About Dolce

Dolce is a 4-part mixed choir, based on Dublin's Northside. Dolce performs a mixture of styles of music, some of which is composed by musical director Deirdre Ni Chaomhánaigh. Founded in May 2005, initially under the name ‘Canaigi Cantabile’, the choir made its début at the 2005 Oireachtas na Bealtaine. Following on from this, Deirdre and seven other founding members began the process of recruiting new members. It was also decided to rename the choir, and the name ‘Dolce’ was chosen. In autumn 2005, Dolce, comprising 14 members, performed very well in their debut public performance at the music festival in Kilcoole.

The choir performed at several fundraising carol-singing events over the Christmas period, and then set their sights on competing in a series of national and international choral festivals between March and May in Limerick, Dublin, Cork and Tralee.

Dolce was successful at the Feis Ceoil in March where it won the Hardebec Cup and an award for the best performance of a contemporary Irish Choral work in the same competition, a choral work composed by Deirdre herself.

In May 2006 the choir beat very stiff competition from more established choirs in winning the Viola Preston Cup for the Open 4-part Choral competition in ‘Oireachtas na Bealtaine', which took place in Tralee. Dolce was also awarded second place in the Church music competition at the same festival.

Aside from competitive and performance work, Dolce are also committed to involvement in charitable work, and were involved in the production of a CD for ‘Sonas aPc’, an organisation which addresses the issue of Communication in Dementia.

The opportunity to sing original music of a high calibre is one of the main attractions for many of the members of Dolce. However, the choir has a broad repertoire and is currently working to expand this to include a wider variety of religious and gospel music in addition to more popular and traditional songs.

The plans for the choir for the coming year include competing in the Sligo Choral Festival in addition to defending the trophies won in 2005-6. With the expansion of its repertoire, the choir is also exploring the possibility of performing concerts either at home or/and abroad.

During Dolce’s second year in existence, the committee concentrated on developing the standard of the choir, and also expanding membership. By the end of the year numbers have risen to around 30. The choir were also successful in winning the Open Competition in Kilcoole Music Festival in November 2006.

Another new venture during 2007 saw the setting up of Dolcissimo – a smaller group from the choir which sings barbershop style music. They have successfully performed in charity events in Blanchardstown hospital and the Howth Peninsula Festival in July 2007.