Our Lady’s Choral Society
Our Lady’s Choral Society
Our Lady’s Choral Society (OLCS) was founded in Dublin in 1945, after the Dublin Archdiocese brought together the best singers from all the church choirs of Dublin for a performance of Handel’s Messiah.
Since then the choir has undertaken performances of works by a very broad range of composers including, Bach, Beethoven, Berlioz, Brahms, Bruckner, Charpentier, Dvorak, Faure, Gounod, Haydn, Mahler, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Orff, Poulenc, Puccini, Rossini, Stravinsky, Tippett, Verdi, and more.
In 1958 the choir sang ‘The Dream of Gerontius’ for Pope Pius XII in Rome.
Today the 120 choristers chosen for membership are united by a passion for singing great choral music at a professional level.
The present director of the choir Paul Ward has been a singing member since 1985.
The present music director Proinnsías Ó Duinn has been responsible for the choir's musical development since 1979. Under his direction, OLCS has undertaken many ambitious works, from Charpentier to Stravinsky. It has also premièred works by luminary Irish composers, such as John Kinsella and Seoirse Bodley.
OLCS appears regularly at the National Concert Hall, accompanied by the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland.
In 2007 the choir went to Limburg in Germany to sing “The Dream of Gerontius”.
Messiah continues to be the choir’s signature work. OLCS has the privilege of performing Messiah excerpts at the site of the old Music Hall in Fishamble St. where the oratorio premièred in 1742, and full performances of the work annually in the National Concert Hall since its opening.
Today, Our Lady’s Choral Society holds a unique place in the diverse, cosmopolitan city that Dublin has become. Under the guardianship of the Archdiocese, OLCS welcomes members from all religions and all walks of life. For many people living in Dublin, the Christmas season simply does not begin until they've heard at least one performance of Handel’s Messiah by Our Lady’s Choral Society.