School choir performs at the Peace Proms alongside Matilda star Alisha

THE school choir from Scoil Maelruain Senior School in Tallaght performed as part of the Peace Proms in the RDS this month, alongside ‘Matilda’ star and Knocklyon native Alisha Weir.

The 45 pupils from the school choir joined a cast of 2,000 students from around Leinster to give show-stopping performances on February 3 and 4.

Rehearsals for their Tallaght students’ performances were in full swing in the weeks leading up to the Peace Proms, under the instruction of teachers Margaret Murphy and Eve Conlon.

The children’s repertoire included a medley of musical numbers from films including ‘High School Musical’ and ‘Matilda’, with ‘Matilda’ star Alisha Weir making a surprise appearance at the event.

They also sang a medley of pop songs from the past year, and a stirring rendition of ‘You’re the Voice’, in a nod to the Peace Proms’ beginning as a cross-border orchestra during the Peace process.

The cross-border orchestra is still going strong, and they provided musical accompaniment to the children who performed.

Commenting on her pupils’ experience at the Peace Proms, Ms Murphy told The Echo: “It’s a great opportunity for them to perform with an orchestra like that, and at that scale.

“They get such a buzz out of singing on stage and the response that they get from the audience.

“This year they had Alisha Weir as a surprise guest, and the kids were all very excited to see her.

“They did a lot of medleys.

“There was a musical medley, and they do a pop medley of songs every year from the last year, and they sang ‘You’re the Voice’ – it’s a song with a message of peace.

“They loved it all.

“It’s very hard to explain what it’s like to the children who haven’t gone, but they love it.

“We asked them did they want to go again next year and they said, ‘Absolutely’.

“They can’t wait – they love the performances, and it gives them a lot of confidence.”

This confidence boost was apparent in a card that Ms Murphy received from the parent of a child who performed at this year’s Peace Proms in the Scoil Maelruain Senior School choir.

“One parent gave me a card saying they have a very quiet child,” she said, “but they made memories at the Peace Proms that they will remember for life.”