Pat O’Reilly’s upcoming talk on the 6th December, John McCormack Sings Songs of Poets and Composers, offers a captivating journey through the life and legacy of Ireland’s most celebrated tenor. Blending rich historical detail with engaging anecdote, Pat will explore McCormack’s remarkable recordings, extensive travels, celebrated concert career, and the critical acclaim that followed him around the world.
The talk will be beautifully illustrated with music drawn from a wide range of composers associated with McCormack’s repertoire, including Donizetti, Mozart, Elgar, Mascagni, Bizet, Schubert, Victor Herbert, and even the timeless words of Shakespeare. Together, story and song will be a celebration of both the man and the music that made John McCormack a legend.
The talk will take place in Buswells Hotel and will commence at the usual time of 11am. All are welcome to attend, with a charge of €5 to cover the venue and the tea/coffee that will be made available.
We’re delighted to welcome back Gordon Ledbetter for our November talk. Gordon outlines below what attendees can expect.
Humour in the history of sound recording, looks at humour in its widest sense and how it has reflected society’s tastes and mores. It is not true to say Caruso in the early 1900s made the gramophone. He certainly spread its popularity and following his phenomenal success with recording, so-called ‘serious singers’ who had disdained the invention as a scientific novelty followed him into the recording studios. But for a decade, in the 1890s, what held sway were the likes of so-called Coon Songs, sung by both blacks and whites – white Americans were not slow in capitalising on black music – that sold in large numbers on phonograph cylinders. The talk features a clip from the very first Minstrel Show to be captured on celluloid with excellent sound synchronisation. In a white cast, two ‘burnt cork’ characters with black wigs act the eejit as expected of white audiences of the day. Sound recordings as well as anything else point up societal prejudices and inconsistency. George Formby with window cleaning patter and double entendre was banned from the BBC (until it was pointed out that the Royal Family were staunch fans). That did not prevent the Black & White Minstrel Show becoming for a decade one of the most popular BBC productions ever.
Who among the great historical composers has left us witty, humorous music? Nearly all of them did. I have room for only a few: Mozart (the most impish of all – ask his wife); Offenbach: the dauntingly difficult Doll Song sung by the delightful Patricia Janeckowa; Donizetti of course, who could resist Doctore Dulcamara arriving in town with his quack medicine. Ambrosio Maaestri looks and sings the part to perfection.
And I have an excerpt from the very first comic opera I ever saw as a child with a clip of the very same bass. It was an enchanting, never to be forgotten experience. The opera, would you believe, was banned twice tho’ not in Dublin. Can you guess which opera it was and where banned?
Perhaps the singer who best personifies good humour was Gracie Fields, who I saw at her very last appearance in England. Her friend Luisa Tetrazzini wanted her to enter the world of opera and her warbling in this song fully justifies Tets view of her talents; but Variety was where Gracie’s temperament lay. Here she is singing in 1932 ‘I’m looking on the bright side.’ Heavens, do we need such heart warming sentiments today….
Our November talk takes place in Buswells Hotel on the 8th November at 11am. We look forward to welcoming members of the Society. Non-members are also welcome to join us.
What a wonderful night was had at the Royal Irish Academy of Music where our bursary recipients delivered memorable performances of pieces by Mozart, Beethoven, Handel, our own Michael William Balfe, and many others.
We were delighted that members of the McCormack family were able to join us and take part in the concert, with David McCormack being our MC on the night, and his aunt, Tish Tinney presenting the prizes. As always, Niall Kinsella, the much in demand accompanist and conductor, played a blinder.
Below is a selection of photographs from the night.
Tish Tinney with Cliodhna Regan
l-r: Cliodhna Regan, Sinéad Cosgrove, David Conroy, Nicholas O’Neill, Tish Tinney
Tish Tinney presenting bursary to Cliodhna Regan with Sinéad Cosgrove looking on
Pianist and conductor Niall Kinsella has established himself as one of Ireland’s most exciting, versatile and sought-after musicians. He has been described as “a meticulous collaborator” (BBC Music Magazine) and “a first-class calling card as a knowledgeable and profound song accompanist” (Merker, Austria). He has performed as a song-accompanist extensively across Europe, in Austria, France, Spain, Hungary, Czech-Republic, Italy and United Kingdom, in venues such as Wiener Musikverein, Wiener Konzerthaus, Mozarthaus Wien, The Liszt Academy, Budapest, St Martin-in-the-Fields, London, and National Concert Hall, Dublin.
As a conductor, he was appointed as RTÉ Conductor-in-Training 2014-15 and has conducted several major choral works including Handel Messiah, Mozart C Minor Mass, Haydn Stabat Mater, Duruflé Reqiuem, Orff Carmina Burana. Niall made his debut conducting the RTÉ Concert Orchestra in September 2023 in a sold-out concert of Rodgers & Hammerstein, which was also broadcast on RTÉ lyric fm.
Niall’s debut CD John F. Larchet: Complete Songs & Airs was released internationally on Champs Hill Records (UK) in 2020 and was described as “a long overdue recording given John F. Larchet’s remarkable contribution to musical life in Ireland” (John Bowman, RTÉ Radio One) and that “it is hard to imagine [Larchet’s] complete vocal output being given a better representation than it receives here” (Journal of Music). His second CD, Schubert’s Women, for Austrian label Gramola Klassik was released in 2021, with critics praising the “polished music-making of fine repertoire” (BBC Music Magazine) and remarking that “Kinsella’s perspective is so fresh and fruitful” (The Whole Note, Canada). Niall is Artistic Director of Irish Songmakers, and has also curated a recital series at St Martin-in-the-Fields, London.
Niall studied at the Royal Irish Academy of Music, Dublin, furthering his postgraduate studies in lieder accompaniment and chamber music at the University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna, with Professor Barbara Moser. He completed his studies in Lieder accompaniment at the Franz-Schubert-Institut, in Baden-be-Wien, Austria, and at the International Summer Academy of the Mozarteum University, Salzburg.
Join us at the Vernon Studio, RIAM on Saturday the 10th October to see Niall Kinsella perform piano accompaniment for our four bursary award recipients. FREE ADMISSION.
Nick O’Neill, 21, is a young baritone from Dublin who is studying singing, most recently with the late Mary Brennan.
He is this year’s winner of the Baritone Solo competition in the Feis Ceoil, where he has received numerous awards and silverware over the years, including runner-up in the John McCormack Cup (2024); winner of the Paul Deegan cup (2023); and the Junior Vocal Recital (2022), after which he was invited to perform at the Feis Ceoil Young Platform Series. He also received the Rose Bowl award in 2018, having won the Reverend Ambrose C. Benson Memorial Cup.
He is a seasoned performer, singing in various operatic productions through the years. He has toured Ireland with INO’s production of Mozart’s Die Zauberflote (2019), and has also performed abroad with companies such as the Yorke Trust, playing the title role in Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors, and featuring in Britten’s The Tempest and Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice.
Aside from his solo performing, Nick has been singing in choirs since the age of 5, progressing with Dublin Choral Foundation. Currently he holds a choral scholarship with the Trinity College Dublin Chapel Choir, where he has been both librarian and secretary. In 2024, he was selected to participate in Sestina Music’s Next Generation mentorship program, culminating in the performance ‘In Praise of St. Cecilia’, singing Baroque choral works across the country. Other choral performances include singing with Lassus, Peregryne, and regular performances with the choirs of St. Patrick’s and Christchurch Cathedrals.
Nick is also an accomplished cellist and pianist, having studied for many years in the TU Dublin Conservatoire, winning awards for both along the way. He is currently in his final year of a Pure Mathematics degree at Trinity College Dublin.
Book your tickets for the Bursary Concert taking place on the 11th October 2025 here.
Sinéad Cosgrove is from Dunleer, Co.Louth. She started singing lessons when she was 8 with Geraldine McGee in Dundalk and then in 2017 studied under Ronnie Dunne until her passing.
She currently works full time in Finance and is a part time student under Imelda Drumm. She has sung in choirs from when she was young, but after she finished secondary school she sang in Cór Fingal under Eoin Conway, the Irish Youth Choir under Bernie Sherlock and now she sings in Lassus Scholars under Ite O’Donovan.
She went to Rome with Lassus Scholars this year and sang in many Basilicas including Papal Basilica of St. Peter in the Vatican. She has sung many solos as part of Lassus as well as the Irish Youth Choir including when they were invited to the Youth Choral Festival in Switzerland.
Last year was her first time competing in the Soprano solo Feis competition for which she received a Commended and which was surpassed this year by a 2nd place medal competing in the Margaret Burke Sheridan Cup.
Book your tickets for the Bursary Concert taking place on the 11th October 2025 here.
David Conroy is a young Irish bass with a powerful, resonant voice and a compelling stage presence. He initially trained in drama, earning a BA in Drama Performance from the DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama, where he was introduced to operatic singing by Dr. Robert Alderson. After a period working in Canada, he returned to Ireland and established himself as a freelance media producer while completing an MA in Broadcast Production at IADT.
In 2022, David resumed his vocal studies under the esteemed Professor Mary Brennan of the Royal Irish Academy of Music, training with her until her passing in January 2025. He now continues his development with Dr. Gavan Ring, focusing on refining his vocal technique and deepening his artistry as a low bass.
David has performed with the Irish National Opera as a chorus member in William Tell and with Lyric Opera Productions. He also appeared in Lurline with Heritage Productions and the National Symphony Orchestra (2024) and made his solo concert debut alongside Patrick Hyland and Ava Dodd in December 2024.
A 2nd prizewinner in the John McCormack Competition at the Feis Ceoil and a 1st prizewinner in the bass solo category, he continues to establish himself as a rising talent in the operatic world.
Book your tickets for the Bursary Concert taking place on the 11th October 2025 here.
Clíodhna Regan is a 22 year old soprano from Co. Meath. She has just completed her undergraduate degree in Music Performance in TU Dublin Conservatoire, under the tutelage of Mairead Buicke and Aoife O’Sullivan. She is a multi prize winner at Feis Ceoil and TU Dublin conservatoire, and was most recently awarded a bursary at the Derry Feis and first prize in the Soprano solo at the 2025 Feis Ceoil.
In 2025 Clíodhna made two operatic role debuts with Opera in the Open, in the role of Frasquita (Bizet Carmen) and Despina (Mozart Cosi Fan Tutte). Performing the role of Frasquita again with Loughcrew Estate Opera 2025. She also performed the Soprano Solo in Handel’s Messiah with TU Dublin Choral Society in Dublin and Armagh. As a chorus member, she has performed in the Blackwater Valley Opera Festival 2023 and 2022. Future engagements include ‘Yet Another Lunchtime at the Opera’ in November 2025 for Sheldon Nulty Music in the National Concert Hall.
Book your tickets for the Bursary Concert taking place on the 11th October 2025 here.
Come join us for a night of musical talent at the Royal Irish Academy of Music. Witness the next generation of performers showcase their wonderful talents. It’s a night filled with performances of opera, classical repertoire, ballads, beautiful melodies and a guest performer. Don’t miss out on this special event celebrating the legacy of John McCormack!
David Clarke returns once more to deliver what promises to be another unforgettable journey through the world of singing.
Claudio Muzio performs ‘O mio babbino caro’
“Music to Inspire and Soothe” celebrates the timeless power of the human voice through performances by some of the world’s most cherished singers. From the golden warmth of John McCormack and the haunting beauty of Renata Tebaldi and Magda Olivero, to the passionate artistry of Gigli, Muzio, and Anna Moffo, the program highlights the emotional depth and variety of operatic expression. Legendary voices such as Feodor Chaliapin, Renata Scotto, Mario Del Monaco, and Alfredo Kraus stand alongside the lyrical charm of Nelson Eddy, Vincent Sardinero, and Joseph Schmidt, while the brilliance of modern stars like Jonathan Tetelman and Juan Diego Flórez shows how this tradition continues to thrive. Together, these artists offer a journey through music that uplifts, comforts, and inspires.
The talk will be held on the 13th September at 11am in Buswells Hotel, Molesworth Street, Dublin. We look forward to welcoming Society members and newcomers.
John McCormack being interviewed on a trans-atlantic liner about his new film ‘Song O’ My Heart’
1. Autumn Talks
The dates for our talks are as follows:
Date
Time
Presenter
Title
13th September
11am
David Clarke
Music to Inspire and Soothe
8th November
11am
Gordon Ledbetter
Humour in the History of Sound Recording
6th December
11am
Pat O’Reilly
John McCormack sings songs of Poets and Composers
As you’ll have noticed, we’re only hosting three talks this autumn as our Annual Bursary Concert takes place on the 11th October.
The venue for our talks continues to be Buswells Hotel.
An admittance charge of €5 will continue to cover venue hire and refreshments.
2. Bursary Concert
This year’s concert will return to the Royal Irish Academy of Music (Westland Row, Dublin 2). It will be held in the Vernon Studio this year. The venue has a capacity of 120. We will make a limited number of tickets available to the public through Eventbrite.
Doors will open at 6.00pm on Saturday the 11th October and the concert will commence at 6.30pm. Further details on award recipients will be shared closer to the event.
Niall Kinsella has been booked once more to provide the piano accompaniment.
All our members are welcome to attend this free concert and to bring one guest. We would appreciate if you would let us know by Friday 3rd October if you will attend and if bringing a guest. RSVP – contact@johnmccormacksociety.ie
If you wish to bring an extra guest/guests then please check with us after this date when any spare seats will be allocated on a first come basis.
The final talk of our Spring season takes place on Saturday 10th May in Buswells Hotel, Dublin, from 11am onwards. Arrive early for some tea/coffee and conversation.
David Clarke
This recital is being delivered by David Clarke, our Vice-Chairperson. It promises to be a captivating journey through the vocal treasures of Russia, the former Soviet Union, and Eastern Europe. Spanning from the 1890s to today, the program presents rare and beloved arias and romanzes interpreted by legendary singers whose artistry defined generations.
Voices featured include:
Feodor Chaliapin, Leonid Sobinov, Gohar Gasparyan, Irina Arkhipova, Georgi Nelepp, Ivan Migai, Antonia Nezhanova, Sergei Lemeshev, Ivan Kozlovsky, Pabel Lisitsian, Virginia Zeani, and Nicolare Herlea.
The not very Eastern European singer, John McCormack, will makes an appearance too, singing in Russian repertoire, including moving interpretations of romances by Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky, illustrating the wide reach and enduring power of these composers and the Irish tenor’s versatility.
From the soul-stirring gravitas of Chaliapin to the lyric elegance of Kozlovsky and Lemeshev, this playlist brings together voices and compositions that defined an era — celebrating over a century of emotive, passionate singing.
Our next talk on the 12th of April will be delivered by Gordon Ledbetter, the award winning broadcaster and author of two critically acclaimed biographies on John McCormack. The talk will commence at 11am.
His talk ‘Then and Now‘ refers to the period of singers captured by the talking machine from roughly the end of the nineteenth century up to the present day. It will explore how singing has changed, in some respects quite radically, over the years as the history of sound recording amply demonstrates.
The talk looks to present reasons as to why this is the case. Gordon has always had a predilection for the singers recorded in the era of the acoustic gramophone. The illustrated examples point up what we may have lost in regard to the earliest singers and perhaps more recent singers show that there have been gains too.
Gordon Ledbetter, broadcaster and author of two John McCormack biographies
Our next talk takes place on 8 March in Buswells Hotel. Tom Faulkner’s talk on Schubert will explore the composer’s rich and diverse musical output, featuring a selection of his most captivating compositions.
The presentation will include an Impromptu and Marche Militaire for piano, showcasing his lyrical and expressive keyboard writing. Listeners will also experience an excerpt from Mass in E-flat Major, D. 950 and a stirring choral setting of Psalm 23, highlighting Schubert’s deep sense of harmony and sacred music.
Familiar songs, along with pieces from his celebrated song cycles Winterreise and Schwanengesang, will further illustrate his mastery of lieder, blending poignant poetry with evocative melodies. This talk promises an insightful journey into Schubert’s genius, offering a deeper appreciation of his timeless works.
The talk will commence at 11am and all are welcome.
The legendary Vladimir Horowitz performs this beautiful Schubert piece at the age of 84.
We’re delighted to announce our series of talks for the spring. Martin Dwan’s talk took place last weekend and was blessed with a great turn out. We look forwarded to welcoming new faces and old to the rest of the talks which will be held in our traditional venue, Buswells Hotel.
Date
Time
Presenter
Title
8th February
11am
Martin Dwan
The Inspired and Admired
8th March
11am
Tom Faulkner
Schubert: An Overview
12th April
11am
Gordon Ledbetter
Then and Now
10th May
11am
David Clarke
From Behind the Iron Curtain
John McCormack sings Schubert’s Ave Maria with Fritz Kreisler on violin and Vincent O’Brien on piano.
This recording of Adeste Fideles was made in 1915. It features the Canadian tenor Harry McDonough, the American baritone, Reinald Werrenrath, and the bass, Irish American William F. Hooley.
Although John McCormack made a technically superior recording of Adeste Fideles in 1926 as a result of the arrival of electrical recording our preference is the 1915 version. McCormack was at the height of his vocal powers, and the accompanying singers excel in their supporting roles. The recording stands as a testament to the golden age of vocal recording and for many years was a cherished part of the holiday music tradition.
Happy Christmas to all of our Society members, and to visitors to our website. We hope you enjoy John McCormack’s Adeste Fideles.
Were have the pleasure of welcoming Martin Dwan to deliver our next talk on Saturday 7th December in Buswells Hotel at the usual time of 11am. Martin is the producer/director of the critically acclaimed documentary The Peoples’ Tenor on John McCormack. Tea and coffee will be available and all are welcome.
Martin’s talk will look at some of the artists that inspired John McCormack and others that that he worked with and admired. Artists such as Enrico Caruso, Fritz Kreisler, Mattia Battistini, Amelia Galli-Curci and Claudia Muzio will feature. The talk will open with a rarely seen clip from his 2006 Gala Tribute Concert to John McCormack at the National Concert Hall. It promises to be a lovely tour of the greats from the Golden Era of voices and musicians.
Our next talk takes place on Saturday 9th November at 11am in Buswells Hotel. We are thrilled to welcome Gordon Ledbetter, award winning broadcaster and two-time biographer of John McCormack. Gordon’s talk will focus on the question – what is the essence of singing? He’ll take attendees on a journey through the history of singing to explore some of the many styles of singing that emerged during the 20th century and how opera singers have changed in their approach during the era of recorded sound.
We’re delighted to welcome the return of our Vice-Chairman, David Clarke, for another one of his excellent talks that feature recordings from the wellknown to the obscure. A few new gems are always unearthed.
David Clarke
Although the title suggests the selection of music with be focused on the Irish tenor, this is not so. David’s talk will also include pieces by contemporary artists of John’s, and artists that were great admirers of his and who enjoyed successful careers of their own.
Some of the singers that will feature include Claudia Muzio, Paul Robeson, Richard Tauber, Luigi Alva, Canon Sydney McEwan, Nelson Eddy, Beniamino Gigli and more.
Our latest talk takes place on Saturday 12th October at the usual venue, Buswells Hotel, Dublin. Kick off will be at 11am and all are welcome to join us. Tea, coffee and biscuits will be available as usual.
Eddie Dalton, a committe member of the Society, will give the first talk of our new season on the 14th September in Buswells Hotel. It starts at the usual time of 11am. Tea & Coffee will be provided.
Eddie was a longtime member of the choral group, The Tipp Singers, that was led by Betty Lynch. He also performed with the Cashel Choir and was the regular soloist for its performance of ‘Panis Angelicus’. His talk will be a mixture of reminisces about John McCormack recordings he heard on the radio growing up and their impact on him. Eddie will also intersperse some personal performances of songs that are close to his heart. It promises to be a unique journey down memory lane.
Let’s not forget our President, Gordon Ledbetter, who was master of ceremonies. He shared some fascinating anecdotes and insights related to John McCormack which added greatly to the evening. Gordon is a two time biographer of John McCormack and a talk he delivered at the RIAM a few years ago is well worth checking out. Here.
We also wish to thank our Society members who sponsored the three Bursaries.
Kevin Dwan
Marie O’Halloran
Eamon Duffy
L-r Niall Kinsella, Eva Kavanagh, Emma Power, Donncha McDonagh and Seán Tester
John McCormack was born on this day in 1884. His lyric tenor voice, characterised by warmth, purity, and impeccable diction was combined with a technical precision and emotional expressiveness that made him one of the most compelling artists of the 20th century.
John’s English language recording of Handel’s ‘Care selve’ from Atalanta (‘Come my Beloved’) showcases these qualities, qualities that would see him being widely regarded as one the 20th century’s finest exponents of the composer’s music.
Seán Tester – Recipient of the BVOF | RIAM John Pollard Bursary
A tenor from Drogheda, Co. Louth, Seán studied Drama, Dance and Singing at the Drogheda School of Performing Arts and has a strong background in choral singing as a dedicated member of St. Peter’s Male Voice Choir, Drogheda.
In recent years, Seán’s vocal interest turned to opera and classical singing which led to his completion of the Recital Artist Diploma at RIAM. In the world of opera, Seán has been engaged by the Irish National Opera Chorus for INO’s productions of Rossini’s ‘Guillaume Tell’, Gounod’s ‘Faust’ and Puccini’s ‘La Bohème’.
Seán has also made his tenor soloist debut in Handel’s ‘Messiah’. Seán immensely enjoyed his time as a participant in “Celebrating the Voice” with international star mezzo-sopranos Tara Erraught and Angela Brower. 2023 saw Seán as a recipient of the BVOF|RIAM John Pollard Bursary; seeing him continue his studies with principal voice teacher Owen Gilhooly-Miles and coach Dearbhla Collins on the Masters in Music Performance (Vocal Studies) at RIAM.
More recently, Seán made his tenor soloist debut in Orff’s ‘Carmina Burana’, Beethoven’s ‘Choral Fantasia’, D’Astorga’s ‘Stabat Mater’ and Haydn’s ‘Die sieben letzten Worte des Erlösers am Kreuz’. Seán made his international role debut in Switzerland where he performed the role of “Rodolphe” in a production of Rossini’s ‘Guillaume Tell’ at Nouvel Opèra Fribourg/Neue Oper Freiburg. Seán made his North American singing debut representing RIAM performing at the 33rd Ireland Funds Emerald Isle Ball in The Breakers Palm Beach, Florida.
Join us at the Whyte Recital Hall on Saturday the 15th June to see Seán Tester perform along with our bursary award recipients. FREE ADMISSION.
Pianist and conductor Niall Kinsella has established himself as one of Ireland’s most exciting, versatile and sought-after musicians. He has been described as “a meticulous collaborator” (BBC Music Magazine) and “a first-class calling card as a knowledgeable and profound song accompanist” (Merker, Austria). He has performed as a song-accompanist extensively across Europe, in Austria, France, Spain, Hungary, Czech-Republic, Italy and United Kingdom, in venues such as Wiener Musikverein, Wiener Konzerthaus, Mozarthaus Wien, The Liszt Academy, Budapest, St Martin-in-the-Fields, London, and National Concert Hall, Dublin.
As a conductor, he was appointed as RTÉ Conductor-in-Training 2014-15 and has conducted several major choral works including Handel Messiah, Mozart C Minor Mass, Haydn Stabat Mater, Duruflé Reqiuem, Orff Carmina Burana. Niall made his debut conducting the RTÉ Concert Orchestra in September 2023 in a sold-out concert of Rodgers & Hammerstein, which was also broadcast on RTÉ lyric fm.
Niall’s debut CD John F. Larchet: Complete Songs & Airs was released internationally on Champs Hill Records (UK) in 2020 and was described as “a long overdue recording given John F. Larchet’s remarkable contribution to musical life in Ireland” (John Bowman, RTÉ Radio One) and that “it is hard to imagine [Larchet’s] complete vocal output being given a better representation than it receives here” (Journal of Music). His second CD, Schubert’s Women, for Austrian label Gramola Klassik was released in 2021, with critics praising the “polished music-making of fine repertoire” (BBC Music Magazine) and remarking that “Kinsella’s perspective is so fresh and fruitful” (The Whole Note, Canada). Niall is Artistic Director of Irish Songmakers, and has also curated a recital series at St Martin-in-the-Fields, London.
Niall studied at the Royal Irish Academy of Music, Dublin, furthering his postgraduate studies in lieder accompaniment and chamber music at the University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna, with Professor Barbara Moser. He completed his studies in Lieder accompaniment at the Franz-Schubert-Institut, in Baden-be-Wien, Austria, and at the International Summer Academy of the Mozarteum University, Salzburg.
Join us at the Whyte Recital Hall on Saturday the 15th June to see Niall Kinsella perform piano accompaniment for our other bursary award recipients and guest singer. FREE ADMISSION.
Donncha McDonagh is a baritone and choral conductor from Dublin. He began full-time studies at the Royal Irish Academy of Music in 2023 with Dr Imelda Drumm, having grown up singing in Piccolo Lasso children’s choir under Dr Ite O’Donovan.
Donncha has sung with ensembles including Sestina in Belfast and the Charles Wood Singers in Armagh, and sings regularly with the cathedral choirs at Christ Church and St. Patrick’s in Dublin. He was a member of the inaugural Chamber Choir Ireland Studio in 2023-24 and will be a member of the Sixteen’s young artists programme, Genesis Sixteen, in 2024-25. In March 2024 Donncha was awarded the John McCormack Cup and the James Cuthbert Cup at the Feis Ceoil.
Donncha has been Conductor of Trinity College Dublin Chapel Choir since 2022, directing the choir at twice weekly services in Trinity Chapel, and on tour in the cathedrals of Monaco, Nice and Antwerp. In May 2024 he conducted the choir in a televised service on RTÉ One. Donncha was recently elected conductor of the Trinity Singers.
Join us at the Whyte Recital Hall on Saturday the 15th June to see Donncha McDonagh perform along with our other bursary award recipients. FREE ADMISSION.
Emma Power is a mezzo-soprano hailing from Waterford. They have recently completed the Masters of Music Performance Program at the Royal Irish Academy of Music, studying with Dr Imelda Drumm and Dr Dearbhla Collins.
Emma received their BMus from MTU Cork in 2014 where they studied with Mary MacSweeney and Alan Cutts. Emma has worked as a soloist and ensemble member with Cork Operatic Society, Cór Cois Abhain, Comhar, Once Off Productions, Tonnta Music, Lassus, RIAM Opera and most recently the NSO.
They are a recipient of the Mezzo Solo cup, The Margaret Burke-Sheridan cup, the Mrs P.J Geoghegan Memorial Cup, The Lieder Prize and the Mahler Prize at the Feis Ceoil. Emma was featured in both the Irish Salon Opera recital and the Wilde in Music recital at the Blackwater Valley Opera Festival recital series in June. Other upcoming performances include a concert performance of William Wallace’s uncovered opera, Lurline, at the NCH this July 26th.
Join us at the Whyte Recital Hall on Saturday the 15th June to see Emma Power perform along with our other bursary award recipients. FREE ADMISSION.
At just 20 years old, Eva Kavanagh has already gained a significant number of achievements. Beginning with accolades like the RIAM High Achiever Award in 2024 and the title of ‘Carlow College of Music Student of the Year 2022’, Eva’s talent has shone brightly from the start of her vocal studies. Eva is currently studying vocal performance on the BMus at RIAM, under the tutelage of Kathleen Tynan and Dearbhla Collins. She was delighted to be awarded the Most Promising Performer at the 2023 RIAM Irene Sandford Award for Singers.
Eva has graced stages across Ireland, from performing as a special guest with The Celtic Tenors in April of 2023 to performing as a soloist at the St. Columbanus Festival in Bangor Abbey, Co. Down. Eva’s prowess as a vocalist has been recognised with wins at prestigious competitions like Feis Ceoil Dublin (Junior Vocal Recital, The Young Cup, Plunkett Greene Cup, Thomas Moore Cup, Marchant Cup), Feis Maitiu, Feis Sligigh, along with notable placements in others. Eva was a finalist in Feis Ceoil’s Gervase Elwes competition this year. Eva was one of the finalists in this year’s Trench Award at the Birr Festival of Music. Eva was awarded the Canto Al Serchio Award.
Upon earning a scholarship in 2023 for the Daniel Ferro Program in Tuscany, Italy, Eva was enabled to have masterclasses with industry luminaries like Ira Siff (Metropolitan Opera, New York) and Mark Watson. Eva has been invited back to study at the Daniel Ferro Vocal Porgram on partial scholarship this summer for their 30th Anniversary.
Other performance highlights include the Feis Ceoil Prizewinners Concert at the National Concert Hall 2023 and the role of Sadie Dowling in the world premier of Stephen McNeff’s Spirits Unsurrendered at Kilmainham Gaol in November 2023 for RIAM Opera.
Join us at the Whyte Recital Hall on Saturday the 15th June to see Eva Kavanagh perform along with our other bursary award recipients. FREE ADMISSION.
Come join us for a night of musical talent at the Royal Irish Academy of Music. Witness the next generation of performers showcase their wonderful talents. It’s a night filled with performances of opera, classical repertoire, ballads, beautiful melodies and a guest performer. Don’t miss out on this special event celebrating the legacy of John McCormack!
During last year’s concert 19 year-old Ruby Boland delivered a stunning performance of Vivaldi’s ‘Sposa son disprezzata’. She was accompanied by Dearbhla Brosnan.
On Saturday 11 May, the John McCormack Society’s guest speaker in Buswell’s Hotel at 11.00 a.m. is Jeremy Meehan from Cork. Jeremy, in collaboration with the legendary Ward Marston, was instrumental in delivering the digital restoration and resissuing of John McCormack’s Odeon, Electrical and radio broadcast recordings.
“I’m delighted to be asked to present a programme for the Society. I’ve called my talk ‘A Miscellany of Curiosities’. I’ve tried to pick a wide range of pieces that each have some quirky aspect to them, and I hope there will be something for everyone.”
One piece, that will be familiar to any lover of opera, is the aria “Pour mon âme, quel destin!” from Donizetti’s La Figlia del Reggimento, with its spectacular High Cs, sung here by the tenor Juan Diego Florez.
Our next in-person talk will be held in Buswells Hotel, Dublin, on the 13th of April. It will start at 11am and all are welcome. This talk was planned for November 2023 but had to be postponed so we’re delighted that we’ve been able to reschedule it. It will offer a unique perspective on McCormack and his recording legacy.
David Kelly’s talk ‘John McCormack – Connections and Associations’ will explore the recordings the Irish tenor made of material from Tin Pan Alley and their later associations with some of the biggest crooners that followed, such as Frank Sinatra and Perry Como. It promises to be a fascinating look at this popular song form.
Here’s John McCormack’s recording of Irving Berlin’s ‘All Alone’. The song would go on to be recorded by many artists.
Frank Sinatra recorded ‘All Alone’ in 1962. It is a very different interpretation to the recording made by John McCormack.
Yesterday’s talk, Singers of a Bygone Era, at Buswells Hotel was a delight. One stand out recording, among many, was the glorious performance of the Italian baritone Apollo Granforte. Check out his Largo al factotum from Rossini’s Barbiere di Siviglia. Thrilling!
Our next talk takes place on Saturday the 9th of March in Buswells Hotel, Dublin. It commences at 11am and all are welcome.
David Clarke will take us on a journey that will span a diverse range of singers from the 1910’s to the 1930’s. A total of 16 recordings will be played that will feature artists such as Rosa Ponselle, Emmy Destinn, Claudia Muzio, Enrico Caruso, Feodor Chaliapin, Giovanni Martinelli, and Tito Schipa. Three of the recordings will also be by our own John McCormack. But you won’t be hearing his version of Macushla. The honour on the day will be bestowed on Heddle Nash. A prominent English tenor, he happened to share a birthday with John McCormack, though ten years younger than the Irish tenor.
One of the McCormack recordings to be played on the day is his interpretation of Tu Che a Dio Spiegasti L’ali (You who spread your wings to God) from Gaetano Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor. Here’s the recording to give you a taster of what to expect.
The Society’s next talk – Shared Memories and Recollections – will be presented by John O’Carroll, and will take place in Buswells Hotel, Dublin on the 10th February at 11am. All are welcome.
The talk will explore the theme of shared memories of John MacCormack, revealing our childhood & family experiences of the singer. What do people remember? What stories do they have to share?
This will be a forum for collective audience participation and will be accompanied by a presentation that is illustrated with some favourite images, clips & songs.
With Christmas upon us, we have to share John McCormack’s 1926 recording of Adeste Fideles. In the choir is a young Richard Crooks who went on to have a distinguished career as a lead tenor at the Metropolitan Opera. This is the second recording of the song that John recorded. An earlier version was made in 1915 during the acoustic era.
John McCormack recorded Silent Night in October 1940 at Abbey Road Studios. Although his voice is far from its peak, there is no diminution in John’s ability to communicate the words of a song. Arguably, this aspect of his art grew as he aged.
Happy Christmas to all our members and to all who love the music of John McCormack. We look forward to sharing a lot more stories and recordings in 2024.
Our next talk takes place this coming Saturday 9th of December at 11am in Buswells Hotel. It’s not really a talk, as we will be screening John McCormack’s film ‘Song O’ My Heart’ which he made for Fox Pictures in 1930. There will be a brief introduction before the screening.
John was paid the princely sum of €500,000 for his starring role, underling the global fame and popularity of the Irish tenor. The film features the only recorded footage of McCormack performing on the concert stage.
The following clip is of McCormack performing the 18th century French love, Plaisir d’amour.
John McCormack and his accompanist, Teddy Schneider
Our next in-person talk will be held in Buswells Hotel, Dublin, on the 11th of November. It will start at 11am and all are welcome.
David Kelly will deliver his talk ‘John McCormack – Connections and Associations’ that will explore the recordings the Irish tenor made of material from Tin Pan Alley and their later associations with some of the biggest crooners that followed, such as Frank Sinatra and Perry Como. It promises to be a fascinating look at this popular song form.
Here’s John McCormack’s recording of Irving Berlin’s ‘All Alone’. The song would go on to be recorded by many artists.
Frank Sinatra recorded ‘All Alone’ in 1962. It is a very different interpretation of the song to that of McCormack’s.
Ruby Boland is from Clane in Co. Kildare. The 19 year old is a student at Newbridge Vocal Academy where she studies classical singing, repertoire and performance under the tutelage of Owen C. Lynch.
Recent successes for Ruby include 1st place in the Senior Soprano Solo, and 1st place in the Margaret Burke Sheridan award at Dublin Feis Ceoil 2023. She also came 1st in the U14, U16, U18 and the Junior Recital at the Dublin Feis Ceoil over the years. Recent solo engagements include a concert in the National Concert Hall’s John Field Room, performances with the Owen C. Lynch Vocal Ensemble and Orchestra, The Baldonnel Singers and the St. Cecilia Singers, Dublin.
Ruby Boland performing in the Oak Room, Mansion House, Dublin. She’s accompanied by Dearbhla Brosnan
Boyu Liu performs Mozart’s Non più andrai from The Marriage of Figaro
Boyu Liu from Heilongjiang (China) developed a love of classical music at an early age and started singing lessons when he was sixteen years old. He won many prizes at high school and at Harbin University. Boyu won the Vincent O’Brien Cup during the 2023 Feis Ceoil.
Join us on Saturday the 14th of October in Buswells Hotel, Molesworth Street. Talk commences at 11am. All are welcome.
David Clarke returns to deliver another one of his superb talks. On this occasion he’s going to look at the careers of the tenor, Joseph Schmidt, and the soprano, Margaret Burke Sheridan. Through film and recordings he will share some insights into the lives these two exceptional singers and their music legacies.
Aimee Kearney performs Schubert’s ‘Ganymed’ with accompaniment by Dearbhla Brosnan
Aimee Kearney is a light operatic soprano currently studying vocal performance on the professional mentorship scheme with Virginia Kerr and Andrew Synnott at the Royal Irish Academy of Music, Dublin. In addition to her performances as a classical soloist, she sings chamber music, opera and choral music.
Aimee has starred as ‘Dominic the prince’ in the Irish premiere of Elisabeth Maconchy’s opera The Sofa. She performed as ‘Suor Genovieffa’ in Puccini’s Suor Angelica with Berlin Opera Academy in summer 2022. Aimee looks forward to making her Lyric Opera debut as ‘Sandman’ in Humperdinck’s Hänsel und Gretel in October 2023.
Aimee is a frequent competition winner and finalist. Aimee was awarded the Irish Prize in the international Charles Wood Song Competition final in March 2023. She was awarded the Audience Prize in the Dean and Chadlington song competition, 2023. She was the winner of the Irene Sandford Award for singers 2021 and winner of the aria prize in the same competition. She was a finalist in the Ashburnham Song Competition and the Maura Dowdall Concerto Competition this year. She is a multiple prize winner in Dublin’s prestigious Feis Ceoil, including the Plunkett Greene, The German Government Cup and the Young Cup.
Aimee has performed in many concerts and recitals including multiple solo recitals in the Charles Wood Festival of Music. Aimee performed a solo recital in the Killaloe Chamber Music Festival in June as the chosen Young Artist performer. She has been guest soloist with The Army Band, Nas na Rí Singers, The Plurabelle Singers and The Revenue Choir, and has performed in venues such as the National Concert Hall, Mansion House, Christ Church Cathedral, St. Patricks Cathedral and The RDS.
Aimee has won many prestigious bursaries and grants, including The South Dublin County Council Individual Artist Award and, most recently, The John McCormack Society Vocal Bursary.
We had a wonderful turnout at the Mansion House, Dublin for our annual Bursary Awards Concert. Held in the Oak Room, we were delighted to hear the recipients, Aimee Kearney, Ruby Boland and Boyu Liu perform a selection of songs from their popular and classical repertoire. A filmed performance by each of the singers will be published over the coming weeks. The singers were accompanied by Dearbhla Brosnan, the well known and highly regarded pianist.
Boyu Liu, Ruth Boland, Aimee Kearney and Patrick Hyland
We had a special guest on the night, a first for the John McCormack Society. Patrick Hyland, the multi-award winning tenor has performed in a wide variety of operatic roles and has given concert recitals extensively at home and abroad. Patrick delivered a tour de force, performing some of McCormack’s signature songs. He also delivered a thrilling ‘Ah, mes amis’ from Donizetti’s ‘La fille de régiment’, tackling the 9 high Cs with great aplomb.
We had a wonderful turnout for Keith Kurtzer’s talk, with people traveling from Cork and Tipperary to be with us at Buswell’s Hotel. Keith delivered a tour de force presentation which contained a lot of unseen and unpublished material. For those who were unable to attend Keith very kindly provided us with a copy of his presentation. Although we don’t have Keith’s guiding narrative we hope it will provide Society members and McCormack enthusiasts with an enjoyable trip down memory lane.
Peter Dwan, Tish Tinney (John McCormack’s granddaughter), Jeremy Meehan, Keith Kurtzer, Gordon Ledbetter and Elizabeth O’BrienKeith Kurtzer presented with a John McCormack Commemorative Silver Coin by Elizabeth O’Brien
‘Jack Keveny’s John McCormack – Anecdotes of a Concert Monarch’ by Keith Kurtzer
John McCormack Society 