The Orchestra meets once a week on Friday at 11am, immediately after Assembly.  The members of the Orchestra range in ability from beginners to more experienced performers and rehearsals often take the form of instrument sectionals with our specialist String and Woodwind teachers.  Taking part in an ensemble is an invaluable way for music students to improve their listening and timing skills.  Every group has their chance to shine within the ensemble and every member works together as a team to create the overall sound.  The Orchestra currently consists of violins, harp, guitars, flutes, saxophones, recorders and percussion.  The Orchestra will soon have their first performance in Assembly and look forward to events at Christmas and competitions in the New Year.  New members are welcome to join at any point.  Please see Ms McKiernan for more details.
 

String & Woodwind Ensemble

I am delighted to announce that two new ensembles have been formed this year for more advanced String and Woodwind players.  Both ensembles meet once a week, at lunchtime, on Thursdays and are led by our String and Woodwind teachers.  Repertoire for the ensembles will be in numerous parts and pupils are offered the challenge of holding a line by themselves within the ensemble.  This is a great way for pupils to showcase their talents within a smaller group and develop the listening skills necessary for playing in a small ensemble.  Both groups are busy planning performances at Assemblies, Carol Service and other events in the lead up to Christmas.  Any pupil who attends lessons in voilin, flute, recorder, saxophone, harp or pupils who have experience playing any of these instruments in the Orchestra should speak to Ms McKiernan about joining up.
 

Parents and friends of pupils in Forms I to III were treated to a delightful concert on the Friday afternoon.  The lively programme featured choral, orchestral, solo instrumental and voice performances from all the classes and ranged from "Music from the Movies" to medleys of Beatles and Elvis classics to traditional Irish jigs, reels and hornpipes.  The rousing finale was a favourtie from the Muppets, "Life's a Happy Song!"

Many thanks to all the children for their hard work and enthusiasm and a special word of thanks to Ms McKiernan and the team of peripatetic music teachers for preparing the children so well, and for providing such a happy and stimulating musical environment throughout the School all year round.

Congatulations to Honor Brigg who came 4th the the vocal section and to Elliott Johns and Quincy Tilles who were both Highly Commended in the Piano competitions.

 

A big well done and congratulations to all who took part in the Wesley College Music Festival on Friday 2nd and Saturday 3rd March.  This year our School was represented by the Junior and Senior Choir, which competed in the Primary School Choirs category, and the Orchestra, which took part in the Primary Orchestra category.  Over 20 primary schools from around Dublin took part over the two days and I am delighted to say that Castle Park was on top form in both competitions.  Our Junior Choir were among the youngest competitors in a competition of a very high standard and they received great praise from the adjudicator, Blanaid Murphy, who said they were "very well prepared" and sang with "clear enjoyment" for their performance of Peter Jenkyns' The Wizard.  The Senior Choir who sang the Caribbean calypso Ophelia Letter Blow 'Way received praise for their "confidence" and for being "lively and rhythmically secure".  Our newly formed and ever-expanding School Orchestra finished the weekend on a high note with their film music medley of The Great Escape/The A Team.  The adjudicator, Jonathan Browner, commented on their "effective music making which really got going in the tutti section".  The weekend was a rewarding and enjoyable experience for all involved and I was very happy with the level of confidence and ease shown in the pupils' performances.

50th Anniversary album from The Chieftains, featuring the boys and girls from Castle Park - on release from February 21st

We have received the exciting news that The Chieftains' 50th anniversary album will be released on 21st February.  The album features the boys and girls from Form V and the Senior Choir singing the traditional irish song "Beidh Aonach Amarch".  On the album the song segues ino a beautiful rendition of a Ewan McColl song "School Days Over" performed by the American band The Low Anthem and The Chieftains.  We were absolutely delighted to take part in the recording last October and I am sure the pupils involved will be thrilled to hear themselves perform, and to watch the video footage that is being used to promote the album launch.  Many thanks and congratulations to all who were involved in this once in a lifetime experience!  
 

Well done to all the Prep pupils who took part in this year's Boughey Trophy competition.  This House competition took place in two parts - instrumental and choral.  

Congratulations to Timothy who is this year’s winner of the annual Johns Junior Singing Competition. Timothy gave a heartfelt performance of “My Favourite Things” from The Sound of Music at this year’s performance. The final took place during assembly on Friday 18^th November where 10 pupils sang their chosen song in front of an audience of the peers and teachers. Finalists this year were Grace, Ava, Angus, Ella, Timothy, Izabella, Josh, Imogen and Theo. Special mention goes to Josh who sang “Castle On A Cloud” and Theo who sang “I Wanna Be Like You”. Josh and Theo won 2^nd and 3^rd prize respectively. This year saw record numbers of Juniors taking part in the competition. Nearly 70 pupils worked hard over the last month preparing their songs for audition for the finals. Well done to all the boys and girls who tried out this year!

Senior Choir record CD for the Chieftains, 17th October

Members of the Senior Choir and pupils from Form V took part in a recording of the popular Irish folk song Beidh Aonach Amarach which will feature on an upcoming CD to be released by The Chieftains.