Southside - DublinPeople.com

9 JANUARY 2013. SOUTHSIDE PEOPLE news 7City to come alive to the sounds of singingMORE than 80 of the world’s best singers from over 30 nationsare arriving in Dublin later this month for a prestigious internationalcompetition in the National Concert Hall.From Friday, January 25 toThursday 31 the hall will be filledwith the operatic voices of thedozens of competitors taking part inthe 7th Veronica Dunne InternationalSinging Competition.Eighteen years after the inauguralVeronica Dunne InternationalSinging Competition was held in1995 to honour the lifetime’s workof Dr Veronica Dunne, the triennialevent has continued to grow fromstrength to strength.As a member of the World Federationof International MusicCompetitions, the Dublin leg of thecompetition offers a flagship globalstage for the encouragement and developmentof Irish and internationalvocal talent.Attracting enormous internationalinterest, this year’s competitionboasts the largest ever applicantcount, with more than 80 singingcompetitors from over 30 nationsaround the globe.The competition affords singersacross all opera disciplines, betweenthe ages of 25 to 34, the opportunityto compete at an elite standard.The total prize fund this year isin excess of €30,000 with over 12prizes including engagements at theWigmore Hall, London and WexfordFestival Opera.Artistic director and founder, DrVeronica Dunne, has devoted a lifetime’swork to the Dublin operaworld. Commenting on the successof the competition over the past 18years, Dr Dunne said: “I am so veryproud that the competition and ourtalented winners continue to achievegreat success at home and abroad.by Neil Fetherston“The Veronica Dunne InternationalSinging Competition hasmade my vision of providing bursaryfunds and a host of nationaland international engagements topromising young vocalists cometrue. The operatic standard increaseswith every competition, and thisyear’s event will no doubt be ourmost thrilling yet, as we welcomeour largest ever applicant count andour extremely distinguished jury.”The competition will be stagedin four rounds with the preliminarystage taking place on Friday January25 and Saturday 26.The quarter final will take placeon Sunday 27 with the semi final onTuesday 29, followed by the final onThursday 31.All rounds will be open to thepublic and the aspiring opera singerswill be accompanied by the RTENational Symphony Orchestra inthe final round under the baton ofSwedish conductor Patrik Ringborg.Previous winners of the competitionhave carved highly successfulinternational careers and performedin the world’s leading opera housesincluding the Stuttgart OperaHouse, the Bavarian State Opera,Munich, the Deutsche Oper, Berlin,the Vienna Staatsoper and the MetropolitanOpera, New York.Tickets can be purchased at theNational Concert Hall Box Office bytelephoning (01) 417 0000 or onlineat www.nch.ie● A LOTTA SMILES: Noeleen Keegan, from Crumlin, won €33,000 on a recentWinning Streak TV Gameshow. Pictured with Noeleen are Marty Whelan,gameshow host, Nigel Scully of the National Lottery, and Geri Maye.(1987-2012)- celebrating 25 years of local newsBROTHERSIN ARMS:Bono and BrendanO'Carroll pictured atthe NationalEntertainment Awardsin the National ConcertHall in 1994.PHOTO BYDARRENKINSELLATo mark our 25th anniversary, we are featuring someamazing photos from our archives on our Facebook page.For full access to the Dublin People Archives, simply 'like' ourFacebook page on www.facebook.com/Dublinpeople