The Alumni Ensemble are all graduates of NUI Galway. The singers were members of the NUI Galway Choral Society as students and relish the opportunity to reform, and reconnect friendships. Currently the singers are based all around Ireland and Europe and rely on choral festivals to see their friends, sing some songs, reminisce about University days and maybe even have a glass of wine (or two and sometimes even three)! The joy of choral singing and the friendships made from choral singing have made this group a solid bunch of friends who are as excited to see each other as they are to sing together! The choir is conducted by Peter Mannion.

Maria Durch Ein Dornwald Ging is a traditional German carol arranged by Czech based composer and pianist Irena Szurmanová. This arrangement calls on the ensemble to start intimately and through the lyrical content intensify the music as each verse develops, climaxing in verse three with the phrase when describing how the thorns are transformed into roses in the presence of Mary and the baby Jesus.

"Maria Durch Ein Dornwald Ging" Traditional German Carol arranged by Irena Szurmanová (all rights secured for broadcast, playback, recording etc.) Conducted by Peter Mannion

Performed by the NUI Galway Alumni Ensemble, in partnership with the Galway Music Residency, the Galway ConTempo Quartet and the NUI Galway Orchestra Society

The NUI Galway Alumni Ensemble are accompanied by: The Galway ConTempo Quartet - Strings Maeve Bryan (The Galway Music Residency) - Double Bass NUI Galway Orchestra Society Conductor · Matthew Berrill - Clarinet NUI Galway Orchestra Society Members · Gilles Dupouy - Piano · Brian O'Sullivan - Bell

Recorded LIVE in the Emily Anderson Concert Hall (Aula Maxima), NUI Galway, on 22 November 2017, with the support of the Galway Steinway Trust.