Madam, - Thank you for publishing Michael McGlynn's thought-provoking article on the state of choral music in Ireland (Arts, June 5th). Having been associated with choral music for 37 years, I agree with much of what he says.
I am fairly sure that if you add up all the singers in church, school, third-level and adult Irish choirs, this figure would far outnumber performers in any other musical style (and maybe any art form). So why is the profile of choral music so low and why don't festivals such as Cork, Sligo and Navan feature prominently in the print media?
With such a large number of people singing in choirs, why are there not more ways for these groups to avail of support from the Arts Council, e.g. support for workshops outside Cumann Naisiúnta na gCór (CNC)? Why has choral music in primary and secondary schools been allowed to fall to such a low level? The inflow of young voices through primary, secondary and third level education is essential to help support adult choirs.
It is an established fact that the act of performing music has very positive effects on our health. Why hasn't the Department of Health seen this as a very inexpensive way of reducing the National Health bill? Michael McGlynn's article needs to be discussed by several bodies including CNC, the Arts Council, the Contemporary Music Centre and the Cork Choral Festival. - Yours, etc,
BRENDAN O'CONNOR, Oranswell, Galway.