24.07.2012
Conductor and Organ Scholar appointed at Trinity College Dublin Chapel
The conductor and organ scholar of Trinity College Dublin Chapel Choir for the coming year have been announced. Margaret Bridge has been re–appointed as conductor of the Chapel Choir for the 2012/2013 academic year. Joseph Bradley has been appointed organ scholar to the college.
Margaret Bridge is from Bray in County Wicklow and has just completed her music studies at TCD. She has been a member of the Chapel Choir for several years and a choral scholar for two years. In addition to being an accomplished singer and conductor, Margaret is also a talented pianist and flautist. She was elected to Scholarship in Music in April 2010. This is her second year as conductor of Chapel Choir.
Joseph Bradley is from Lanarkshire in Scotland and is a rising Junior Sophister in music in TCD. He also studies organ with David Adams at the Royal Irish Academy of Music and is enrolled on the Archbishop’s Certificate in Church Music course. For the past couple of years he has been organist at St Matthew’s church, Newtownmountkennedy, County Wicklow.
Dr Kerry Houston, Director of Chapel Music at TCD said, “Margaret and Joseph are working in the chapel at a very exciting time as we are celebrating the 250th anniversary of the foundation of the first formal Chapel Choir by Provost Andrews in 1762. We have had a very enriching series of events already this year including a reunion service on Low Sunday which was broadcast by RTE when the preacher was our former chaplain Bishop Michael Burrows. We are planning more events later this year which leads into the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the sharing of the College Chapel by the major Christian denominations in Ireland. We will mark this forward–thinking initiative of Archbishop Alan Buchanan with a series of ecumenical events. The College Chapel and its music are not just for staff and students at Trinity. Everyone is welcome at Thursday evensong (5.15pm) and Sunday morning Sung Eucharist (10.45am).”
The Dean of Residence at Trinity College Dublin, the Revd Darren McCallig commented, “We are very grateful to Margaret, Joseph and all who give so generously of their time and their talents to ensure the continuation of our renowned choral tradition here in Trinity. I know that with this new leadership team in place Chapel Choir will continue to create magnificent music to enrich our liturgies and nourish our spirits.”
In addition to the regular choral services during each week of lecture term and various special college and university services, the Chapel Choir gives concerts and is broadcast regularly on RTE radio and television. Trips within Britain and Ireland are organised twice yearly and more distant travels have included visits to New York, Rome, Berlin, Hong Kong, Vienna and (in June of this year) Venice.
For further information on the choir or to enquire about joining, please contact Margaret Bridge at bridgem1@tcd.ie
Pictured are Joseph Bradley and Margaret Bridge with Dr Kerry Houston following the announcement of their appointment.