On the Town: Singers from the National Chamber Choir, such as Jeffrey Ledwidge, Lucy Thurston, Rebecca Ryan and Zane Senavska, sang at a mini-concert in Drumcondra, in Dublin this week.
Performing highlights from the opera, The Quest, they sang alongside some of the young people they'd worked with at six Dublin schools. The choir aims to involve schools from a range of areas in producing an opera.
What did Leah Ní Néill (nine), from Scoil Chaoimhín in Dublin's city centre, like about taking part in this year's opera, The Quest. "Gach rud," she answered in a flash. Was it better than Harry Potter?
Amy Ní Mhoráin (eight) and Rebecca O'Connor (10) were in no doubt. "Bhí sé!" they answered, nodding in complete agreement with each other.
This week's performance marked the unveiling of an exhibition of photographs and paintings about the project as well as the publication of a booklet about it.
Síle de Valera, Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science, who came to launch both, said, "You all have wonderful voices. We could all tap our feet".
She agreed with the young people's praise for the choir, which was described as "lethal and really good at doing the high notes".
The whole opera experience for students at Scoil Eoin in Kilbarrack on Dublin's northside was "tremendous", said its principal, Liam Lally.
Aideen Nic Phóill, a teacher at Scoil Eoin, said the experience for the children was "fantastic".
Twelve students from St Augustine's School in Blackrock came on beating bodhráns in perfect synchronicity as part of the finale. They left the audience of parents and teachers breathless in admiration of their talent.
The other schools which took part and which were involved in producing The Quest were Rutland Street National School, Francis Street CBS and Scoil Cnoc Ainbhil.
All took a bow after their performance under the baton of David Darcy, education officer of the National Chamber Choir.