"Music plays an important part in the life of Saint Malachy's College..."

Activities

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Our Music Department operates a diverse programme of extra-curricular activities for all boys to engage in and develop key ensemble, listening and performing skills including three Choirs, a Symphony Orchestra and Jazz Band, Senior and Junior String Orchestras, an Irish Traditional Group, a Brass Group, a Clarinet and Saxophone Group, and a host of smaller chamber ensembles and rock bands. 

All boys who take lessons in or outside of the College are expected to join an ensemble and/or choir and take full advantage of the opportunities and experiences that this extraordinary Music Department can offer them.  New members are always welcome to join our group activities!

Performance

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Performance is central to musical training at the College and we offer many opportunities to ‘practise’ performance in formal and informal settings:

• The College has an impressive record of success at music festivals across the country. We regularly enter ensembles, choirs and soloists into competitions including Ballymena and Holywood Festivals, and Flax Trust events.

• Annual events include the St. Malachy’s Feast Day Mass in St. Patrick’s Donegall Street, the Old Boys’ Mass, the Friends of St. Malachy’s Annual Ball, the Christmas and April Concerts, the Junior Concert, GCSE and A Level lunchtime informal concerts.

• Touring has been a regular feature of our calendar since the College Orchestra performed at the Schools’ Proms in London’s Royal Albert Hall in 1999; destinations have included the National Concert Hall in Dublin, Philadelphia, the Kennedy Centre in Washington, New York and Belgium.

• The College is proud of its long association with the City of Belfast School of Music, with whom many boys currently study.

• St. Malachy’s musicians represent the College in high-profile ensembles including the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland, the Ulster Youth Orchestra and Ulster Youth Choir, and St. Peter’s Cathedral Schola Cantorum.

• Performances at charity events, educational and community outreach events, and as part of Shared Education

• Our ensembles are regularly hired by external agencies to provide background music and light entertainment. 

Weekly Timetable

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Please click here to see our extra-curricular Music weekly timetable.