Choral Singing is at the heart of wellbeing and holistic development at UCT. Every student from first to fourth year has one choral period on her timetable. Class groups come together to form a year group choir. Choirs are instructed in singing technique, breathing, aural work and performance. Each year group undertakes a choral examination through the Royal Irish Academy.
UCT’s Choral Society, The Cecilian Choir, was founded in 1990 and is drawn from the whole student body. It is comprised of approximately 120 members, singing in 3 parts. Membership is open to students from first to sixth year and the only requirement for membership is a love of singing. The choir sings at all school liturgies and functions, and at the school’s annual Carol Service and Musical Evening. Rehearsal takes place once a week for forty minutes. The choir’s repertoire includes Sacred Music, Pop, Musical Theatre Songs and Classical Music. The Cecilian Choir also undertakes an annual examination with the Royal Irish Academy of Music. The choir competes regularly at the Navan Choral Festival and at the Limerick Choral Festival, where we were awarded first place in the Equal Voice, Post Primary Schools’ Competition in 2017, 2018 and again in 2019.
The Ursuline Singers are a senior chamber ensemble for students who are interested in challenging vocal repertoire. The choir was formed in 2006. It is limited to 40 students, divided into four parts – Soprano I, Soprano II, Alto I and Alto II. The choir is open to students from Third Year to Sixth Year and is selected by audition. The Choir’s repertoire is predominantly A Capella and includes Jazz, Gospel, Classical, Traditional Irish, Latin American & Medieval Music. The choir has performed works by leading choral composers including Alberto Grau, Stephen Hatfield, Eriks Ešenvalds and Ireland’s foremost contemporary choral composer, Michael McGlynn.
The choir participates in all school events, religious services and masses, and performs at the school’s annual Musical Evening. The choir has competed with great success at Feis Ceoil, The Wesley College Music Festival, in RTE’s All Island School Choir Competition and at the prestigious Cork International Choral Festival, where, on three occasions since our formation, we have been awarded the John Cunningham Trophy and the title of School Choir of the Festival.
The choir also undertakes an annual examination with the Royal Irish Academy of Music. Since completing our first exam in 2013, the choir has consistently achieved a mark of distinction in its examinations. In recognition of these results, we have been invited on three occasions to perform at the Academy’s Gala Dublin Concert for High Achievers, which features top performers selected from all over the country.
Chamber Choir Alumni have progressed to sing with some of Ireland’s premier chamber choirs including Maynooth University Chamber Choir, Trinity Singers and UCD Choral Scholars.
