The historic Bach organ in the Guildhall
CLASSICAL music fans who want to be part of an important moment in local history are invited to attend the Gloria concert performance scheduled to take place at the Guildhall this Sunday afternoon.
The event is being organised to coincide with the newly refurbished organ in the Main Hall of the historic building and will feature some of the finest musicians and choristers performing live on Sunday June 26th from 3pm-5pm.
The Gloria concert is being organised by Derry City and Strabane District Council and The Honourable The Irish Society, original funders of the Guildhall building where the organ was first introduced as a feature of the Main Hall in 1891.
Among those performing are Catherine Ennis, Codetta, and senior choristers from Christ’s Hospital and St Mary’s College, with a narrative by Sir Roger Gifford.
Tickets for the concert are currently on sale priced at £5 and £10 (plus booking fee) and are available from the Guildhall and the Tower Museum and also online at www.derrystrabane.com/guildhall
Among the charities to benefit from the proceeds are the local Foyle Hospice and the Mayor’s chosen charities, Action Cancer and Tearfund.
Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council Alderman Hilary McClintock says the concert is a fantastic celebratory event that will showcase both the Guildhall and local music talent.
The original Guildhall organ was crafted and paid for by public donations of £2,000 in 1891 and was destroyed by fire in 1908.
It was reinstalled but was again damaged by the 1972 bombs before being rebuilt by Hill, Norman and Beard Ltd of London at a cost of £68,000 in 1978.
The recently completed restoration of the Guildhall organ was part of a £10m project funded by the former Derry City Council, Tourism NI, Department of Social Development and Department for Environment under its Built Heritage Programme.
