The National Children’s Choir is a school-based choral experience for primary school children
Welcome to the National Children's Choir
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The aims of the National Children’s Choir are
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To foster a love of choral singing among primary school pupils
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To enhance the musical education of those involved.
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How does it work?
Membership of the National Children's Choir is open to pupils in 4th, 5th and 6th classes (P5, P6, P7 in Northern Ireland) of any primary school in Ireland.
Schools are invited to affiliate at the beginning of the school year in which the concerts will be performed (e.g. the next cycle will begin in September 2024 for the Concerts to be held in 2025). If you wish to be included on our mailing list please email us at nationalchildrenschoir@gmail.com
In the year preceding the concert, the National Committee run a Summer course which qualifies for EPV days. During the course the participating teachers learn the repertoire for the year ahead. Emphasis is put on interpretation of the songs, thus ensuring a common experience for the children. It is strongly recommended that every teacher intending to teach the repertoire attends the Summer Course.
The repertoire (in vocal score format accompanied by digital teaching recordings) is made available to schools for a fee upon affiliation. Teachers teach the repertoire at school as part of the normal music programme. Schools are arranged into regional groups and come together to rehearse 3 times during the year.
Local concerts in which all children who have learned the repertoire participate, are held March–May. A representative group from each participating school performs in a concert at the National Concert Hall in May/June.​
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History
The choir has its roots in European Music Year, 1985. Dr Seán Creamer (then a music inspector with the Department of Education and Science) wanted to celebrate this exciting event in a unique way. His idea was that large groups of children from 4th, 5th and 6th classes in primary schools would learn and perform a common repertoire in public. He approached a number of teachers with this vision and they willingly supported him. This was the birth of the National Children's Choir.
Since 1985 over 100,000 children have enjoyed the experience of singing with the National Children's Choir at a local level. This is a tribute to the dedication and commitment of teachers all over the country.
Dr Creamer, was conferred with the degree of Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) by the Higher Education Training Awards Council (HETAC) in recognition of his services to music education over a period of almost 60 years, especially through the National Children’s Choir.
Minister for Education and Science, Mary Hanafin T.D., presented Seán with his parchment. This honour reflects greatly on the National Children’s Choir and its contribution, under Sean’s inspired and enthusiastic guidance, to the musical education of tens of thousands of primary school children since 1985.
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His work continues through the three Musical Directors who continue to take the NCC to new heights.
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A tribute to Seán Creamer
Our dad was the most wonderful, exciting, creative and good-humoured man. When he became a music inspector and moved to Sligo, he began to experiment with his vision of massed choral singing for children. He envisioned that all children be given opportunities to sing choral music of a high standard thus instilling in them a lifelong love of singing. From humble beginnings involving many children in Sligo singing Christmas carols, to performing “How the Stars were made” in Dublin’s Coláiste Mhuire, the idea of the National Children’s Choir was conceived.
During 1985 European Music Year, he muted the idea of forming a National Children’s Choir with likeminded visionaries and it took off from there! Since its inception, children from all over Ireland and abroad have experienced a diverse repertoire, from "Summer is Icummen in" to contemporary music, spanning "Bach to the Beatles".
A humble man, dad never sought the limelight but instead focused on recognizing the huge efforts of teachers in growing the success of the National Children’s Choir.
The National Children’s Choir has enjoyed many highlights over the last forty years. What Dad particularly enjoyed was when over 1,000 children at a time performed in the now 3Arena as this reflected his aspiration for large-scale choral events. His dream of 10,000 children performing together in Croke Park remains alive today and is confirmation of his visionary spirit. The ongoing success and growth of the NCC are testament to his legacy, ensuring that his contributions to music education will continue to inspire future generations and touch countless lives.
The flame lit in 1985 still burns as brightly as ever.
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Órla Gillan and the Creamer Family
