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House of Guinness star Séamus O'Hara will enthral and delight families at a special show featuring music and storytelling at this weekend's inaugural Newry Chamber Music Piano Festival.
O'Hara, one of the north's rising acting talents, will be joined by leading Irish classical pianists David Quigley and Finghin Collins for Gather Around for Stories and Sound, a family show in Newry Town Hall on Saturday 7 February at 11.30am.
A native of Ballymena, O'Hara has won attention for his roles as IRB leader Patrick Cochrane in Netflix's House of Guinness and in BBC1's Blue Lights, where he plays Lee Thompson, a man involved with Loyalist paramilitaries. He will take a break from these gritty characters and tell a gentler kind of story when he narrates the much-loved Babar the Elephant, with accompaniment from Collins and Quigley. The music was composed by Francis Poulenc and based on the 1931 book, Histoire de Babar, by Jean de Brunhoff.
In a further delight for children and families, the programme also features Collins and Quigley performing Ravel's magical Mother Goose Suite.
Newry Chamber Music Piano Festival runs from Friday 6 February to Sunday 8 at the NCM Hub in The Quays Shopping Centre and Newry Town Hall and provides a full programme of events from concerts to masterclasses and performance opportunities for pianists of all ages and levels.
Open Keys at the Quays on Saturday 7 February at 4pm welcomes piano players of all ages, varying levels of ability, and any genre of music, to perform in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. To take part, email concerts@newrychambermusic.org, but hurry as there are only a few slots remaining.
On Sunday morning 8 February at 11.30am there is an opportunity to relax and enjoy celebrated London jazz pianist Rob Barron playing George Gershwin, Jerome Kern, Rodgers and Hart, and other Broadway masters, in new solo piano arrangements created specifically for this performance, including Gershwin's iconic Rhapsody In Blue.
Barron will also give a Jazz Piano Masterclass on Sunday 8 February at the NCM Hub at 1pm exploring jazz harmony, phrasing, accompaniment, voicing techniques, scales, and simple improvisation tools in a supportive atmosphere.
Joanne Quigley McParland, Artistic Director of Newry Chamber Music, said bringing events like this to the Festival is about opening the door to music for everyone. "We want children and families to feel that classical music and jazz belong to them too – that these stories, sounds, and performances are something they can connect with and enjoy together. It's about inspiring the next generation, building confidence, and creating shared moments of joy in our community."
Newry Chamber Music Piano Festival is supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Newry Mourne and Down District Council, and RTÉ Supporting the Arts. For ticket prices and booking see newrychambermusic.org.
