FISCA: The Flax Trust Inter-Community School Choirs Award

George Fleeton[/caption] This inaugural Christmas Gala Competition was held in Belfast City Hall on December 05, and involved a sing-off between four primary schools and four post-primary schools from north Belfast.

Produced under the auspices of the Flax Trust, and Belfast City Council, the Artistic Director was Belfast-born soprano Marcella Walsh.

The Adjudicators were George Fleeton, County Down theatre critic and contributor to DownNews along with Una Hunt, and Giselle Allen.

Three prizes were awarded at the end of an evening – in the presence of a capacity audience – which resonated with imagination, energy and inspirational music making.

The Tom Foley Cup for the most promising junior choir was awarded to the Holy Family and Currie Primary Schools, who also shared a Flax Trust bursary of £1,000.

The Sir George Quigley Cup for most accomplished senior choir was awarded to Mercy College and Boys’ Model Schools, and they too shared a bursary of £1,000 presented by the Flax Trust.

The winners of the prestigious George Mitchell Cup for most captivating performance in the competition – with a bursary of £3,000 – went to Dominican College Fortwilliam and Belfast High School for their rendition of Karl Jenkins’ Adiemus, and the Christmas carol O Holy Night.

All in all this was a most enterprising peace through music initiative, a musical project aimed at reconciliation through the art of music which, given its enthusiastic reception on the night, must have a secure future.