Dawn Chorus

Sing at sunrise on the waterfront?

The Association of Irish Choirs and Active Retirement Ireland would like to invite you to take part in The Dawn Chorus as part of the Bealtaine festival 2010.
 We are inviting choirs through Ireland to open their doors to Active Retirement groups, to develop a short concert together and sing on a scenic waterfront in your county at dawn on Sunday May 30th 2010.

Getting involved is simple.
 
Choirs: contact the Association of Irish Choirs or your local Active Retirement Ireland group if you’re interested in participating.

All you need to do is

• Invite older people to sing with your choir
• Develop a programme to sing at dawn.

We ask that you work together for a minimum of four sessions, and work toward a performance of about 15 minutes in duration. We realise it’s a busy time, with competitions and summer concerts on the horizon, but for just four weeks why not invite singers to join you for an hour to work on your Dawn Chorus. If you normally rehearse from 7.30 – 9.30, run your Dawn Chorus rehearsal from 7-8, then continue with your normal rehearsal from 8-10. No time is lost, and yet so much can be gained.
 
Active Retirement Ireland members: make contact with choirs in your local area that may be interested in participating. We hope to be able to help in matching choirs to ARI groups. Get in touch, go along to rehearsals, pick a waterfront, and sing at dawn.

If you’d like to talk about this call Dominic Campbell at Bealtaine on 01 805 7709.

ABOUT THE ORGANISATIONS
The Association of Irish Choirs (Cumann Náisiúnta na gCór) is the national resource organisation for choral music in Ireland, supporting and promoting excellence in choral music in Ireland. AOIC provides information and advice and presenting a range of programmes and activities designed to respond to the needs of members, the wider choral community and the public.
Association of Irish Choirs – Enhancing life through choral music.
T: 061 234823
E: info@cnc.ie

 
Active Retirement Ireland is a national umbrella group of over 480 local Active Retirement Associations involving a membership approaching 22000 older people in a countrywide active retirement movement. The movement’s principal aim is to help retired men and women, usually over the age of 50, to lead a full, happy and healthy retirement by offering organised opportunities for a wide range of activities. The movement is nationwide, non-political and non-sectarian with a membership of men and women drawn from many occupations and all walks of life.
Active Retirement Ireland, Shamrock Chambers, 1-2 Eustace Street, Dublin 2,
T: 01 679 2142
E: fara@eircom.net
W: www.fara.ie
 
Bealtaine is the nationwide celebration of creativity in older age that takes place every May. The first festival of its type anywhere in the world it is an initiative of Age & Opportunity the Irish national organisation promoting greater participation by older people. 2009’s festival featured 2000 events attended by 57,000 people created in partnership with over 400 organisations ranging from libraries and arts organisations to active retirement groups, care settings, and individuals.
Age & Opportunity, Marino Institute of Education, Griffith Avenue, Dublin 9.
T: 01 805 7709
E: Bealtaine@ageandopportunity.ie
W: www.bealtaine.com