Home Events Repertoire Join Us Bookings Gallery History Contact Us It was during the latter days of November 1944 that the statement "Let's form a choir" was made to a group of men singing round a coke fire in the Victoria Works of the famous Belfast shipyard of Harland and Wolff during a lunch time break. The sing songs of these men sounded good to the listeners and were a daily feature to help break the monotony of men working long hours during the war years. At the first meeting called for those interested in the formation of a choir the response was so encouraging that rehearsal began the next week. Progress was good, so good in fact that a room in Belfast city centre was hired and the first full time Director of Music, Adam Donaghy was appointed in 1945. Under Adam's guidance the choir grew rapidly in competence. The membership became larger and more dedicated, the scene of men coming directly from work in boiler suits and overalls was a common one such was the enthusiasm, which pertains to this day. The decisive moment had arrived, the choir entered for Larne Competitive Music Festival and in a strong class entry won first place with an average of 92 marks. This was the first of a succession of awards won at music festivals in the British Isles, the list is an impressive one. Harlandic have won the BBC 'Let the People Sing' competition a record four times and have represented the United Kingdom in the European finals of that competition on three occasions. More recently, in 2010 the Choir performed in Budapest, Hungary and in 2014 represented Northern Ireland in the Voices of the Commonwealth Concert in Glasgow. In September 2016, the Harlandic will become the first choir to perform at the Belfast Tattoo. Conductors - Click on the name of the conductor to view more details Elaine Hawthorne 2015 - Archy McNeill 2014 - 2015 John Lyttle 2005 - 2014 John Dooris 2001 - 2004 Mark Burstow 1991 - 2001 Terence McNeilly 1990 - 1991 Alastair McQuoid 1980 - 1990 Jim Mullen 1977 - 1979 Ronnie Porter 1974 - 1977 John Anderson 1972 - 1974 Ronnie McCully 1968 - 1972 Norman Hawkins 1966 - 1968 Adam Donaghy 1945 - 1966 Accompanists Elaine Hawthorne 2014-2015 Archy McNeill 2009- 2014 Helena Nicholl 2005 - 2009 Richard Barnes 2002 - 2004 David Drinkell 1997 - 2002 Naomi Hughes 1995 - 1997 Stephen Linton 1994 - 1995 Audrey Gillian 1992 - 1994 Geraldine Bennett 1990 -1992 Patricia Chambers 1981 - 1990 Eileen McCullough 1975 - 1981 Norman Hawkins 1965 -1966 Maisie Fee 1952 - 1965

		Practice night: Thursday 19.45-22.00hrs. Venue: Sinclair Seaman's Church Hall Corporation Street Belfast [email protected] Registered Charity No. XR 19800