Members Directory

The Choir prides itself on the quality and diversity of the music it performs with a repertoire which includes works by Bach, Brahms, Britten, Bruckner, Byrd, Carissimi, Charpentier, Cherubini, Gounod, Handel, Haydn, Liszt, Mendelssohn, Monteverdi, Mozart, Poulenc, Saint-Saëns, Schubert, Schütz and Stravinsky. We perform two concerts each year, at Christmas in St John’s Church, Kilkenny and in late Spring with a professional orchestra and soloists, at St. Canice’s Cathedral, Kilkenny. The Choir has performed in Belgium, Croatia, France and Italy.

Rehearsals are held each Thursday night (8pm to 10pm) from September to April at St. Kieran’s College. The Choir welcomes new members in September and January. The ability to read music is an advantage but not a prerequisite. A willingness to work hard and the ability to sing in tune are essential.

The Choir boasts a repertoire that spans musical works from Seventeenth Century composers Monteverdi and Bach to Twentieth Century Stravinsky and Britten. Comprising approximately 60 singers, membership is drawn from the entire south-east region and the group have collaborated with a number of other choral societies throughout the country.

2018 marks the year when The Kilkenny Choir passed the baton from its founding father, Philip Edmondson, to a new music director, Thomas Kehoe.

Participation in the choir affords members the opportunity to socialize with other music lovers whilst learning and enhancing their own musical skills

Now firmly established as the city’s premier carol service, it regularly attracts full houses and has raised huge sums of money for local causes. On these occasions the Unity Singers are joined by members of St. Mary’s Cathedral Choir and by guest performers including Tanya Sewell (soprano) and the late Colm Murray (RTE). The esteem in which the choir is held locally is no doubt attributable to the commitment of its members, the quality of their singing and to the leadership and dedication of John O’Neill (musical director) and Joy Bibby (accompanist). We practice each Thursday night in St. Kieran’s College at 8.00p.m. and are always happy to welcome new Members.