Local school choir to jet off for special London performance

MEMBERS of the Glenstal Abbey School Choir are warming up their vocal chords before jetting off on a special journey.

The choir are getting ready for a visit to London this weekend to sing at Evening Mass in Westminster Cathedral on Saturday, October 28.

27 student choir members are travelling to London, with members from all year groups including a number of First Year students who joined the choirs just a few weeks ago and led by Choir Captain, Sixth Year student Zach O'Connor.

27 members of the Glenstal Abbey School Choir are getting ready for their visit to London this weekend. They are honoured to have been invited to sing at Evening Mass at Westminster Cathedral on Saturday. #GlenstalAbbeySchool #GlenstalAbbeySchoolChoir #WestminsterCathedral pic.twitter.com/6cm9ABbWE8

— Glenstal Abbey School (@GlenstalSchool) October 24, 2023

The school choir is led by Headmaster, Marius Carney, who is also the Choir Master. 

The young men sing every Sunday alongside the monastic scholar at Mass in the Abbey Church at Glenstal.

They practice several times a week, with extra evening practices taking place in preparation for their choir tour to London. 

Marius said; The school is delighted to have the opportunity to perform as a visiting choir to the prestigious Westminster Cathedral at the Evening Mass this coming Saturday.The choir will be performing a new Gloria, composed for the visit to London by Fr Columba McCann OSB, monk of Glenstal.In between rehearsals and their performance at the Evening Mass on Saturday at Westminster Cathedral, the boys will enjoy some sightseeing around London and visiting the Brompton Oratory.”