KILDARE GENERAL: 1 JUNE 2001: by Trish Whelan. Musical societies around the county are celebrating after County Kildare achieved an unprecedented number of AIMS Awards nominations from the Association of Irish Musical Societies for their various musical productions.
Naas Musical Society was nominated for the best overall show for its production of The Gypsy Baron (some of the cast are pictured above).
“We’re absolutely thrilled. While we are all thrilled when individuals are nominated, it’s even more so when it is for the whole Society,” said Tina O’Kelly, chairperson of Naas Musical Society.
“It’s also our second year in a row to be nominated for Best Chorus and for Margaret Hayes-Mahon to be nominated in the Best Musical Director category,” she added.
Arthur McGauran of Clane Musical Society received a nomination for Best Director for ‘Me and My Girl’, Aidan Donoghue was nominated for Best Actor and Marie Cusack for Best Stage Manager.
Kilcock Musical Society scored also with Sinead McLoughlin nominated for a Spirit of AIMS/Adjudicator’s Special Award for her part of Sally Bowles in ‘Cabaret’; Karl Harpur for Best Actor and Yvonne Ramsey for Best Supporting Female. Kilcock were also nominated in the Best Technical (lighting, sets & sound) category and for Best Visual (costume, props, make-up and hair).
Andrew Redmond and Sharon Duggan from Newbridge Musical Society received nominations for Best Male Singer and Best Actress in the Society’s production of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Siobhan McQuillan was nominated in the Best Choreography category.
Show adjudicators were Jack Neavyn from Co Kildare and Dr Martin Barrett of County Cork.
The eventual winners will be announced at the AIMS Awards Banquet to take place in the Brandon Hotel in Tralee on 16 June 200.
Naas Musical Society also received the distinction of coming second in the recent New Ross Choral Festival in the section confined to AIMS members singing the finale from The Gypsy Baron and the French military marching song from The Desert Song.
The competition was won by neighbours, Kill.
©2001trishwhelan/knn