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It was during the latter days of November 1944 that the statement
"Let's form a choir" was made to a group of men singing round a
coke fire in the Victoria Works of the famous Belfast shipyard of
Harland and Wolff during a lunch time break. The sing songs of
these men sounded good to the listeners and were a daily feature
to help break the monotony of men working long hours during the
war years. At the first meeting called for those interested in the
formation of a choir the response was so encouraging that
rehearsal began the next week.
They encountered problems immediately - Where would
rehearsals take place? And when? as the men were working twelve
hour shifts. Agreement was soon reached, and an outside air-raid
shelter was placed at the disposal of the men during lunch-breaks
for the first choir rehearsals. One member, Norman Fitzsimmons,
agreed to act as conductor and so rehearsals commenced.
Progress was good, so good in fact that a room in Belfast
city centre was hired and the first full time Director of Music,
Adam Donaghy was appointed in 1945. Under Adam's guidance the
choir grew rapidly in competence. The membership became larger and
more dedicated, the scene of men coming directly from work in
boiler suits and overalls was a common one such was the
enthusiasm, which pertains to this day. The decisive moment had
arrived, the choir entered for Larne Competitive Music Festival
and in a strong class entry won first place with an average of 92
marks.
This was the first of a succession of awards won at music
festivals in the British Isles, the list is an impressive one.
Harlandic have won the BBC 'Let the People Sing' competition a
record four times and have represented the United Kingdom in the
European finals of that competition on three occasions. |
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| Accompanists |
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| Archy McNeill |
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2009- |
| Helena Nicholl |
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2005 - 2009 |
| Richard Barnes |
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2002 - 2004 |
| David Drinkell |
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1997 - 2002 |
| Naomi Hughes |
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1995 - 1997 |
| Stephen Linton |
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1994 - 1995 |
| Audrey Gillian |
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1992 - 1994 |
| Geraldine Bennett |
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1990 -1992 |
| Patricia Chambers |
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1981 - 1990 |
| Eileen McCullough |
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1975 - 1981 |
| Norman Hawkins |
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1965 -1966 |
| Maisie Fee |
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1952 - 1965 |
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