On Friday, December 6th, 2024, Christ Church Cathedral was transformed into a vibrant celebration of music as we marked 160 years of excellence and presented a spectacular concert featuring the talents of our amazing students and our acclaimed past pupils.
The evening opened with Grace Hanley (TY), whose serene performance of O Come, O Come Emmanuel set the perfect tone for the celebration.
The Senior Choir then took the stage with Benjamin Britten's A Ceremony of Carols that started with Wolcum Yole. They then performed Balulalow featuring Dublin-born soprano and a recipient of the prestigious Veronica Dunne Bursary Aimee Kearney. Finally they sang the energetic This Little Babe.
Mary Delaney addressed the evening gathering with a heartfelt tribute capturing the school’s rich history and enduring legacy. From the start, Mount Sackville excelled in fostering a sense of community and academic achievement. Early pupils often pursued religious life, professional careers, or family life, and the school's atmosphere was filled with care and nurturing—a tradition that continues to this day. She also announced the forthcoming publication of the history of Mount Sackville. This comprehensive book captures the stories, milestones, and cherished memories of our school community over the past 160 years. It will be available early in the spring and offers a wonderful opportunity to delve deeper into the rich legacy of Mount Sackville.
Marina Cassidy tenderlyremembered her years at Mount Sackville. Her musical talent was carefully nurtured by the late Sr. Eugene Mc Cabe (Harp) and Sr. Peter Cronin (Singing), who both shared their respective talents and teaching expertise so generously. While in Mount Sackville, Marina was a Feis Ceoil Gold medal winner for Harp & Voice, on two occasions and also a member of both Junior and Senior Feis Ceoil winning choirs. Her performance of Vincent Kennedy’s To You Alone and Brother Wind (Canticle of Creation) was spellbinding and truly showcased her mastery.
After that, the first-year student Ava Carberry delighted the audience with her rendition of Dream A Dream by James Shearman and Simon Greenway.
Dream a dream
And see through angel's eyes
A place where we can fly away
Ride with me upon a shining star,
Above the moonlit sky
Mr Adam Puszczewicz read the extract from The Obstinate Toy Soldiers by C.S Lewis - 'Did you ever think, when you were a child, what fun it would be if your toys could come to life? Well suppose you could really have brought them to life. Imagine turning a tin soldier into a real little man. It would involve turning the tin into flesh."
Nicole Blasco (6th Year) captured the audience with her beautiful performance of Once Upon A December by Liz Callaway.
Nora Ronan, a past pupil and accomplished pianist currently studying music at Trinity College Dublin, brought Ginastera’s Danza de la Moza Donosa to life with depth and artistry. Nora has been a student of Professor Réamonn Keary at the Royal Irish Academy of Music since early childhood, earning an Academy Scholarship for 11 consecutive years as well as successfully receiving her teaching diploma.
Isobel Ryan (3rd Year) followed with a heartfelt interpretation of the traditional carol What Child Is This?, adding an emotional touch to the programme.
The Orchestra, composed of Junior and Senior students and led by Ms Sarah Lane, brought energy and excitement with their renditions of Rossini’s Theme from William Tell Overture (arr. Tony Mason), Walking in the Air from The Snowman (Howard Blake, arr. Nicolas Hare), and Christmas Extravaganza (Traditional, arr. Tony Mason).
We were honoured with the presence of our distinguished guests - Bishop Paul Dempsey, Monsignor Dan O'Connor, Sisters of St Joseph of Cluny, past Principal Marian McCaughley, past Deputy Principal Deirdre Hickey as well as Principal Chris Kinder.
After the interval the Junior Choir brought a sense of festive joy with performances of Jesus Child (John Rutter), Night of Silence (Dan Kantor), and It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year (Pola & Wyle, arr. Carl Strommen).
Chloe Kearney (6th Year) charmed the audience with her playful delivery of Santa Baby by Javits, Springer, and Springer, adding a lighthearted moment to the evening.
Eunan McDonald then captured the magic of the season with his vivid reading of Clement Clarke Moore’s ’Twas the Night Before Christmas.
Soprano Aimee Kearney returned to perform Michael Head’s The Little Road to Bethlehem, bringing the piece to life with the depth and emotion. Aimee graduated from Mount Sackville in 2018 and is currently studying with the Dutch National Opera Academy in Amsterdam and The Hague. She is a recipient of The Excellence Scholarship for this masters, awarded by The Royal Conservatoire The Hague.
The evening continued with a stunning harp performance of Shule Aroon (trad., arr. Kim Robertson) by a 5th Year student, Beatrix Dolan, whose talent brought an ethereal quality to the concert.
The audience was awestruck by the past pupils duet of mezzo-soprano Sharon Carty and violinist Jane Hackett, performing Handel’s If God Be for Us from Messiah. Sharon Carty, of the Royal Irish Academy of Music and an internationally acclaimed opera singer and Jane Hackett, a versatile violinist and innovative artist, created a mesmerizing collaboration. Jane's solo performances have included appearances with the RTE Concert Orchestra, at the Carthage World Music Festival, the National Concert Hall and with chamber ensembles at festivals and venues such as Carnegie Hall, Kilkenny Arts Festival and Musikverein Vienna. Sharon premiered “Proserpine” by Silvia Colasanti, to critical acclaim, Dorabella with INO, and debuted with Blackwater Valley Opera Festival as Sesto in Handel’s Giulio Cesare under the baton of Nicholas McGegan.
A constant on the international stage, Virginia Kerr’s career started under the tutelage of Sr Peter Cronin at Mount Sackville Convent, who recognised her potential and gently guided her on the path of her chosen career. This career has taken her across the globe and includes celebrated performances in the world’s leading opera houses and concert halls including the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Rome Opera, Leipzig Opera to name but a few. Virginia Kerr performed He Shall Feed His Flock from Handel’s Messiah and captivated the audience with her exceptional artistry.
The Senior Choir returned with Bob Chilcott’s Fair and Bright. Virginia Kerr once more appeared on the stage and joined the Mount Sackville choirs for a breathtaking rendition of O Holy Night by Adolphe Adam, leaving the audience spellbound.
The evening concluded with a heartwarming congregational performance of O Come All Ye Faithful, bringing the Mount Sackville community together in celebration and signing.
A huge gratitude to Mrs Eileen Cuddihy-Higgins and Ms Noreen McGlinn for their continuous support. We have been honoured with the performances of our past pupils: Marina Cassidy, Sharon Carty, Jane Hackett, Virginia Kerr, Aimee Kearney and Nora Ronan. This unforgettable evening would not have been possible without the dedication of Ms Judith Gannon, Dr. Áine Mulvey, and Ms Sarah Lane, along with the Music Department teachers: Mr Adam Puszczewicz and Mr Eunan McDonald. A special thanks to our extraordinary talented students. Finally a word of appreciation and gratitude to all our guests - with your kind support we raised over €6000 for the work of the Sisters of St Joseph of Cluny.