Local hitting the high notes!

Six students from across Northern Ireland, including two from Ballymoney and Dunloy, have been awarded a bursary from Belfast Harbour to take part in the Ulster Youth Choir's much sought-after summer residential courses, which will see them perform at concluding evening concerts led by Artistic Director, Dominic Peckham.

Jenni Barkley from Belfast Harbour with students Andrew Hutchinson and Bronagh McIlfatrick from Dunloy.

Every year Ulster Youth Choir visits post-primary schools and universities across Northern Ireland through an outreach programme supporting choral music for both young singers and music teachers.

Through this programme the most talented young singers are selected and offered places on summer residential courses, where members receive singing lessons, musicianship classes, sectional and tutti rehearsals and evening masterclasses with the courses culminating in two evening concerts.

The successful students include Andrew Hutchinson, from Ballymoney and Bronagh McIlfatrick from Dunloy as well as Thomas Parke, Emma McMullan, Frank McMullan and Ronan Burke.

Shane Farren, Manager of the Ulster Youth Choir, said the courses have a huge impact on the musical and educational development of choir members: “The support we receive from Belfast Harbour to deliver our bursary scheme is so important in enabling young people to access high quality music training which would have previously been out of reach.

“Many of our past students have achieved successful careers in music, with a number having received invitations from the BBC to participate in the Proms, while others have seen greatly improved academic results in their GCSEs, A-Levels and degrees in music.”

Well done Andrew and Bronagh!