Guest vocalist announced for upcoming Samaritans’ Christmas concert in Athlone

The guest vocalist at upcoming 36th Annual Samaritans’ Christmas Concert in Athlone will be Karl McGuckin.

Karl is a classical crossover bass-baritone who trained under the renowned Veronica Dunne.

A practising barrister by day, he is also a classical and modern singer who has performed with major opera companies, including the Welsh National Opera and Opera Ireland, and he has taken on leading roles in productions such as Sweeney Todd and Jekyll and Hyde at the Grand Opera House, Belfast.

He has made numerous TV appearances, sharing the stage with Katherine Jenkins in front of 11,000 people at the Proms from Belfast Titanic Slipway, and was a featured artist on BBC’s St Patrick’s Day Special from St Anne’s Cathedral.

Karl is passionate about performing music from all genres and looks forward to performing next month in Athlone. As a producer, his Candlelight Christmas concerts at Clonard Monastery in Belfast have become a beloved seasonal tradition, just as have the Samaritans’ Christmas Concerts in Athlone and the Midlands.

The concert will also feature The Army Band of 2 Brigade which will again provide the main musical support. The organisers are delighted to also have the Athlone Pipe Band and the Coláiste Chiaráin Senior Choir. The eloquent Joe MacCarrick will act as compere on the night.

The 36th Athlone and Midlands Samaritans’ Annual Christmas Concert will be held at 8pm on Thursday, December 10, in the Church of Ss Peter and Paul. Tickets €20 available from Mulligans, Roscommon Road, Cunninghams' Pharmacies, Printing.com and Whytes Pharmacy.

The Samaritans are available 24 hours a day on freecall 116 123 for anyone who is lonely, troubled or just needs to talk to someone in confidence.