The Mall Theatre in Tuam is set to ring with the beautiful sounds of a strings this Christmas, as the Ivernia String Quartet take to the stage for Strings at Christmas on 21st December. They will play festive favourites from Vivaldi to Fairytale of New York, with classics like Let it Snow, and even some traditional Irish with the Wexford Carol and Christmas Eve Reel, all in a gorgeous setting by candlelight.

The quartet features Galway cellist Eszter Cetinceviz, with violinist David Cadena and violist Gawain Usher, all led by Galway conductor and violinist Sinéad Hayes. Sinead is well known to Galway music fans as conductor of the Luminosa String Orchestra, and she is delighted to be back playing violin for audiences again. It’s proving to be an exciting month for Sinead. She has just been announced as one of the conductors joining the prestigious Royal Philharmonic Society’s high level Women’s Conducting Programme in the UK from January 2024, working with the Royal Northern Sinfonia and receiving career mentorship for two years. Sinead has conducted Jane’s music with the Galway orchestra Luminosa and over many years with the Hard Rain SoloistEnsemble in Belfast.

A graduate of the renowned conducting programme of the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, alongside her work all over the country, Sinead has collaborated with local music schools in Gort, Athenry and Galway, as well as steering Galway Music Residency’s Youth Ensemble Skills programme. But for the 21st December it’s back to home turf with the Ivernia Quartet in Tuam.

Join Sinead and the Ivernia String Quartet for Strings at Christmas by Candlelight on Thursday 21st December in the Mall Theatre, Tuam at 6:30pm and 8:30pm. Tickets are €15/€10 and are available from Eventbrite.ie and from Quinn’s Newsagents in Tuam.

photo by Neil Harrison