WHO ARE WE?
Established in 1996 to promote the development of choirs of excellence
and to provide a musical education for children hitherto only av
ailable
in the cathedral choral tradition, Dublin
Choral Foundation is now recognised as one of Ireland’s
leading choral establishments. The two choirs of Dublin
Choral Foundation, The Lassus Scholars and Piccolo Lasso,
directed by Ite O’Donovan, cater for singers of all ages. They
are named after the great composer and virtuoso of Renaissance polyphony,
Orlande de Lassus (1532-1594).
For
over a decade, Dublin audiences have enjoyed the unique sound of the
combined forces of adult and children's voices with orchestra in the
performance of major choral works. In addition, each choir sings independently.
Piccolo Lasso perform much of the specialist children’s repertoire
including Faure’s Messe Basse, Britten’s Missa Brevis and
Ceremony of Carols and Eric Sweeney’s Missa Brevis. The Lassus
Scholars perform a wide range of music from the Renaissance to modern
compositions. Their repertoire includes Allegri’s Miserere, Palestrina’s
Missa Papae Marcelli, Stanford’s Three Motets Op 38, Durufle’s
Quatre Motets Op 10 and more recent compositions by John Tavener, Eric
Sweeney and Colin Mawby.
The Lassus Scholars and Piccolo Lasso
have performed in many parts of Ireland, in Europe, Moscow and the USA
and have recorded five highly acclaimed CDs. (two Christmas CDs "Sing
Choirs of Angels" and "Angel Tidings", “Wedding
Memories from Ireland”, contemporary choral music by Irish
composer Eric Sweeney “Circle of Light” and “Mozart 250“ the first Irish recording of three masses by Mozart.
In June 1998 Dublin
Choral Foundation was incorporated as a company limited
by guarantee and granted charitable status by the Revenue Commissioners.
CHY 12823.