This month sees the return of the annual Summer Proms which will be held at University Concert Hall on June 22nd.
The concert will see the Defence Forces’ Military and Pipe bands under the baton of Captain Brian Prendergast join forces with our own Sarah Dolan for a night of operatic arias, musical numbers and rousing military band tunes.
The concert will feature some well-known traditional songs including I Dreamt I Dwelt in Marble Halls, Danny Boy and There Is An Isle; classical favourites including O Mio Babbino Caro and wonderful band numbers such as the French Military March, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy and much more.
Sarah holds an honors Degree in Vocal Performance at the DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama where studied with Anne-Marie O’Sullivan and a Masters in Music from the San Francisco Conservatory under the tutelage of Cesar Ulloa where she received the prestigious James H. Schwabacher Jr. Scholarship. She was a recipient of the Thomas Moore Vocal Bursary which led her to be a featured artist on many of the recital stages throughout Ireland including an invitation to the Mansion House of Dublin to sing for the Mayor of Dublin.
An avid recitalist, Sarah has enjoyed many appearances both in Ireland, USA and Germany. She has performed in recital at the The Boyle Arts Festival, The Kate O’Brien Literary Festival, Goethe Festival, Castleton Festival, Thomas Moore Festival, Schlewig Holstein Musik Festival, Festival junger Künstler, Bayreuth and with Music Northwest in Seattle. In one for her performances, she was described by the Washington Post as “a moving, authentic vocal interpretation of, ‘The Last Rose of Summer’”
Limerick Audiences will remember Sarah for her solo performance with the army defence forces army band at the PROMS IN THE PARK in Limerick. She was also the soloist for Karl Jenkins’ Stella Natalis and Song of Song by Patrick Hawes with the Limerick Choral Union at the University Concert Hall, Limerick.
Speaking in advance of the June 22nd gig Sarah said: “I spend a lot of time away from home so having the opportunity to return to Limerick and perform in the wonderful University Concert Hall is such an honour. Performing with the Defence Force’s bands is always an incredible experience and I look forward to performing once again in front of warm Limerick audiences in a concert that is sure to give everybody a night to remember”.
The Defence Forces School of Music was established in 1923 with four military bands being formed during the early years of the Irish state. Defence Forces Bands continue to perform at all major military and state ceremonial occasions including all Presidential Inaugurations from that of the first president of Ireland, Douglas Hyde to the present day.
Captain Prendergast began his army career in 1981 as a euphonium player in the Band of the Southern Command. From 1992 until his commissioning in 2005, Captain Prendergast was principal bassoonist with the Band of 1 Southern Brigade.
He was appointed Conductor of the Band of 1 Southern Brigade in 2007. At present he is principal conductor of Cork Barrack Street Band and continues to have a keen interest in the development of amateur bands.
Tickets for the Summer Proms performance at the University Concert Hall on June 22nd are on sale now and can be purchased via www.uch.ie