Magda O’Connell, who died on 5th December 2020, was a committed and much loved member of the Culwick Choral Society for 28 years. Magda joined the choir as a soprano in 1992. One of her first choral performances was in the Bach Mass in B Minor with the Irish Chamber Orchestra at the National Concert Hall in 1993, and, over the years, she enjoyed singing the great choral works, including those by Monteverdi, Mozart, Haydn, Brahms, Bach and Mendelssohn. In September 1995 she sang with the Culwick at ‘Voices of the World’ – a choral spectacular at Lansdowne Road with over 6,000 singers from around the world. The concert was broadcast by RTE that year on Christmas Eve.
In 1998, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Culwick, Magda co-edited a history of the Society ‘The Culwick Choral Society Celebrates One Hundred Years 1888-1998’ which was published that year.
Magda served as a committee member of the Culwick Choral Society both as Hon sec and subsequently as President from 2004-08, and led the Society with efficiency and empathy. Magda continued through the years to quietly support the Society and one of her great informal contributions was her gentle welcome and support for new members when they first joined. Together with her commitment to the Culwick, Magda was a great supporter of choral music in Ireland and served as a Director and Company Secretary of the Irish Association of Choirs, the forerunner of Sing Ireland.
Apart from our biannual concerts in the NCH Magda supported all informal events organised by the Culwick. She greatly enjoyed our Christmas and Spring parties and always participated wholeheartedly. For many years Magda was part of the winning team in the Quartets competition.
In 2018 The Culwick Choral Society celebrated its 120th anniversary with a party attended by current and past members. Magda met up with many old friends on the night and clearly enjoyed the evening reminiscing and singing with fellow choristers.
Magda continued to sing with us, even embracing zoom rehearsals, until she became ill earlier this year. She will be greatly missed by all her friends in the Culwick Choral Society.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dílis.
