Naomh Pol News Issue 2

BBC Soloist of the Year Competitors
Our school is lucky to have the talents of Niamh Noade (Year 8) and Maria Meagher (Year
14) representing us in ‘BBC Soloist of the Year’. We wish the very best of luck to them both.
Niamh Noade
Hi, my name is Niamh Noade and I have been singing since I was 7 years of age. I
mainly started singing traditional Irish songs, but more recently have moved on to
sing more contemporary tunes. I have played a number of instruments in the past
including the tin whistle, bodhrán and violin, but my main instrument of choice is
the Irish Harp. I have entered lots of singing competitions over the years at local
feiseanna and fleadhs. Over the past year I have really developed my interest in
singing whilst playing the Harp which can be quite difficult to do, but I really love
it!
I have recently taken part in a UK Teenstar Competition and was the only Irish entrant to reach the
finals and the only ever entrant to play the harp whilst singing. I enjoyed the challenge of this
competition and was delighted that I came 4th and was awarded the Showcase Winner. I am
looking forward to going to London to record a song I have recently written in a music studio with
one of the competition judges, as this was my prize. Covid has put a hold on that for now.
I wanted to enter the BBC School Soloist Competition because it will be a great experience for me
and it is good for me to have a goal to focus toward. I also just really love any opportunity to sing!
The songs I chose for the first round included 'Meeting of the Waters' by Thomas Moore and
'Imagine' by John Lennon. I chose these songs because they both showed by different styles in
singing, folk and contemporary. I was also able to sing them both whilst playing the harp which I
hoped would show that I was unique in my performances.
I am nervous but very excited for the next round. Keep your fingers crossed for me. Niamh
Maria Meagher
‘I’ve been involved in music since the age of 8, when I first joined the local church
choir with my granny. Being a part of this and being involved musically with liturgies
has had such a profound impact on me and has provided me with joy and fulfilment
which I will forever be grateful for. Music at St Paul’s has also played such a big role in
augmenting my love for music. I am thrilled to have been allocated the role of ‘Music
Ambassador’; this title allows me to carry out tasks to KS3 pupils and has
consequently enabled me to exert my musicality more professionally. I have made many memories
in our school musicals, playing ‘Sister Margharetta’ in Year 10, and ‘Belle’ in our production of
Beauty and the Beast. I have been involved in the school choirs and orchestra for 7 years and have
been lucky enough to travel to Rome twice with the school, as well as taking part in competitions
such as Feis Ceoil and BBC School Choir of the Year.
I am grateful to have gotten through to the next round of BBC School Soloist of the Year, having
chosen to sing Puccini’s ‘O Mio Babbino Caro’ and ‘My Lagan Love.’ I have chosen these pieces as I
like the contrast between them. Overall I would say I am a classical singer. I am doing my Diploma in
Classical singing, however, being involved in local competitions with my singing teacher has allowed
me to express my singing within different genres such as Folk and Musical Theatre Also.’