Charity shops kind donation brings music to schools

By BRIAN MOORE

THE children of the three schools on the Sheep’s Head Peninsula received a very special musical treat thanks to a donation from their local charity shop last week.

Cork-born Soprano Kim Sheehan, who is originally from Crosshaven, was joined by renowned classical guitarist Redmond O’Toole for a master class featuring a selection of children’s songs from around the world.

Redmond said he was delighted to be in West Cork and especially on the ‘beautiful Sheep’s Head Peninsula’.

He added that, with Kim, he performed a medley of well-known children’s songs. ‘We had music from Mozart, Spanish music by Manuel De Falla and Isaac Albeniz, solo guitar music by Nikita Koshkin and Brazilian music by H Villa Lobos,’ he told The Southern Star.

The children were very interested in Redmond’s guitar, which is a ‘Brahms guitar’ and is played not unlike a celio. Redmond has performed at major concert halls and events throughout Europe and performed as soloist with orchestras such as BBC Ulster and the Irish Baroque Orchestra and has toured extensively as guitarist with the legendary Irish group ‘The Chieftains.

Soprano Kim has preformed in Germany, Switzerland and the UK. She has worked with the Royal Opera House, Zürich Opera House, Opera North, Grange Park Opera, Garsington Festival Opera, NI Opera and Wexford Festival.

There were many musical questions from the young audiences, both in Durrus and Kilcrohane. The duo had also visited schools in Macroom, Douglas and Aherla, and will be performing a nationwide tour later this year.

The teachers and the pupils at the three national schools on the Sheep’s Head thanked their local Durrus Charity Shop and all the volunteers who made the musical workshop with Redmond and Kim possible.

Classical guitarist Redmond O’Toole giving a master class to pupils on the Sheep’s Head last week.