Local Faces: Terence ‘Terry’ Clancy
By Aimee Walsh
MUSICAL Director and Conductor, Terence ‘Terry’ Clancy from Springfield in Tallaght spent his early years with the Defence Forces School of Music, being appointed Senior Woodwind Instructor, and took on the role of developing young musicians for a professional career in the school.
“I was a member of the Army School of music for 30 years, which trained professional musicians for the army bands. I used to train young musicians for two years before they got into those bands.”, Terry explained.
Terry Clancy
After teaching music for over 30 years, Terry decided to devote his time and experience by offering an opportunity to adults who did not get the chance to take up music in their school years, or those who did, but never continued. Terry founded ‘Sounds Ensemble’ an amateur concert band, in 2004.
“I was also a teacher in Templeogue College for 20 years. I was teaching a lot of young people and I thought it would be good to offer the older generation a chance to take up music and give them an opportunity to meet like-minded people and to raise money for charity.”
Sounds Ensemble are a 50-piece concert band made up of various instruments from clarinets, saxophones, oboes, trumpets, trombones, and percussion.
“It is made up of 50 members of all ages, ranging from 28 to 85. They are from all walks of life – from school principals, architects, teachers, doctors, nurses and housewives. We have got everyone in there.”
Terry says the concert band is open to everybody of all abilities, with the only requirements being ‘enthusiasm and commitment’ as he says, “these two ingredients create a joy in making music together”.
Terry Clancy says the concert band is open to everybody of all abilities, enthusiasm and commitment are the two ingredients that create a joy in making music together
The 50-piece band play a plethora of different music, ranging from The Beatles to Bach, so there is something for everyone to enjoy.
“We play film themes, The Beatles, Bach, a bit of Beethoven, we play the whole gamut of music. As well as light classical, pop, jazz and swing.” Terry tells The Echo.
Due to current Covid-19 restrictions, the concert band have swapped their usual rehearsal spot at Rua Red in Tallaght for Zoom, which Terry says gives the band an opportunity to check on each other through these difficult times.
Terry Clancy
“The main purpose of zoom for us as a band is keeping in touch with each other and to check on everybody to see how they are doing.
“It is not the quality of music because there is a delay in the music, I don’t have time to shout, ‘that’s the wrong note you deaf sod! by then it’s too late.” Terry jokes.
Community spirit is at the core of the band, as every concert and performance the band plays is to raise money for charities and deserving causes. Over the years the concert band have raised money for charities such as RNLI, Simon Community, ARC, The Moldova Project and Jack and Jill.
Terry Clancy
“Anyone that asks us to raise money that we know we can give a good amount of money to we will. There is no fee to hire us, anything we get at the door we give directly to the charity.” Terry explains.
The concert band also pair up with other bands and orchestras such as Rathfarnham Concert Band, St. Agnes LSO and visiting bands from the U.S.A and Canada to perform in the Civic Theatre to raise funds for charities.
“Everybody benefits. We are a community band, and everything we do is for the community. The people get to get out of their house so they are happy, I get to teach them and I am happy, and the community benefits. It is happiness everywhere.”
Former Senior Woodwind Instructor with the Army School of music Terry Clancy, founded Sounds Ensemble in 2004 to offer an opportunity to adults to play music
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, Sounds Ensemble have not been able to play live concerts in almost a year, but Terry says as soon as the restrictions ease, he is sure that they will be back with a bang.
“The next step after Rua Red is the Royal Albert Hall!”
If you wish to find out more about Sounds Ensemble or are interested in joining you can find them on Soundsen Semble or Facebook.
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