Enchiriadis was Founded by Dr.Marion Doherty Hayden in 1994. In the years since our ranks have grown to over 100.
We are all united by our love of choral music and by a desire to perform it at the highest possible level. Our repertoire encompasses everything from the great classical choral secular and sacred works to contemporary pieces ranging from numbers from musicals to much loved pop songs. Sometimes our concerts are a mix of all of the above and sometimes we concentrate on a single genre as the venue, audience and occasion dictates.
Our motto is “Excellence Through Performance”. We aim to improve with every successive performance and we see ourselves as being on an unending musical journey of continuous learning and improvement.
In addition to our regular programme of rehearsals and concerts, we also organise a number of social events such as summer and Christmas parties and some mixed work and play trips to interesting locations at home and overseas where we get to socialise and sing in some beautiful and historic venues.
Over the years, we have been lucky to be led by supremely talented people who have enabled us to constantly improve and develop our skills and repertoire. Since 2011, our wonderful musical director Cathal Clinch has led us along with our superb accompanist Jillian Saunders.
Cathal Clinch – Choir Director
Cathal has been Musical Director of Enchiriadis since 2010 and has directed us in concerts in Ireland and mainland Europe. Some highlights include performances of Leonard Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, Karl Jenkins’ The Armed Man, Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Coronation Mass and Vivaldi’s Gloria. Under Cathal’s direction, we have also been lucky enough to perform in some magnificent venues from The National Concert Hall here at home to St Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
In addition to our classical concerts Cathal has also lead us in many contemporary performances with a repertoire encompassing everything from ABBA and The Beatles to Les Miserables and The Greatest Showman. He also directs our ever-popular Christmas Concerts Cathal is a graduate of NUI Maynooth and was awarded a Masters in Conducting from St Patrick’s College, Drumcondra in 1997. He previously conducted the Maynooth Chamber and Exaultate Choirs and has been the director of St Fintan’s Sutton Church Choir for over 25 years. Cathal is also an accomplished choral singer and has toured and recorded as a member of internationally renowned Irish Choir, Anuna.
Jillian Saunders – Accompanist
We’re very lucky to have the extremely talented Jillian our accompanist for rehearsals and performances. Jillian studied Piano and Cello and gained a BMusPerf at the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) Conservatory of Music and Drama. She also has a BA in Music from Trinity College Dublin (TCD).
Jillian is a former member of The National Youth Orchestra of Ireland. She now divides her time between teaching and performing. In addition to her work with Enchiriadis she is the accompanist to the Three Tenors Ireland.
We are also very well served by a dedicated committee and Chairperson who work hard behind the scenes to ensure everything runs smoothly from rehearsals to performances to choir trips and home and abroad.
