North Central College Women’s Chorale in Ireland
There were many highlights. Every concert was an amazing experience for the women because of the power of the music and the camaraderie within the ensemble. Our women felt very blessed to have the once-in-a-lifetime chance to sing as the Women’s Chorale in such historic and mostly, beautiful venues. Impromptu performances on the steps of O’Brien’s Tower at the Cliffs, at the top of Dun Aengus, in the Bunratty Castle, and on the ferry were also major highlights for the women. The Irish people are welcoming and love music, so we never felt it was inappropriate to sing spontaneously. In fact, we were often asked by a local to sing. Peter Byrne was a major highlight of the trip. His charm, personality, personal investment in our success, and his vast knowledge of Ireland made our experience so memorable. The beauty of Ireland as well as the cultural experiences we had with the friendly people, the music and the food, made this tour a remarkable experience we will always remember. Ireland is breathtaking, to be sure. I will definitely be back and am already looking for opportunities to conduct festivals, teach short-term at one of the universities, or do speaking engagements. There is much I have not seen of Ireland and I would love to return to see more of this country and learn more of its people and music. Dr. Ramona Wis North Central College Women’s Chorale Naperville, IL