National award for Moate CS choir

The Iontas Choir at Moate Community School has been awarded 1st place in the Post-primary National Choir of the Year competition.

The choir, made up of 45 students under the direction of music teacher Giselle Foley, picked up the prestigious award at the Navan Choral Festival yesterday.

The Iontas Choir also won 1st place in the Liturgical Music Competition at the festival. It is one of two choirs at the school, with a larger choir made up of 110 students.

In a statement, Moate CS said: “We are delighted to see them receive the recognition they deserve for their talent, hard work and commitment.”

The students will be showcasing their musical talents at the school's annual concert on Tuesday next, May 13. The Moate CS Music Department will present an Evening of Song and Music in the school gym at 7.30pm. The concert will also feature pupils from St Brigid's NS, Moate, who will be playing violins, and a choir from Ballinahown NS.

Speaking about Tuesday's concert, Giselle said: “We hold an annual concert to showcase the musical talent of our students. The music activities at the school include choir, orchestra and a trad group. We also give an opportunity to the primary schools in our catchment area to showcase their musical talent. Some of them engage in an instrumental tuition programme and some have teachers in their schools teaching music.”