By Dionne Meehan
A DONEGAL-based choir were crowned the highest scoring chorus and the only chorus to receive a ‘superior’ rating at The Barbershop Harmony Society’s Midwinter Junior Chorus Festival in New York.
When Douglas Carnes moved to Donegal with his wife three years ago, he noticed there was no space for young women to be themselves, to grow and develop through music.
Working previously as a choral conductor in America, Danu Young Women’s Choir was born.
“I wanted to fill that space,” Douglas said.
Now conducting a choir of 49 young women, he began looking out for opportunities for them to perform.
And being from New York himself, he thought there was no better event than The Barbershop Harmony Society’s Midwinter Junior Chorus Festival.
Knowing that unique opportunities lay ahead, Douglas took the chorus on a trip of a lifetime. “We had the time of our lives,” he said.
On day one of the trip, the choir were lucky enough to attend Broadway’s ‘Wicked’ before a private questions and answers session with the cast.
The next day, the group volunteered for an organisation called ‘Heart of Diner’ which is situated in New York City.
That afternoon, the choir performed for the first time at St Patrick’s Cathedral before walking three blocks away where the Irish General Consulate hosted them.
From ice-skating under the big tree at the Rockerfeller Centre to overseeing the city at the Empire State Building, the girls benefitted from having their own personal tour guide on this very special trip.
Thursday began with an intense five hour long coaching workshop with three Broadway stars.
From dance routines to coaching them on their vocal performances, Douglas described this experience as being “transformative” for the choir.
“They levelled up during those coaching sessions,” he said.
That night, the competition began.
And it wasn’t long until the success started coming their way.
With one of their ensembles qualifying to compete in the quartet competition, amazingly they placed fifth in the world.
Which brought them up to Friday, the day of their performance at The Barbershop Harmony Societies Mid-Winter Youth Festival.
With their performances leaving a lasting impression wherever they went, Douglas only hopes that their
success urges more women to get involved.
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