Priory II choir in concert in St Thomas’s

Monday December 8th 2008

Belfast-based chamber choir Priory II will give their inaugural concert in St Thomas’s Parish Church, Belfast, on Friday December 12 under new conductor Nigel McClintock.

Founded as the Priory Singers in 1986, the choir under director Dr Harry Grindle quickly established itself as being one of the country’s leading chamber choirs.

After more than 20 years directing and inspiring the Priory Singers and its members, Dr Harry Grindle retired in June this year.

Choir member Valerie Ireland said: “We are indebted to Harry Grindle for all his work over the past 22 years and are looking forward very much to continuing this as Priory II under our new director Nigel McClintock.”

Belfast-born Nigel was educated at Methodist College Belfast and the Royal College of Music in London. He was a boy chorister at St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast, and later went on to become the Director of Music at St George’s Parish Church. He was appointed Director of Music in Croydon Parish Church in 2000, where he served for seven years.

Nigel returned to Belfast earlier this year to take up the post of Director of Music at St. Peter’s Cathedral, where the present administrator, the Very Rev Dr Hugh Kennedy has been instrumental in developing the musical potential there.

Nigel said: “There has been an amazing interest and enthusiasm within those involved in the music at St Peter’s. This promises a very exciting future for the music in Catholic Church in Northern Ireland.”

Commenting on his appointment as director of Priory II, he said: “I have known and admired Harry Grindle for over 30 years and have been delighted to act as accompanist for the Priory Singers on many occasions. I look forward to further developing the wonderful reputation that this choir has established.”

The concert gets underway in St Thomas’s, at the junction of Lisburn Road and Eglantine Avenue, at 7:30pm.

The rector of St. Thomas’s, Canon Walter Lewis said: “This choir’s reputation goes before them and we are delighted to be hosting them here in our stunning, newly-refurbished church. I would like to take this opportunity to extend a warm invitation for all to attend on Friday night.”

For tickets, call 028 9048 4913.