Over 1200 secondary school students are clearing their throats and tuning their instruments for a unique celebration of sacred music, live at the Helix in Dublin.
The Emmanuel project, run by the Archdiocese of Dublin, is a liturgical music programme through which the talents of young singers and musicians are helped, encouraged and trained – and used in their school Masses and prayer services.
The talents of the young people will be showcased in a concert in Dublin’s Helix centre (24th and 25th March) where they will take to the stage for two nights with a full orchestra. On the days of the Helix Concerts the young people gather at Clonliffe College in the morning for workshops and rehearsals and spend the afternoons at a dress rehearsal with the orchestra, culminating in the live evening performances in front of a packed audience.
The programme also includes a variety of styles and compositions including a specially commissioned piece for the Year of Evangelisation “Raise Your Voice”
Emmanual has been a great success in recent years, with thousands of students getting this opportunity to develop their musical talents and take their training back into the school setting. This year over 40 schools in the Archdiocese will be taking part.
The event is organised by the Dublin Diocesan Music Commission and with tremendous co-operation from religion and music teachers in the schools.
Diocesan Music Director, Fr. Pat O’ Donoghue said, “It’s just fantastic that a concert of spiritual music for schools can generate so much enthusiasm in young people – despite the cynicism often associated with the church today – the music, their talent and the excitement of the live concert in the Helix combines into something really special that I hope will stay with them for life,”
Tickets for the Helix concerts on the 24th and 25th March are already in demand and are available at www.thehelix.ie
