One Choir, One Community, No Divides, ALL Abilities

Inclusive Community Choir

Newsletter January 2015

Musical Director: Grinne OGrady www.facebook.com/inclusivechoir

e: info@musicmatters.ie
www.facebook.com/musicmatters2012
M: 087-9803020
www.musicmatters.ie
www.twitter.com/InclusiveChoir
www.musicmatterschoir.blogspot.ie
www.youtube.com/musicmattersdublin
http://www.flickr.com/music-matters-dublin
https://www.pinterest.com/musicmatters01/
https://www.scribd.com/MusicMattersChoir

Rehearsal Venue: MACRO Building, 1 Green St, Dublin 7 (Every Wednesday 7.00 9.00 PM)
Welcome to our First Newsletter of 2015!
Wishing a very Happy, Peaceful and Wonderful New Year to ALL of our Readers!
2014 was the biggest and most exciting year to date for Music Matters!
Festivals, Concerts, TV and Radio Interviews, Art Galleries, Conferences, Fundraising Events,
Guest Performances and Award Ceremonies, as well as our weekly rehearsals!
And of course:
The Production, Recording, Editing and Launching of our Debut Album
Music Matters: Celebrating 140 Characters
The soundtrack in this linked video is "This Life" we especially commissioned Norah Walsh, a
composer and music arranger, to facilitate songwriting workshops at Axis Ballymun.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wt4ocp7zZtE
The song "This Life" is an accurate reflection of the
lives of our members and emphasises that Music
Matters is about:
"meeting some friends, singing your heart out, and
going home smiling"
Long may this continue in 2015 and beyond!
This album features 140 singers (characters) from 9 90 years of age, including singers from
the Musical Memories and Forget Me Nots Choirs for older people, and those with dementia,
as well as our talented friends from Ossia Youth Choir.
There is a total of 12 tracks; from the traditional Irish tune Carrickfergus, to Royals by Lorde,
to original compositions by our own choir members Music Matters: Celebrating 140
Characters is bound to be the most eclectic album you have ever heard!
Copies of the album are 10 each with all proceeds used to support our inclusive community
music projects. If you would like to buy an album or would consider selling albums amongst
your family, friends, work colleagues or within your business we would be delighted to hear
from you! Please email: info@musicmatters.ie for more info
Music Matters would like to thank the Community & Social Development Service and Arts
Office of Dublin City Council for their generous sponsorship and support of this project. We are
also grateful to Axis Ballymun for their continued guidance, advice and support of our members

Need a New Years Resolution? Join Music Matters!

Be Part of: One Choir, One Community, No Divides, ALL Abilities in 2015!
Our main inclusive community choir will resume rehearsals on Wednesday 7th January 2015
We rehearse at the MACRO Community Resource Centre, 1 Green St, Dublin 7 every
Wednesday from 7.00 9.00 PM
Music Matters aims to include anyone over age 16; who has a passion for singing and musical
performances; regardless of previous choral experience, ability, language or other barriers
which may prevent our members from being able to participate in other musical groups. At
present, 80% of our members have a disability or mental health condition. We also have
members from different socio-economic backgrounds, cultures and religious beliefs.

New members are welcome to join Music Matters at any time NO previous choral experience
or audition necessary! For more info, email: info@musicmatters.ie or visit our blog:
http://musicmatterschoir.blogspot.ie/p/about-our-choir_11.html
For those who have difficulty locating the MACRO Centre, a group of choir members meets
outside Easons in OConnell St every Wednesday at 6.30 PM. New members are welcome to
meet this group at Easons, or go directly to the MACRO Centre. We also have support work
volunteers to guide those with visual impairments from Easons to the MACRO Centre.
New support work volunteers, as well as volunteers for roles as diverse as Assistant
Conductor, Marketing, Fundraising, Admin and special guest musicians are welcome to join us
at any time! For more info, email: volunteers@musicmatters.ie or visit our blog:
http://musicmatterschoir.blogspot.ie/p/volunteering-opportunities_11.html
Music Matters on Risn (TG4)

Musical Memories on Nationwide (RTE1)

On Monday 15th December 2014, our

Wednesday evening choir featured on
Risn a show presented by Risn N
Eadhra on TG4 (TG Ceathar Irish language
TV channel)

On Friday 19th December 2014, the Musical

Memories Choirs and the Newpark Senior
Tours Orchestra were featured on RTE1s
Nationwide
Grinne OGrady is Musical Director of
Musical Memories choirs which started as a
pilot project for older people, especially those
with dementia, their families, friends,
neighbours and carers. These choirs are coordinated by Living Well with Dementia
Stillorgan-Blackrock, HSE Arts & Health
Partnership and Dun Laoghaire Rathdown
County Council
The programme is available until Friday 9th
January at this link:
http://www.rte.ie/news/player/nationwide/2014
/1219/

The show is available on TG4 Player until

Monday 19th January (Music Matters is at the
start of Part 2):
http://www.tg4.tv/play.php?pid=39434697170
01&title=R%C3%B3is%C3%ADn&series=R%
C3%B3is%C3%ADn
The TG4 website can be translated into
Gaeilge (Irish) and English, and English
subtitles are available on the programme itself