On Saturday 21 February, the Great Hall at Stormont was filled to capacity for Sharing Songs, Unforgettable Voices, the culminating gala of a two year cross border collaboration between the dementia inclusive choirs of the Forget Me Nots in Baldoyle and the This Is Me Community Choir in Larne.
Every ticket was taken and every performance was met with attentive listening and generous applause. With dignitaries from across both jurisdictions representing politics, culture and civic society, the audience wholeheartedly enjoyed the depth of connection and skill and sentiment reflected in the evening’s performances.
Lambeg drums, bodhráns, fifes and whistles, alongside piano and guitar, augmented the choirs’ performances, creating a rich musical landscape that honoured traditions from across the island. Conor Shields, CAP’s CEO, performed a specially commissioned song reflecting the sensitive cross border engagement between the two dementia inclusive choirs. “It was an amazing evening of tenderness, joy and remarkable collaboration,” he said. “The choirs have developed such a personal and musical rapport over the years and I think the gala really showed that.”
The choirs also premiered a major new choral work by Norah Constance Walsh, commissioned through the project’s Creative Ireland – Shared Island funding, weaving together their shared two year journey, their music, and their friendship and commonality
Patricia Lavery, Head of Community Arts and Education at the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, described the gala as “a superbly successful evening showcasing artistic excellence and inclusive practice at its best.”
With performances of poetry and the premiere of a film documenting the project, the gala represented a triumphant celebration of a truly meaningful and inspiring cross border project.
