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John Dexter Harmony (= JDH) was the name given to a choir of boy trebles and professional adults that performed regularly between September 2001 and 2008. It can be heard on two CDs that are still available: "Christmas with John Dexter Harmony" and "Wild Ocean".
Those seven productive years were made possible by the dedication and support of many wonderful families in the Dundrum area as well as a few from further afield (one travelled from Cavan every week!). These people disproved the myths that young children cannot concentrate for long periods of time or that they are not interested in quality music. Their website gives a list of the choir’s achievements, recordings, reviews and concerts including more than twenty in the National Concert Hall. Perhaps its greatest moments were in the Orchestra of St Cecilia: Bach Cantata Series when the small group of young boys sang in German, off by heart, with such style and acclaim (February 2008).
John Dexter and Alison’s seven children provided the backbone of the choir that John created when he left St Patrick’s Cathedral Dublin having been Organist and Master of the Choristers there for 24 years. Róisín (now Róisín Judge) and Aisling taught music theory, violin and singing to its members and sang with the group. Róisín was soprano soloist in the Irish Première of Will Todd’s Mass in Blue with JDH in 2006. Patrick, Neil, Seán and Eoin each sang treble in the choir while Eilís sang soprano in three concerts in the National Concert Hall and in a Bach Cantata concert in 2008. John Dexter relied on the family to help with administration, music arranging, recording, editing, computer type-setting and supervision. The JDH name is now used by the Dexter Family Ensemble and for general publications and educational projects created by the family. |
