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Pro Nuova was set up in October 2004 by Sharon Lyons at the request of the priests of the Pro-Cathedral. At that time the number of people attending the Sunday 6.30pm Mass had been increasing significantly after several years of decline. The increased attendance was made up mainly of young "new Irish" attracted to Dublin by the Celtic Tiger economy. For several years this had been a 'quiet' Mass, with no music or singing. With the increasing youth attendance a new approach was needed. Pro Nuova became a part of the Mass and the numbers attending continued to rise steadily. Now people of all ages, regular worshippers and visitors of many nationalities attend every Sunday. The Pro Nuova repertoire is derived from many sources, mainly contemporary Irish and American. The group love to experiment across a range of styles. All members of the group have substantial church music experience; Pro Nuova recorded their first CD during the summer of 2008. This is available to buy after Mass, in Veritas on Abbey Street or from the Pro-Cathedral Bookshop. It contains 23 tracks taken from our current repertoire including a complete Mass setting and different options for the various areas of the Mass that music is required. Pro Nuova invite you to Mass any Sunday evening in St. Mary's Pro-Cathedral, Marlborough Street. Please come along to listen and say hello afterwards. We'll be happy to answer any questions you may have. Or, if you would like to make contact feel free to email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Sharon Lyons (Director) - Vocalist and Violinist
Sharon completed her A.R.I.A.M for Singing Teaching in 2004 and graduated with Bachelor of Music Education Honours Degree from Trinity College and R.I.A.M, Dublin in 2006. Continuing her studies, she achieved First Class Honours in her Master of Arts in Chant and Ritual Song in University of Limerick 2007. Music has always been part of her life and has now become her life. Primarily a performer, she also teaches music in primary and secondary schools, as well as giving violin & singing tuition. Alongside Pro Nuova Sharon directs one other church music group.
Sharon has received numerous scholarships and awards over the years including a Fulbright Scholarship to study music in the US for the summer of 2007, which led to performing at a UN conference in Paris 2008. Sharon has performed in the NCH, on national television, on many RTÉ religious affairs programmes and for state events such as the annual 1916 Rememberance Service and funeral of former President Patrick Hillery. She is heavily involved in musical events throughout the Dublin diocese under the directorship of Fr. Pat O' Donoghue and travels on the annual Lourdes pilgrimage each September as primary cantor for the Dublin Lourdes Choir. Jennifer Mc Cay - Pianist
Jennifer Mc Cay has been involved in church music since a young age, initially with the Folk Group of St. Eugene's Cathedral, Derry, before being awarded an organ scholarship and working with both the Cathedral's Boys' Choir and Adult Choir until she moved to Dublin to continue her studies in music. At which point she became an inaugural member of Pro Nuova. In her schooldays Jennifer was also involved in arranging music for weekly liturgical services. On graduating from Trinity College Dublin with a Bachelor degree (Hons) in Music Education Jennifer then completed a Masters in Musicology in University College Dublin where she is now undertaking doctoral studies. She teaches on the Musicianship Faculty in the Royal Irish Academy of Music and greatly enjoys the many aspects of music in her life.
Catrina Scullion - Vocalist and Flautist
Catrina Scullion, from Northern Ireland, has undertaken a broad musical education, including a BMus degree that focused on Performance (voice); as well as having achieved certificates in performance in Musical Theatre, at the Royal Irish Academy of Music and Flute and Piano from Trinity College London. In addition to having performed in several opera choruses and toured the world with Celtic music groups Celtic Woman and as a soloist with Anuna, Catrina has a broad background in liturgical music: as choral scholar at St. Ann's Church, Dawson Street, Dublin since 2002. Catrina has undertaken solos in Stanford's Magnificat and Nunc Dimitis in C, as well as Mozart's Spatzen Messe and joined Pro Nuova in 2009 as cantor and flautist having previously played flute with CYC orchestra. Catrina performs regularly as a concert soloist and is currently studying singing with Mary Brennan.
Michael Crowley - Guitarist and Vocalist
Michael Crowley would say that his primary contribution to Pro Nuova is to bring Gender Balance & an extra sense of humour! Having played with church groups in both Limerick & Galway, Michael has been with Pro Nuova since the formation of the group & cites his favourite type of music as the type Pro Nouva play; quality modern liturgical music.
Catriona O' Brien - Vocalist
Catríona O Brien, the only member of the group to come from the local parish, has been singing in the church from the age of 13. Since 2007, Catriona has travelled with the Dublin Diocesan Pilgrimmage to Lourdes as part of the choir that provides music for all major ceremonies during the trip. She also sings every Saturday evening as part of the St. Kevins' Community Taize Group in the Pro-Cathedral. Catriona features as lead vocalist and soloist on the Legion of Mary CD celebrating the life and heroism of Edel Quinn. She has also been invited as soloist to Pro-Cathedral family liturgies including celebrations of Renewal of Marriage Vows.
Amanda Modery - Vocalist
Amanda Modery is an American studying medicine in Dublin. Prior to her move to Dublin, she was involved in music at her home church in the greater Seattle area where she sang with a contemporary choir and played in the hand-bell choir for over 10 years.
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