Adjudicators The Flax Trust Richard Yarr - Head Adjudicator

Richard Yarr graduated from Queen’s University with a Bachelor of Music First Class Honours degree in 1992. At the University he was awarded both the May Turtle and Sir Hamilton Harty Scholarships in recognition of academic excellence. Richard gained a Choral Scholarship to King’s College, in 1995, touring, broadcasting and recording with the choir on a regular basis. As a choral music specialist he completed a Master of Music degree at King’s, and subsequently returned to Queen’s University to undertake Doctoral studies. Christmas Gala Richard is Senior Producer of , at BBC , working with both BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Radio 3. At the BBC he has also enjoyed positions as Broadcast Assistant with the BBC Singers and with the BBC Proms team. The BBC Singers role included work on a daily basis with the UK’s finest choral conductors – including Stephen Cleobury and Bob Chilcott – and producing the Singers in a number of acclaimed recordings. Competition Locally Richard is a sought after adjudicator. Locally he has worked at Competitions including Bangor International Choral Festival, Carrickfergus and Larne Music Festival, Lisburn City School Choir of the Year and the Northern Ireland Young Musician of the Year. He created BBC Radio Ulster’s School Choir of the Year Competition and founded the Northern Ireland International Organ Competition in 2011. Thursday 3rd December 2015 Jenny Bourke - Adjudicator 7.00pm ‘Jenny Bourke is a mezzo soprano from County Down who studied at Queen’s University and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. She has performed Oratorio throughout the UK and Ireland and has sung operatic roles with Castleward Opera. Jenny has performed with the European Youth Choir and now regularly sings as part of an eight-part vocal group based in Belfast called Melisma. Currently teaching voice in some of Northern Ireland’s top grammar schools and Queen’s University, Jenny is delighted to be able to fulfil her dual role of performing and teaching.’

Ciaran Scullion - Adjudicator

Ciaran Scullion studied Music at Queen’s University and the Royal Irish Academy. He has trained in conservatories in Birmingham and Nice and has worked in the music industry in a number of capacities, from arts management to performer, adjudicator and academic. He’s an experienced arts executive and has held previous roles at the Ulster Orchestra and the Ulster Youth Choir and has led some of the UK’s largest and award-winning multi art-form projects. Ciaran has also worked with some of the world’s leading artists including Bryn Terfel, James Galway and Barry Douglas. Currently he is Head of Music for the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and is responsible for the development of Music, Opera and the Traditional Arts. Ciaran manages a broad portfolio of organisations including the Ulster Orchestra, Northern Ireland Opera and Camerata Ireland. Recently Ciaran appeared as a judge for the BBC/ACNI Young Musician Platform Awards and the BBC NI School Choir of The Year Competition in association with the Ulster Youth Choir.

Megan Mooney - Artistic Director

Megan Jane Mooney has been working as the Artistic Director of The Flax Trust since September 2015. She has studied with teachers such as Dr. Angela Feeney and Jenny Bourke at Queen’s University Belfast and is currently studying with the world renowned Dr. Veronica Dunne at the Royal Irish Academy of Music. Megan was awarded a BMus (hons) from Queen’s University Belfast in 2014 and a DipMus (hons) in Performance and Teaching from the Royal Irish Academy of Music in 2015. Megan has given critically acclaimed performances in both the musical theatre and operatic worlds, playing roles such as Maria from Bernstein’s West Side Story and The Sorceress Master of Ceremonies: Noel Thompson BBC in Purcell’s Dido & Aeneas. Megan has given performances in Belfast’s Grand Opera House, The Waterfront Hall, The Riverside Theatre, Theatre at the Mill and the Market Place Theatre. Megan is a multiple prize winner in all the major Northern Irish singing competitions and is a bursary recipient of the Flax Trust. Megan is delighted to join the Celtic Tenors as special guest in April 2016.

Flax Trust wishes to thank: The Lord Mayor Arder Carson The Deputy Lord Mayor Councillor Máire Hendron Belfast City Council )$0( Flax Trust, 333 Crumlin Road, Belfast BT14 7EA • www.flaxtrust.com Flax Trust Academy of Musical Excellence Programme 8.30 pm INTERVAL & Adjudicator’s Deliberation. Refreshments provided by the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee. 7.00pm Dr Peter Smyth: Flax Trust Welcome & Introduction of Deputy Lord Mayor: Alderman Guy Spence 9:00 pm Awards Ceremony: Choir 1 Our Lady’s Primary School & Cliftonville Integrated School It’s Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas - Willson You’ll Be in my Heart - Collins AWARDS Choir 2 The George Mitchell Cup for Most Captivating Performance Black Mountain Primary & Holy Cross Girls Primary Presented by Lady Empey: Night of Silence - Kantor Bursary Award of £3000 presented by Sr. Mary Turley. Mary Had a Little Baby Boy - Anon. The Tom Foley Cup for Most Promising Junior Choir Choir 3 Presented by Daniel Lawton: US Consul General Holy Family Primary & Currie Primary Bursary Award of £1000 presented by Sr. Mary Turley. The Good Years - Polwart Oleo, Si Njay, Njay,Njay - Trad. African The George Quigley Cup for Most Accomplished Senior Choir Choir 4 Presented by Lady Quigley: St. Vincent de Paul Primary & Ligoniel Primary Bursary Award of £1000 presented by Sr. Mary Turley. From a Distance - J. Gold Nothing’s Gonna Stop us Now - D. Warren Choir 5 Edenbrook Primary & Holy Cross Boys Primary Finale Christmas Calypso - Johnson Catch a Falling Star - Vance & Pockriss O Holy Night Soloist: Megan Mooney Choir 6 Belfast High & Dominican College, Fortwilliam St. Patrick’s College & Jordanstown Centre for the Deaf and Visually Impaired When you Believe - S. Schwartz Silent Night I’m a Believer - N. Diamond Verse 1 - Megan Mooney, Soprano Choir 7 Verse 2 - Ensemble Mercy College & Boys Model Isaiah’s Balled - Anon. Circle of Life - E. John Silent night, holy night Choir 8 Shepherds quake at the sight Glories stream from heaven afar

St. Malachy’s College & Hazelwood Integrated College Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia! Bring Him Home, Les Miserable - A. Boubil Christ, the Saviour is born Carol of the Bells - Ukranian Christmas Carol Christ, the Saviour is born. Choir 9 Dominican College & Belfast High School Verse 3 – ALL (Including Audience) The Lord’s Prayer - A.H. Malotte Medley Christmas - Trad. Arr by R. Howard Silent night, holy night Son of God, love’s pure light Radiant beams from Thy holy face With the dawn of redeeming grace Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.