Musical diocese knows the score

With music sessions night and day the Diocese of Kerry are revitalising liturgical music among people young and old.

A day long workshop, night sessions for those involved in adult choirs and special training for anyone interested in acting as cantors in church have been provided throughout the year.

Youth Music Ministry Workshops are being run to gather young musicians from throughout the diocese and “create and opportunity for prayer and song, and also facilitate the sharing of ideas and resources,” according Mary Fagan, the Diocese Director of Communications.

“It is hoped that the training and support will lead to more participation and more music in the Diocese of Kerry,” she added.

Workshop

The workshop has run for the last two years, and is facilitated by musician and conductor Derek Mahady from the Diocese of Elphin. This month 40 young people attended St Brendans College in Killarney. The event was broken in two parts in which people were given the chance to learn new songs as well as guitar, violin and other instruments, and ended with closing liturgy in the chapel.

Cantors are also catered for as several workshops during the course of the years focused on leading congregational singing, voice techniques and choosing appropriate music for congregation. Yesterday a workshop was held for more traditional parish choirs by the director of music at Cobh Cathedral in which singers were introduced to Ephrem Feeley’s hymn for the World meeting of Families 2018 ‘A Joy for all the Earth’.