Nenagh baritone Dylan Rooney returns for special Christmas concert in his native parish

Talented Toomevara baritone Dylan Rooney is returning to his native parish next week for a special Christmas concert.

A Classical Christmas, which will be performed in Ballinree Church on December 22, will feature an excerpt from The Trumpet Shall Sound from Handel’s Messiah, along with arias and duets from various operas which will include Quando me’n vo’ from Puccini’s La Boheme.

There will also be piano solos featuring works by Ravel and Rachmaninoff - all among some of the well-known and loved Christmas songs and carols including White Christmas, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, and Joy to the World.

Dylan will be joined by a number of friends for the evening, including, Eiméar Harper (soprano); Emily Hegarty (mezzo); Seán Tester (tenor); Luke Lally Maguire (pianist).

Dylan has just completed his Master's in the Guildhall in London under Robert Dean.

He completed a Bachelor in Music Performance degree at the Royal Irish Academy of Music, Trinity College, Dublin, under the vocal tutelage of Virginia Kerr, in 2019.

Some recent performance highlights for Dylan include soloist at tthe Summer Festival of Opera at Killruddery House, Wicklow, and at the reception of the newly-appointed Irish Ambassador to the UK in London.

In the past, Dylan has represented the Royal Irish Academy of Music as one of its chosen ambassadors, performing a series of concerts entitled Artist’s Choice in New York.

Dylan’s operatic performances to date include, Mozart’s, La Finta Giardinera (Nardo), Britten’s, Noye’s Fludde (Noye), and the Irish premier of Francesca Caccini’s, Alcina (Ruggiero). More recently, he performed as part of onstage chorus in a professional production of Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore with West Green Opera, in London.

Dylan has achieved several awards and bursaries through classical singing competitions at Feis Ceoil which include the: Vincent O’ Brien Cup, Baritone Solo Cup, Sligo Cup, John McCormack Society Cup and Bursary, and Hazelwood House Bursary.

Dylan has also participated in several masterclasses in Ireland and abroad, with esteemed singers and coaches such as: Dame Anne Murray, Brenda Hurley, Dr. Matteo Dalle Fratte, Bruno Caproni, and Julian Evans.

Tickets (€25) will be available at Casey’s Service Station, Toomevara; Guerin’s Pharmacy, Nenagh; The Wine Buff, Nenagh or by contacting Fran O’Brien at 085-7079171.