24/10/2020
Dear friends and family of the Penston Vocal Academy, past students and parents, I have a little message for you. The words are just as hard to find as I imagined they'd be, hence the lateness of the post.
While we should never say 'never' to anything in life, I have to tell you that, for the foreseeable, the doors of the Penston Vocal Academy are officially closed. This has been unofficially the case since 2018, when I began my PME studies in Hibernia College, but now that I'm 'out', 'walking the walk, talking the talk', the deal is sealed.
I have recently begun a new full-time teaching post in Holy Family Community School, Rathcoole, teaching music, English and SEN. It's wonderful. I didn't realise this was missing from my life until I found it.
It is, of course, very difficult to teach a subject I'm so passionate about without singing, permitted now only outdoors, due to the confines of the average classroom. But, it's doable with a little creative thinking (introducing the Inside Out Choir!) and it is so important to keep spirits up any way we can, for a generation who have lost so much this year.
I am so, so grateful to have this new beginning in life, when all around I see my friends and former colleagues, self-employed musicians and performers, stage, dance, drama and music school directors, keepers of the faith, providers of the safe place in young peoples' lives, peers of the profession I have passionately loved for 30 years, all closed for business...
because someone put a virus in the air...
My heart goes out to you all.
I have to thank, with all my heart, the many, many (too many to mention) wonderful students and parents, for placing your faith in me to guide you on your musical journey over this lifetime. Many of you have gone on to study music to degree and masters level and beyond, to perform professionally all around the world, or become teachers yourselves, inspiring a new generation. For some of you, working in other professions, maybe the only singing in your lives now is in soothing your babies to sleep at night. That's wonderful too, and I hope you remember the songs I taught you. I'm so proud to have played a part on your path. You are my friends for life.
I hope you are all keeping as well as can be, and are holding fast to treasured musical memories. Memories of hard work, commitment, passion, ambitious and beautiful song choices, dedication, joy, elation, trophies, standing ovations, disappointments, craic agus ceoil on a million bus journeys, pride, support, and, most of all, love.
Because I'm a sentimental soul, I wouldn't dream of deleting this page. I want to leave it open for you all, to enjoy the photo and video memories which are posted here. Indeed, if any of the amazing PVA mammies, daddies, grandparents and friends ever find any old memories on old phones, please feel free to share them here for us all to enjoy.
A final thank you to my family for supporting me through my masters studies with patience and encouragement and for making this experience possible for me. You know who you are, and you know how much I love you.
Love to all. Keep safe.
PVA out. 🎶
Love,
Naoimh ###
