The National Chamber Choir (NCC) of Ireland was founded in 1991 by Karina Lundström and composer and conductor Colin Mawby. It is an independent, full-time professional ensemble, with its seventeen members drawn from the ranks of Europe's top singers. In 1995 the National Chamber Choir became Choir-in-Residence at Dublin City University, a move that has made a very significant impact on the security and future development of the group. The choir performs regularly at the National Gallery of Ireland, Queen's University in Belfast and also undertakes national and international tours. The National Chamber Choir is funded mainly through grant aid from the Arts council of Ireland, the Arts council of Northern Ireland, a contract with RTÉ, and funding from the Department of Education and Science (Ireland).
From May 2002 to January 2007 the choir's conductor was Cologne-based Celso Antunes, who succeeded Colin Mawby. In February 2008, it was announced that Paul Hillier has been appointed Artistic Director and Chief Conductor. Paul Hillier joined the organisation in June 2008.
The choir has worked with many of Ireland and Europe's leading choral conductors including Hans-Christoph Rademann, Marcus Creed, Stefan Parkman and most recently Odaline de la Martinez, Stephen Layton, Erwin Ortner and Catherine Simonpietri.
Famous quotes containing the words national, chamber and/or choir:
“It is no part of the functions of the National Government to find employment for the people, and if we were to appropriate a hundred millions for his purpose, we should only be taxing 40 millions of people to keep a few thousand employed.”
—James A. Garfield (1831–1881)
“My weary limbs are scarcely stretched for repose, before red dawn peeps into my chamber window, and the birds in the whispering leaves over the roof, apprise me by their sweetest notes that another day of toil awaits me. I arise, the harness is hastily adjusted and once more I step upon the tread-mill.”
—“E. B.,” U.S. farmer. As quoted in Feminine Ingenuity, by Anne L. MacDonald (1992)
“O thou, with dewy locks, who lookest down
Through the clear windows of the morning; turn
Thine angel eyes upon our western isle,
Which in full choir hails thy approach, O Spring!”
—William Blake (1757–1827)