husband, Alan, we sat down together to discuss what we would do. I wanted us to have a clear parenting plan. We decided that we would both mind the children together. I'm not a feminist but I am an egalitarian. We have one household and two people working in a team towards what's best for that household."

Sonya acknowledges that she and Alan are lucky because not many people are able to divide their time in this way.

"We've both worked very hard over the years and because we have our own business, we are now in a position to do this."

For most women the idea of juggling a career and motherhood is daunting as both require lots of time and energy.

If you do become pregnant, you will have to make several decisions regarding your job and your baby.

Should you continue to work full-time? Some women want to and some have to because they can't afford to quit.

But, if you continue to work, who will mind the baby? Should you put it in childcare or perhaps get a nanny? Apart from that, if you continue to work a 39-hour week, you may feel upset or guilty because you are not spending enough time with your child.

Many women enjoy their work. They find it fulfilling and stimulating and would hate to give it up.

For some, the ideal solution is to work part-time. They can keep doing what they love and still have regular adult conversations, but they can also devote enough time to their child, without having to feel like they are missing out on something.

However, working part-time is not without its flaws. Many work environments are not that flexible. While jot sharing is becoming more common, it is certainly not the norm. So, you might have to quit your job and try to find something part-time elsewhere.

If you are lucky enough to hold onto the same job, but on a part-time basis, it is unlikely that you will get promoted. You simply won't be able to put in the hours that are necessary to climb the career ladder.

Also, because childcare is so expensive these days, many women feel that if they work part-time, it is simply to pay the child-minder. So why bother working at all?
Faced with this kind of situation, some women decide to put their career on hold for the first few years of their child's life, But, this too can prove problematic because once you are out of the game, it can be very difficult to get back into it, at least at the same level anyway.

Women today have to make many decisions because we have a lot of choices.

It may seem inevitable that no matter what you choose, whether it be family-life or your work-life or both, that sacrifices will have to be made and that some aspect will have to suffer so that another can flourish. But, women like Sonya who have achieved a happy balance between family and work-life show that not only is it possible for women to have it all, men can have it all too!

My Highlights [of Cork 2005] were...

Name: Sonya Keogh.

Occupation: Mezzo Soprano and Director of Cork Opera Works.

Favourite place in Cork? The Cork Opera House stage.

Favourite Corkman? I have met and worked with so many fantastic Corkmen over the course of the year that to choose a favourite would be all wrong!

Favourite Corkwoman? I know a lot of formidable Corkwomen.

Best music event of Cork 2005? The Ulster Orchestra in City Hall during the summer, performing a Pirates Story for children and adults alike. "Well, shiver me timbers, I just loved it!

Best theatre event? Hansel and Gretel, which marked the 150th Birthday of Cork Opera House in May 2005. Its memory will stay with me for my lifetime.

Best visual arts event? The Awakening Ceremony. Walking home through the crowded streets I was in love with Cork and my Corkness. I was at home.

Best street event? Still the Awakening Ceremony.

What aspect of Cork 2005 did you most enjoy? Cork people obsessing about culture!