THEY have sung for Pope Benedict and charmed audiences with their angelic faces and sweet voices.But when the boys of the Palestrina Choir aren't on stage, they're more like a rugby or football team, according to director Blanaid Murphy.
Blanaid says the "camaraderie" between members of the world-famous choir is key to its success – and Dublin children are clamouring to be a part of it.
Last month, the choir was invited by Pope Benedict to perform at St Peter's Basilica in Rome, alongside the Sistine Chapel Choir.
With the subsequent surprise announcement of his intention to retire, the boys now hold their place in history books as the last Irish choir to perform in front of Pope Benedict.
Rocked
The choir has been in existence for 110 years – and the enthusiasm is as great as ever. It has moved and adapted with the times – its current musical director is now considering performances at music festivals such as Electric Picnic.
Since the choir's foundation the Catholic Church has undergone serious changes.
It has been rocked by scandals and witnessed diminishing numbers in Europe, with more and more becoming disillusioned and losing their faith.
But the complete opposite is happening at the St Mary's Pro Cathedral-based choir.
Blanaid says that there are hundreds of boys and girls clamouring to be involved.
"At the time when the Church is really in a big slump we've got loads of kids wanting to join," she told the Herald. "We actually could have about five choirs, the interest is so big. I think there was always knowledge about the Palestrina Choir hidden in the background. It has just been very successful and it seems to have hit a nerve."
It is hard to imagine that joining a Catholic choir to perform at weekly Mass would attract so many boys of primary and secondary school age.
But Blanaid says it is viewed as being as "cool" as rugby or football by the choristers.
"There is great camaraderie. On Fridays they have their tea upstairs and they go away a lot together," she said. "To
them it is just like football or rugby. To them it is just like being
on a team. That 'leader of the pack' thing is very strong with boys."
The
selection process is very strict and in auditions. And, as might be
expected, candidates are tested for excellence in musical ability
coupled with an interest in religion.
The selectors visit
around 15 schools around Dublin, a mix of inner city, north and south
county schools, to find the right balance for the choir.
"We only take about eight or nine boys each year. We can't even take one boy from each of the schools," Blanaid said. "I
wish we had a secondary choir as well so we could use some of the
talent. We test their musical skills and then invite them if they want
to do an audition."
There is a very strong child protection policy in place at the choir, as with all organisations.
However,
Blanaid said that there is now a sense of "fear" when it comes to
organising any kind of clubs for children, especially within the
Catholic Church.
"I think as a result of what has happened, there has been a great deal of fear of dealing with children," she said. "I
think that is a real shame. I usually manage a children's workshop in
the summer singing with kids from all over the place – they wish that
there was something like this in their own place."
Girls
have been involved in the Marlborough Street choir for the past four
years, something that the director was particularly passionate about.
"I
felt that girls were missing out on training. I would have loved to
have been in a choir like the Palestrina Choir when I was a girl, but
there was nothing," she said.
Emotional
Blanaid grew up in Notting Hill, London to Irish parents – her father was a dentist from Longford and her mother from Omagh.
She
was always interested in church music and played the organ from the age
of 10 and went on to work in Germany before taking up her role with the
choir, where she has been for the past 10 years.
She
says the call from the Vatican came at short notice and the choir had
just six weeks to prepare.
But they managed to pull together funding and
arrangements so that the boys could make the pilgrimage to perform for
the Holy See.
"It was tremendous," she said. "When the
Pope came out and blessed the choir, it was very emotional. I think the
boys were emotional too."
Blanaid particularly loves gospel music and wouldn't mind following the Dublin Gospel Choir to music festivals.
"I would be open to (Electric Picnic)," she said. "I used to have a gospel choir in Germany. I like that kind of music. I think it is good, it is getting people involved and talking about it again."
The opportunities provided for the children involved are enormous, Blanaid says.
They regularly travel to performances around the world and they are trained in qualities that will last them a lifetime.
"I always feel it doesn't matter if they do music, or whatever they do, they have to have that leadership role," Blanaid says. "To
get up three times a week to sing a different repertoire off by heart,
they get to meet people, meet different leaders. So whatever they end up
doing afterwards, or for any exam, it is hugely beneficial."
And she believes that in another 110 years time, the choir will continue to be an important part of the capital city.
"There
are always issues around funding but it is a very valuable thing that
we have," Blanaid said. It is the only one of its kind in Ireland and
there is great support for it so I believe that we are safe."
The
Palestrina Choir performs the special Bach St John Passion on Passion
Sunday.
It sings every Sunday at 11am Mass in the Pro Cathedral.