Your ceremony is the most important part of the day so please take your time to read about the different singers available and think about the type of voice you are looking for.
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Denise Brennan
Denise is a highly acclaimed, award winning & most sought after singer and performer. She has been performing professionally at home and abroad throughout concert halls, opera houses and theatres since the age of 18. She is a popular concert performer and leading lady with musical theatre companies in Ireland. Denise has enjoyed international touring success, taking centre stage in hit shows such as Bill Whelan’s "Riverdance The Show" as a Celtic soprano soloist with the "Dublin Philharmonic Orchestra" performing at the prestigious "Bunratty Castle" Irelands National Concert Hall, The Helix Dublin as a soloist with the Applause Concert presented by "AIMS" and "Women of Ireland" with "Frankie Gavin and De Dannan". Denise's voice can be heard on CD and DVD recordings made with The Dublin Gospel Choir, The Dublin Philharmonic Orchestra, De Dannan and Women of Ireland where Denise is a featured soloist.
Denise sang for the Irish Consulate and his guests at his family home while in New York City. She took to the stage at Croke Park and performed in front of an audience of thousands for the 2003 Special Olympics with Riverdance and an international TV audience of millions. "Women of Ireland", in which Denise is a soloist, were nominated for the best new comer group award at Irelands Music Awards along side The High Kings. "Women of Ireland" also took up a three month summer residency at INEC Killarney with Frankie Gavin and De Dannan.
Denise has worked with conductors Colman Pierce and Derek Gleeson during the Dublin Philharmonic Orchestra's inaugural tour of the USA. While on tour, Denise performed many songs by Irish composers including Vincent Kennedy’s very beautiful arrangement of "Mary of Dungloe", which premiered in Modesto, CA, "Deirdre of the Sorrows" by Patrick Cassidy, "Suintrai" by Andrea Malir and Isle of Hope & Caledonia arranged by Carl Hession.
Denise trained at the Leinster School of Music and Drama with legendary vocal coach Dr. Veronica Dunne, repetitaire's Jenny Reddin and Alison Young and studied composition, history of music and aural at the Royal Irish Academy of Music. Denise began her singing with the wonderful Sr. Agnes Cecelia Nolan through her years at St. Mary's College Arklow. During her training with Deirdre Masterson of "The Irish Sopranos", Denise under took master classes with Ronan Tynan (The Irish Tenors), Morgan Crawley (West End Performer) & Taylor Wilson (Mezzo Soprano) & while on tour in America Denise has also worked with international vocal coaches.
Along with Denise's vocal training she has also studied Speech & Drama and holds teaching diplomas and certificates in both singing and acting through the Irish Board of Speech and Drama, London College of Music and The Royal Irish Academy of Music. She is also a fully qualified beauty therapist including diplomas in anatomy & physiology & first aid with CIBTAC & ITAC.
While at home, Denise is busy on the wedding circuit, as a concert performer and teacher of singing and drama. Denise worked at Innovations Theatre School, The Co. Wexford School of Music and privately where students have excelled vocally and in performance. Denise's students have been credited through the Royal Irish Academy of Music and have achieved 1st & 2nd places at Arklow and Kilcoole music festivals.
Denise has played many leading roles with musical theatre companies in Ireland and has a great love for the theatre. Her favourite roles to date include Dorothy "The Wizard of Oz" with St. Marys College Arklow at the age of 13, Nancy "Oliver", Mary Magdalene "Jesus Christ Super Star", Laurie "Oklahoma" & Sarah Brown "Guys & Dolls. Other roles include...Molly Cassidy in the "Ha'penny Bridge and Yum Yum in "The Hot Mikado" Denise sang with wonderful late Christy Hennessey and recorded his famous song "If you were to fall" on her album "Sailing with the Wind" which was reviewed in Hotpress magazine by Jackie Hayden "Given the extraordinary success of Celtic Women in the US and elsewhere Brennan could do extremely well” Denise’s awards throughout the years include 1st & 2nd places in solo singing & acting competitions, at Feis Ceoil and at Arklow Music Festival. Denise was recently awarded the Pearl Atock Trophy and Gold Medal at the ESB Feis Ceoil in Dublin.
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Caroline Reid O'Brien
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Caroline, a native of Waterfor city, was born into a family with a love of music and stage and from an early age, Caroline herself showed a keen interest in music. She studies with Regina Hanley at the Waterford Institute of Technology Music School.
In her early years, Caroline was Soprano with many Waterford City Church Choirs. When the Catherdral Youth Choir was formed in 1983, Caroline became one of its founder members. Her musical talend was evident, when after four years, she was appointed as the choir's Musical Director. Caroline holds this position to the present day and the CYC is still going strong after 25 years.
In early 1998, Caroline became a member of the Janus Choral Ensemble. Their many rectials included performances at the National Concert Hall, Dublin; City Hall, Cork; Garter Lane, Waterford and at the annual Spraoi Festival in Waterford. The group recorded a cd in 2000, featuring many of its much-loved sacred and musical theatre pieces. She went on to be soloist and member of the Lumen Choral Ensemble. This group, together with Bowler Hat Theatre Company, performed a choral version of the musical Chess as part of the Waterford International Festival of Light Opera in 2022. The performances received much critical acclaim.
From early 2000 to late 2003, Caroline was soloist and narrator with the Waterford Show. The performances, which outlined the history of Waterford City through song, dance and narrative, proved very popular with visitors to the city.
In March 2008, Caroline performed at Christ Church Catherdral, Waterford. Her recital contained a mix of operatic, musical theatre, popular songs from Gershwin and a fine line in Irish ballads. Her gloriously pure soprano voice brought the audience to their feet in ovation and acclamation.
In December 2008 at the Mount Wolseley Hotel, Tullow, Co. Carlow, Caroline made her debut with the Celtic Divas (Regina Hanley, Debra Stuart). The 3 sopranos delighted their huge audience and also raised over 8,000 euro for Irish Cancer Research. So successful was this concert that the Divas returned to the same venue in December 2009 and raised another sizeable amount for this very worthy cause.
Also in December 2008, Caroline featured in a performance at Christ Church Cathedral entitle "The Winter Garden". This was a unique evening of song and spoken word with a Christmas theme. Highlights included "O Holy Night", "The Coventry Carol" and extracts from works by Patrick Kavanagh, Sean Dunne and Brendan Kennelly. A year later in December 2009, Caroline performed to a full house at Christ Church Cathedral in "Christmas Voices".
In March 2009, Caroline together with her fellow students at the Music Department of WIT presented an evening of music by the Waterford born composer, William Vincent Wallace (1812 - 1865). Caroline sang the well-known aria "Scenes that are brightest" and formed part of a duet for the piece "Sainted Mother", both from his most famous opera, Maritana.
Recently, in an evening of the music of William Wallace, Caroline sang the well-known aria "Scenes that are brightest" and the beautiful "Sainted Mother", both from Maritana.
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Roisin O'Grady
Soprano Róisín O’ Grady studied at University College Cork where she took her B.A. (Hons, Music and Italian) in 2000 and B.Mus (Hons) in 2001. In 2004, she completed the one-year Postgraduate Diploma in Concert Singing at The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, Glasgow, under the vocal guidance of soprano Margaret Marshall O.B.E. She received a First Class Hons. M.A. in Performance at the Cork School of Music in 2008. She was a member of and a soloist with The National Chamber Choir of Ireland for over two years.
Róisín has extensive concert experience including; Vivaldi’s Gloria, Beatus Vir and Magnificat, Handel’s Solomon, Samson, Dixit Dominus, Ode on St. Cecilia’s Day and Messiah, Charpentier’s Mess de Minuit, Schubert’s Mass in G, Schumann’s Reqiuem, Haydn’s Little Organ Mass, Creation and Nelson Mass, Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater, Vaughan Williams’ Mass in G Minor, Allegri’ Miserere, Bach’s Christmas Oratorio and Matthew Passion, Mozart’s Exultate Jubilate, Durufle’s Requiem, Saint Säens’ Christmas Oratorio, Fauré’s Requiem, John Rutter’s Requiem and Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana. She has performed with choral societies and orchestras throughout Ireland and Scotland including The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, The Irish Baroque Orchestra and The Orchestra of St. Cecilia. She is a member of the early music duo Tonos who performed in The John Field Room, NCH, The National Gallery of Ireland, Sligo Festival of Baroque Music and were broadcast in concert by Lyric FM. She performed at the West Cork Chamber Music Festival in 2008. She regularly performs with harpsichordist Malcolm Proud. Recent recitals include The Hugh Lane Gallery and Galway Cathedral Recital Series. Roisin's most recent performance opportunity included a performance at the White House for President Obama on St Patrick's day 2011.
"Love is like a violin. The music may stop now and then, but the strings remain forever"
Anon
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