Manx Proms in right Keys
Margaret Keys
THE Manx Last Night of the Proms 2012 is all set to take the Gaiety Theatre by storm on Saturday night.
The annual event showcases the talents of the Manx Youth Band and Manx Concert Brass.
And this year they will be joined on stage by special guest Irish soprano Margaret Keys.
Margaret is an Irish classical crosso-ver soprano from Derry in Northern Ireland. At the tender age of 15, Margaret, who now has a record deal with Uni-versal Records, was winner of the Trinity College of Music London Medal for the best overall performer in music examinations.
Since graduating in vocal performance, Margaret has sung extensively throughout Ireland, the UK, America, Australia and New Zealand. She has won numerous awards, including the International Artists Profile Award, The New York Artist Award and was chosen as one of eight finalists in the RTE Young Diva of the Year.
She was also the winner of the BBC Fame Academy Award and had the opportunity to work and train alongside Broadway stars, directors and producers.
In March 2011, Margaret performed in several LA theatres, headlining the concert Ireland’s Favourite Stars alongside America’s Got Talent finalists. She has also performed with the San Antonio Symphony Orchestra as well as the acclaimed tenor and West End star Alfie Boe and the National Symphony Orchestra. Another highlight was when she appeared as special guest of the multi-platinum selling Fron Male Voice Choir during their recent tour to New York.
Earlier this year, she featured in the ITV Wales documentary Living the Dream, which was based on her tour with the Fron Male Voice Choir to New York.
In February, she made her debut at the grand Ulster Hall in Belfast and was invited to perform on a special BBC Sounds Classical Crossover programme. And then, in April 2011, Margaret joined forces with the Warrington Male Voice Choir and Manx Concert Brass in a concert at the Villa Marina which raised more than £6,000 for charities supported by Help the Heroes. Margaret is now an ambassador for Derry, the UK City of Culture 2013.
The Manx Youth Band was founded by the late Jim Crosbie in 1970.
It has since been very successful at the Guild and various off-island contests and undertaken many European tours.
Its members have also performed with some of the greatest names in the classical music and entertainment worlds as well as a number of military bands including the Bands of the Scots Guards, Royal Marines and Royal Artillery.
They have even performed for the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh at a private lunch in the island in 1989.
As the years passed, more players beyond the age of 19 wanted to stay within the band and as a result Manx Concert Brass was created in 1995 with no upper age limit. Since then it has competed in the North West Regional Championships, Pontin’s Brass Championships and the Northern Open Brass Band Championships.
And in 2006 they made their stage debut joining the Legion Players in Brassed Off at the Gaiety Theatre.
The Last Night of the Proms begins at 8pm. The second half will include traditional classics such as Rule Britannia, Land of Hope and Glory and Jerusalem for all to join in. Tickets cost £12.50 in the stalls and £15 in the dress circle (concessions £10).
They are available from the box office on 600555, at theWelcome Centre in the Sea Terminal, Gaiety Theatre reception or online at www.villagaiety.com
And for the first time, Manx Concert Brass will take to the road on Saturday afternoon in the Topless Proms.
To promote the evening’s concert, the band will be travelling around parts of the island on an open top Mann Sightseeing Tour bus.
They are due to play at Douglas Steam Railway Station fun day at about 1.40pm , at Castletown Square at 2.10pm, at The Sound at 2.50pm, on Peel quay/promenade at 3.50pm and on Douglas seafront at 5.30pm. These times are approximate.
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Weather for Isle of Man
Wednesday 22 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 6 C to 12 C
Wind Speed: 24 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 6 C to 11 C
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Wind direction: North west
