Press Release

Christmas festival fills City with music

Thursday, 07 December 2006

An initiative by Mayor Cllr Helen Quigley to bring some Christmas cheer to the city centre was announced today at the Guildhall. The city's first Christmas festival brings together community, school and civic choirs to the city centre with a promise to fill the air with seasonal songs and a special message of reflection and reconciliation. The festival includes a series of ticketed indoor and free outdoor performances along with a special ceremony of reflection and reconciliation.

Mayor, Councillor Helen Quigley said: "The idea of the festival is to create some time and space to be with family and friends and enjoy this musical experience. It's also an opportunity to have occasions that help us reflect and think positively of the future".

The festival opens on Saturday 16th December at 8pm with a ticketed Christmas concert in the Guildhall featuring Christmas music and carols by the City of Derry Civic Choirs and Western Education and Library Board Youth Orchestra.

Sunday 17th December will have a special event to mark a time of reflection and reconciliation in Guildhall Square at 3.00pm. This event will create a neutral place for personal reflection for the past on different levels, while assisting with bringing our diverse communities together with a shared purpose of moving forward together. Mayor continued, "This is an important message for everyone in the city and reflects my personal commitment to promoting reconcilliation and inclusion. We need to learn lessons from the past and move forward together with hope and a shared purpose". Sunday will conclude with a choral performance in Guildhall Square until 4.30pm.

The festival will continue each evening from 6pm , Monday 18th December through to Thursday 19th December when a host of choirs will display their musical talent in Guildhall Square. Monday 18th will also have an additional performance at 6.pm. Many thanks to the primary school choirs from Newbuildings, Oakgrove Integrated, Ebrington PS; St Oliver Plunkett, St Eugene's, Nazareth House, Steelstown, the Long Tower Junior Choir and Colmcille Ladies Choir, Christian Brothers Choir , the Foyle and Londonderry College Jazz Ensemble, St. Columb’s College Brass Ensemble and the City of Derry Junior Civic Choir without their support this would not be possible. The Christmas Festival will culminate on Friday 22nd December in the Guildhall with a magical performance of Handel’s Messiah by Codetta and the City of Derry Youth Choir with Orchestra and Soloists. This musical celebration starts at 8pm. Admission: Adults £8, with concessions available at £5. Tickets for the opening night concert are £5 for adults and £2 concessions. Tickets for Guildhall indoor events are available from the Millennium Forum Box Office at 028 71264455.

Welcoming the Festival to Derry, Donal Doherty, the Director of Music said:

“I’m delighted that that the Derry air will be filled with the sound of so many wonderful choirs. This is a Christmas initiative, which I hope will transform the city and I’m sure everyone who goes along to the Guildhall performances or who passes through Guildhall Square will be touched by the sound of singing. Congratulations to everyone involved in helping to make the Christmas Festival happen.”

The Christmas Festival is part of the Derry City Council Christmas campaign to make the festive season extra special for locals and visitors at this time of year. For information on everything from pantos to parking log on at: www.derrycitycouncil.gov.uk/christmas.

The Mayor concluded, "It's important to take some time away from the rush to reflect and enjoy an extra special evening in the city and we want to offer something easy and enjoyable for families, friends and visitors. It will create an amazing ambience in the city centre and something to look forward to".

Ends

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