Music Matters Inclusive Community Choirs Newsletter June 2015

May was a busy and exciting month for Music Matters!

Our Benefit Concert took place at the beautiful Unitarian Church
Our new Crumlin/ Dublin 12 choir for older people & those with dementia got an amazing
turnout of new members
Choral directors and musicians who have an interest in working with older people and
those with dementia, took part in a one-day training workshop
Musical Memories put on a special performance to mark Bealtaine the festival
celebrating the creativity of older people in the community
Music Matters is Kilkenny-bound, with thanks to Irish Rail!

Benefit Concert at Dublin Unitarian Church

On Sunday 17th May, Music Matters had a Benefit Concert at Dublin Unitarian Church, to
support our inclusive community music projects.
We were supported by many diverse and entertaining acts - including:
Newpark Senior Tours Orchestra
The Flukey Ukes
Ossia Youth Choir
The High Hopes Choir
Elaine Caul
Fingal Gospel Choir
Dave Flood & Frederike Bulcke
Mariachi San Patricio
We would like to thank all of the artists for generously
donating their time and talents to support our choir, as
we aim to ensure musical performances are accessible
to All
Thank you to our amazing audience - through your
generosity we raised a phenomenal 1,200, enough to
cover the cost of taxis for any members who require
them, for an entire year
Thank you especially to Josh Johnston and Kevin
Robinson of Dublin Unitarian Church for all their
assistance, organisation and ensuring our concert
went off without a hitch
It was a wonderful day for all involved!
Video with highlights of the day:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HqYzolwYzs
More photos here:
http://musicmatterschoir.blogspot.ie/2015/06/photosbenefit-concert-at-dublin.html

Crumlin/ Dublin 12 Choir for Older People & those with dementia
On Wednesday 13th May, the first rehearsal for our newest choir for older people & those with
dementia took place at St Agnes Community Centre for Music & the Arts in Crumlin. 3
rehearsals have taken place so far, and there has been a fantastic turnout at each one.

Choir members come along for a chat, and a cuppa, as well as warming up the voices!
We would like to thank Miriam and those from Dublin City Council, Crumlin Area Office and
Sister Bernadette who got this choir up and running and their facilitation of this choir on a weekto-week basis. If you, or anyone you know, would like to join please phone Miriam or Tom on
(01) 222 5504
New volunteers are also welcome to come along and assist with the registration of choir
members, support work, making teas and coffees. If you can help in any way, please email
info@musicmatters.ie for more info. We would be delighted to hear from you!
Training Event at LexIcon Library
On Monday 25th May, a one-day training
workshop - "Take Note: Working with the
Older Voice & People with dementia" took
place at Dun Laoghaire LexIcon Library
This event was organised and is proudly
supported by the partners involved in the
Musical Memories choirs: Dun Laoghaire
Rathdown County Council Arts & Health
Promotion, Health Service Executive, Living
Well with Dementia Stillorgan-Blackrock
Project and Music Matters.
The training event was faciliated by Grinne
O'Grady, ilis Hession (Project Manager with
Living Well with Dementia) and Catherine Daly
(Occupational Therapist, specialising in older
people with dementia or mental health
difficulties)
Nine musicians and choral directors attended
this event - all were very interested in leading
choirs for older people and those with
dementia. As the Irish population is ageing,
and more are being diagnosed with dementia
there is an increasing demand for these type
of choirs
The Musical Memories Choirs started 2 years
ago and the choir plays a very meaningful
role in the lives of those with dementia, their
families, friends and carers
More info from the workshop:
http://musicmatterschoir.blogspot.ie/2015/06/o
n-monday-25th-may-one-day-training.html

Musical Memories Bealtaine Performance

On Saturday 23rd May, our Musical Memories
Choirs put on a special performance to mark
Bealtaine the festival which celebrates the
artistic achievements of older people in our
community
This took place at St Raphaelas Convent,
Stillorgan. 80 people attended, including Cllr
Marie Baker, Cathaoirleach of Dun Laoghaire
Rathdown County Council
It was a beautiful sunny day so the choirs
sang sun-themed songs such as Here Comes
the Sun and Bring me Sunshine
Thank you to Dun Laoghaire Rathdown
County Council, the HSE, Living Well with
Dementia Stillorgan-Blackrock and the local
businesses, which ensured this event, was a
resounding success!
_____________________________________
Kilkenny, here we come!
With thanks to the Irish Rail Journeys on Us
initiative, Music Matters will travel to the
Marble City of Kilkenny on Sunday 14th June
We will visit the Watergate Theatre, to see a
show Movie Mayhem, produced by Jesters
Stage Academy
We may also have a live performance with
Kilkenny Gospel Choir follow our social
media for updates!