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The choir currently has almost 100 members, mainly from Bray and surrounding areas, and has performed a wide range of works by both classical and modern composers.
I had reached the stage that young parents often arrive at, when they want to reconnect with themselves as adults. Having seen an advertisement for a choir in The Bray People under the Adult Education banner, I went to St. Killian’s Community School to meet a Mr. Frank Kelly. This young enthusiastic music teacher wanted to set up a community choir and put on a performance of Handel’s Messiah in December 1987.
I went along and met Frank and about 25 other people. We did a little singing, Frank spoke about the aims of the choir and Bray Choral Society came into being. After that first rehearsal I went every Tuesday night and I absolutely loved it.
The common denominator in all of this is our Musical Director, Frank Kelly, who is still our guiding light. His forward thinking and musical direction has always been the driving force.
Highlights included The Armed Man: A Mass For Peace by Karl Jenkins, composed in 1999 and dedicated to the
Christ Church Bray c1990
t was always going to be a night to remember, a night full of memories 
stretching back a remarkable 40 years…
t was always going to be a night to remember, a night full of memories 
stretching back a remarkable 40 years…And Bray Choral Society’s big birthday bash at The Holy Redeemer did not disappoint.
The Society was founded in 1986 as a community choir and has welcomed people from all walks of life over the years.
The choir currently has almost 100 members, mainly from Bray and surrounding areas, and has performed a wide range of works by both classical and modern composers. 
The Society is fortunate to still have three actively participating original founding members: Frank Kelly (musical director), Ann Murdiff and Philippa Bridge.
The Society is fortunate to still have three actively participating original founding members: Frank Kelly (musical director), Ann Murdiff and Philippa Bridge.Ann shares her memoir here:
I had reached the stage that young parents often arrive at, when they want to reconnect with themselves as adults. Having seen an advertisement for a choir in The Bray People under the Adult Education banner, I went to St. Killian’s Community School to meet a Mr. Frank Kelly. This young enthusiastic music teacher wanted to set up a community choir and put on a performance of Handel’s Messiah in December 1987. 
I had sung in choirs since I was 7 years old, so I thought this would be a nice night out where I could meet new people and sing some serious music.
I went along and met Frank and about 25 other people. We did a little singing, Frank spoke about the aims of the choir and Bray Choral Society came into being. After that first rehearsal I went every Tuesday night and I absolutely loved it. 
Soon, family and friends discovered that I was unavailable on Tuesday nights for anything outside of choir practice!
On a couple of occasions we sang after mass in Holy Redeemer and also in Christ Church Bray to advertise ourselves and look for new members.
We practised Messiah every Tuesday until we were note perfect! Eventually the big night came and 33 members sang Handel’s Messiah in St. Fergal’s Church, Bray, in December 1987.
Rehearsal night – early 1990s
After that we went from strength to strength. We sang in the NCH in 1992 – a marvellous achievement for such a young choir – and have been back there on many occasions. We entered competitions and won quite a few. We travelled to Cork, Sligo, New Ross, Salzburg, Vienna, Brussels, to name but a few. It was very enjoyable & we had great fun.
The joy of singing together, learning new repertoire & performing for audiences is a rewarding aspect of choir membership. Although we sing a lot of classical choral music, we still enjoy a good knees up and sing song when we go out – so it’s not all hard work.
Over the years we have become one big family and although people have come and gone, we do keep in contact with one another. I have developed close bonds through shared experiences, rehearsals & performances and have made a lot of very true friends – I am indebted to them for their friendships.
Over the years we have become one big family and although people have come and gone, we do keep in contact with one another. I have developed close bonds through shared experiences, rehearsals & performances and have made a lot of very true friends – I am indebted to them for their friendships.The common denominator in all of this is our Musical Director, Frank Kelly, who is still our guiding light. His forward thinking and musical direction has always been the driving force. 
BCS has served the people of Bray as a source of cultural heritage, preserving musical traditions & passing them onto new generations, and underscores the significance of these long term commitments to music and the community.
To celebrate this special year, Bray Choral Society presented two Gala Concerts over the weekend, one at St Andrew’s Church, Westland Row on Saturday and, bringing it all back home, Bray’s Holy Redeemer Church last night.
Highlights included The Armed Man: A Mass For Peace by Karl Jenkins, composed in 1999 and dedicated to the 
victims of the Kosovo conflict, which was performed with images projected on screens, and was greeted with huge applause by the full house. There was also acclaimed composer Howard Goodall’s specially commissioned The Creation Song Of The Choir Of Light, with lyrics by Roscommon poet and farmer Keith Brennan.
victims of the Kosovo conflict, which was performed with images projected on screens, and was greeted with huge applause by the full house. There was also acclaimed composer Howard Goodall’s specially commissioned The Creation Song Of The Choir Of Light, with lyrics by Roscommon poet and farmer Keith Brennan.
The was also the moment the entire crowd sang Happy Birthday to both the Goodall lad and Alan Smale of the Degani Ensemble.
Nice.
And luckily for them all, our roving snapper supreme, John McGowan was there. Full gallery here.
