The South Kerry Rosen Choir at The Pier – Free Event

Join the South Kerry Rosen Choir at The Pier, Kenmare as they celebrate the arrival of summer and the national, month-long festival of ‘Bealtaine’ with a free performance.  Everyone is welcome to come along to hear their voices raised in beautiful choral music, and to join them directly afterwards at The Carnegie Arts Centre for a coffee and a chat.  This event is sure to lift your spirits!

No booking required.  If it’s raining, we will meet at The Carnegie Arts Centre). 

The South Kerry Rosen Choir was formed in 1988 by Dr. Hans Waldemar Rosen, (Director of the RTE Singers) when he came to live in Gleesk, Sneem.  It was formed at the suggestion of the parish priest at the time, Fr. Michael Murphy, and was the first time Dr.Rosen had a choir composed solely of amateurs.  He rose to this challenge and was very proud of his “young choir” as he called them.  Upon his death in 1994, the Rosen Choir was honoured to be invited by his family as the only amateur choir to join the professional choirs to sing at Dr. Rosen’s funeral mass in Dublin.

Over the years, the choir has hosted visiting choirs and in recent years they have been proud to sing with Norwegians, many Americans and English choirs.  Every year, they perform at the Sneem International Storytelling & Folklore Festival in November as well as at fairs, carol services and concerts across the region.

They sing a wide range of music and have gone from strength to strength, winning the top prize at the Kenmare Choral Festival in the chamber music section.   One of their proudest moments was when they performed at The Vatican with choirs from around the world.

Choir members come from all over South Kerry, from Tuosist to Ballinskelligs and beyond.  Stephen Till, the choir’s director, has been with them for seven years, and challenges them with many interesting pieces that continue to entertain and delight audiences.