Theatre legend to join city orchestra

TEENAGE members of the country’s oldest youth orchestra are tuning up for the performance of their lives with one of the world’s greatest stars of musical theatre.

The legendary Broadway and West End star Colm Wilkinson, whose dynamic vocal talents have defined the lead roles of hit musicals such as Les Miserables and The Phantom of the Opera, has agreed to perform two concerts with the 125-strong Cork Youth Orchestra (CYO) in Cork’s City Hall next month.

It is understood it is the first time the multi-award winning Irish-born singer has agreed to perform with an Irish youth orchestra.

CYO chairman, Adrian O’Mahony, said everyone associated with the voluntary-run CYO is thrilled.

“Colm Wilkinson is the guy to get. We have been chasing him for two years and we are absolutely delighted that he agreed to perform with us,” Mr O’Mahony said.

The CYO was founded in 1958 and today boasts four orchestras — including a full 125-piece orchestra, a junior orchestra and a chamber orchestra.

CYO members range in age from 14 to 19 and they rehearse every Saturday at Deerpark school under conductor Tomás McCarthy.

They will perform two two-hour shows with Mr Wilkinson — on December 10 and 11 — in City Hall’s 1,100 capacity concert hall featuring theatre favourites including Music of the Night, Somewhere, and Wilkinson’s signature Bring Him Home.

The concerts are part of a major fundraising drive to help the CYO travel to Italy next July to take part in the European Festival of Youth Orchestras.

Wilkinson achieved international fame when he created the role of Jean Valjean with The Royal Shakespeare Company for Les Mis.

He has performed before millions of theatregoers worldwide, including dignitaries and heads of state, including US President Barack Obama during the late Senator Ted Kennedy’s birthday celebrations in 2009.

His Cork concerts, which are being held in association with Jaguar and Brittany Ferries, will be hosted by broadcaster George Hook.

Tickets priced €30 and €55 are available from Pro Musica, Oliver Plunkett St, Cork, and online at www.ticketgroup.ie.

* www.cyo.ie