DMEP Christmas concert 2018 – all you need to know!

Here’s our festive letter to those taking part in our DMEP Family Christmas Concert 2018 in An Grianán Theatre in Letterkenny, Sunday 9th December, at 5pm. And it’s a sell-out once again 🙂 Should be a lovely festive musical evening!

 

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DMEP Christmas Concert Arrangements for Sunday 9th December 2018

 

Dear Performing Group Member & Parent/Guardian,

Our annual Family Christmas Concert is in An Grianán Theatre, Letterkenny, on Sunday, 9th December, at 5pm.  It’s another sell-out so there should be a great atmosphere in the theatre. There’s a great line-up of performers once again, orchestras, ensembles, choirs and singers among them.

Although the concert does not start until 5pm, the action starts earlier so that all the groups and performers get a chance to sound check at An Grianán and also practice getting on and off the stage. You should arrive at An Grianán 15 minutes before your stagecheck/soundcheck time. Here are the times (a stage manager will have the job of making sure we stick to these, you’ll get a ‘five minute warning’ J) –

 

1.45pm Letterkenny Junior Choir

2pm Donegal Youth Orchestra

2.50pm Donegal Youth Choir, Dungloe Junior Choir practice taking places for final carols, DYC behind orchestra, junior choirs on wings (Letterkenny JC can join in at the actual time). Practice carols

3.10pm Put DYO stuff to side, clear stage for Donegal Youth Choir

3.35pm Dungloe Junior Choir

3.50pm String Quartet

4.00pm Errigal Groove Orchestra

4.20pm All finish

 

Your conductors will keep you posted on what’s happening. Probably best to take seats (quietly!) in theatre auditorium while waiting for sound checks / stage checks. All members of Donegal Youth Orchestra should be available for sound check/rehearsal in theatre from 1.45pm – 3.15pm. Everyone should bring food/snacks with them for the afternoon.

We’re going to try using the theatre only this year until after the concert (rather than the RCC as well). Here is the allocation of rooms in the theatre –

 

Green room – Donegal Youth Choir

Conference room (ground floor) – Donegal Youth Orchestra can use this for instruments, bags etc

Dressing room – Dungloe Junior Choir

Dressing room – Errigal Groove Orchestra

Dressing room – Letterkenny Junior Choir

 

CONCERT TIMES

 

Here are the times you’re due to be ready and waiting to go onstage –

[Onstage times are approx.; smaller ensembles should be waiting quietly at side of stage five minutes before they’re on; larger ensembles will form in the corridor, very quietly :-)]

 

• 55pm Cór Gaeilscoil Adhamhnáin in corridor, ready to follow CE Anne McHugh’s speech
• 00pm Errigal Groove Orchestra in corridor, move sidestage when it’s free (onstage 5.18pm)
• 15pm Dungloe Junior Choir, side of stage (onstage 5.28pm)
• 25pm String quartet, side of stage (onstage 5.35pm)
• 30pm Letterkenny Junior Choir, side of stage (onstage 5.40pm)
• 37pm Donegal Youth Choir, side of stage (onstage 5.47pm)
• 58pm Donegal Youth Orchestra set up onstage during interval, take places when ready. Performance begins at 6.20pm

 

BUS PICK-UPS:             

12.45pm     Abbey Vocational School car-park, Donegal Town & then via Ballybofey

12.45pm     Chapel car-park, Dungloe, quickest route to Letterkenny

 

IMPORTANT NOTE!  As most parents / families traditionally attend the Christmas Concert, there is no RETURN transport provided after the concert.  The concert will finish around 7.30pm.

 

All performers and families are invited to join us in the Regional Cultural Centre for some light refreshments AFTER the concert to mark the festive season and to show appreciation for your commitment to your performing group and to the DMEP throughout the year.

 

YOUR CHECKLIST FOR THE DAY OF THE CONCERT

 

• Please note you must bring a full packed lunch and enough snacks and drinks to last you throughout the afternoon and into the evening of the concert as you will not be allowed to leave An Grianán Theatre to purchase food.

• Dress for the concert is ALL BLACK, including shoes and socks/tights. In the spirit of Christmas we encourage the addition of some sparkles or a splash of red or green as part of your dress, and in the case of our Junior Choirs, don’t forget to bring your Santa Hat!  We also ask that all members of the Saxtet also don their black gear for their performances in the theatre foyer. Sunglasses if needed!
• To all our instrumentalists, PLEASE PLEASE bring your own music stand as we don’t have so many to pick up the slack!

* ANOTHER IMPORTANT BIT! Each member is asked to bring in €2 to contribute to a present for the individual conductors / leaders of our performing groups

 Please get in contact if you have any queries. Enjoy the show!  THE DMEP CREW