For the Love of Music and Friendship

Irish Fest Choir Plants the Seeds of Irish Song in Young Hearts.

By Nick Michalski

Founded by Pat Moschea and Ed Ward in 1988, the Irish Fest Choir accepts singers and musicians from across the metro-Milwaukee area to perform at the annual celebration of all things Irish at the Henry W. Maier Festival Park (Summerfest grounds) adjacent to Lake Michigan. 

Moschea and Ward figured it would be a great addition to bring local singers and musicians with an enthusiasm for Irish music to Irish Fest stages. They decided to organize a choir, drawn from the talent pool of area high schools, and arrange a budget to finance trips, rehearsals, performances and related expenses. 

Many kids, or more accurately young adults, have participated in the choir over the years. The Irish Fest Choir accepts young adults ages 14 to 20, and potential choir members are auditioned first to see if they have what it takes to be included in what approximates a group of professional singers and musicians. 

If accepted, members must commit to twice-weekly practices beginning at the end of May and running through the summer leading up to Irish Fest in the third week of August. These young adults don’t necessarily need to have Irish heritage in their backgrounds, only a love of Irish music. Pat Moschea estimated that about 50% of participants have Irish roots. The other half has a variety of ethnic backgrounds.

Promoting Irish Music
Created to promote an interest in Irish music among young people, the Irish Fest Choir was born out of the creative ashes of Randy Swiggum’s music and Kate Reilly’s play Meg’s Gold, which was performed at Irish Fest in the late 1980s. Swiggum wrote the music and directed the play, and that first undertaking suggested that more opportunities should be available to include young Irish Fest volunteers and other young people in productions involving music. Over the next couple of years, there were many kids from the North Shore area, especially Whitefish Bay High School and Homestead High School, who wanted to do something in music . So it was decided that a choir might be the best way to go. 

The first seedlings of a choir were sown in Swiggum’s classroom at Whitefish Bay High School. He never officially directed the choir, but his presence and creative leadership suggested that such a thing was possible and could contribute towards educating young people on the merits of Irish music and Irish song. 

Simultaneously, Reilly’s play showed that such a production could be successful. According to choir co-founder Pat Moschea, who is now the coordinator and producer of the choir, young adults from more than 25 different high schools have participated in the Irish Fest Choir, including young people from Milwaukee, Oconomowoc and even Illinois. The choir members come from both public and parochial schools. 

As Moschea put it, the choir has "grown and expanded beyond belief." It now even receives email requests for auditions and requests for performances all over the world.

The original director of the choir was Rebecca Winnie, who has been the Homestead High School choir director for 22 years. Pat Moschea asked Winnie to be the choir’s director after the one-time performance of the musical play, Meg’s Gold, which led to the formation of the choir. A quarter-Irish herself, Winnie held Irish Fest Choir rehearsals at Homestead during the summers.

Despite the logistical headaches of having a limited budget and time constraints, Winnie found a great amount of satisfaction in directing the choir. "It was a pleasure to work on arrangements of Irish folk songs and Irish tunes," Winnie said. She mentioned an oft-cited benefit of working with the choir as well: "performing great music with great people." 

Enjoys Young People
Her enjoyment stemmed from working with young people on music for which they all have a great passion. Winnie loves choral music from all cultures, but especially enjoys traditional folk songs and Irish tunes. Included in the things she worked on with the choir were Alice Parker arrangements. With a basic repertoire of Irish and American choral music and folk songs, Winnie tried to add new tunes every year. She continues to use the repertoire from her days with the Irish Fest Choir in her teaching today. 

Following Winnie as the director of the Irish Fest Choir was Todd O’Connor, who had originally been a choir member. Despite his surname, O’Connor is only one-eighth Irish. He sang baritone in the choir in 1988, the year of the choir’s founding, when he was a senior at Whitefish Bay High School. Recruited by Randy Swiggum, O’Connor went on to undergraduate study at Wheaton College Conservatory of Music in Wheaton, Ill. During those years, he returned home to Wisconsin during the summers and accompanied the choir on piano under the direction of Rebecca Winnie. 

In 1993, O’Connor "pinch hit" for the choir as a last-minute additional singer. Following his graduation with a bachelor’s degree in music education/BME, he was asked by co-founder Pat Moschea to direct the choir in 1994. 

O’Connor subsequently directed the group for eight summers, the last in 2001, a year when he was assistant director. For O’Connor, one of the greatest challenges in directing the choir was finding enough time for adequate preparation for all the music he wanted to perform. Despite the fact that sometimes not all members could attend rehearsals, O’Connor held high standards for preparation and pushed a challenging repertoire of tunes. The necessary hard work paid off, however, as the choir banded together to achieve their goals.

O’Connor was "honored to be asked to take on the choir." Having been a member himself, he was familiar with the dedication needed to see the choir succeed. Being Irish, he was also interested in learning more about Irish culture and music. 

"I had a blast working with the kids in the choir," O’Connor said. He admitted that it required hard work and persistence, but found that the kids rarely complained at all. O’Connor’s memories of his time with the choir are fond. "We celebrated and had great fun, and we did it as a close community of friends and musicians sharing a love for Irish song," he said. 

Had Positive Impact on Kids
One piece of his experience that he truly holds dear is that he had a positive impact on young people, and helped develop relationships among the kids and build a bridge to the Irish arts. 

Following Todd O’Connor was Amanda Moschea, the daughter of choir co-founder Pat Moschea. Amanda has been involved with Irish Fest her entire life, due to her mother’s active involvement in the festival. She was also a member of the Irish Fest Choir while in high school. Achieving her director’s degree in music education from UW-Green Bay, Moschea has been involved with music for much of her life and her Irish background and love of Irish song propelled her into directing Irish music as an adult. 

First working as assistant director with O’Connor, she has been the choir’s director for nearly five years. Now living in Madison, where she is an elementary-school music teacher, Moschea travels to Milwaukee for choir rehearsals two evenings a week during the summers. She receives assistance from Amy Baker, a friend from college, who co-directs and accompanies the choir on piano. 

Moschea called her experiences with the choir "indescribable," and reported that she receives the most joy from seeing a new generation of young people involved with Irish music. "It’s a process more than a product," Moschea said. She takes pleasure in seeing the kids come together to enjoy music and singing, and above all work well together. The biggest hurdles for Moschea are time constraints, since there is limited time to get everything done. The choir learns about 15-20 pieces every season. 

Familiarity with Repertoire
The veterans have some familiarity with the repertoire, but new members must get a lot under their belts in a short amount of time. Since the choir meets only twice a week to rehearse, Moschea must manage the time well, and work around interruptions such as vacations or camp excursions. 

On the whole, though, the kids make the necessary commitments to come to the rehearsals, so it works out. For Moschea, "Irish Fest feels like home; it will forever be a part of who I am." It is a big honor for her and for the kids to perform there, she added. 

Moschea and the choir work hard so that by the time the festival opens, they are ready. By the time August rolls around, the kids are very comfortable in their abilities and do not encounter stage fright very often. When not performing, they often volunteer at the festival, carry flags in the parades, and once were even called upon to backup musician Eileen Ivers for a performance at the fest. 

Some choir members are Irish dancers, and on the whole they keep themselves busy between performances. According to Moschea, the kids have a real desire to be there. "They pick up their own slack," she said. Sometimes there can be difficulty in finding options for Irish choral music, since the choir tries to find music of the highest quality for their performances. There are plenty of Irish ballads, but it is desirable to keep the performances upbeat. 

Moschea said the No. 1 reason why she’s continued to work with the choir for the last five years has been the kids themselves. She looks forward to rehearsals, which she called "uplifting, inspiring, and ‘good craic.’" Moschea visited Ireland while assisting director Todd O’Connor when the Irish Fest Choir did a tour of the Emerald Isle in 2000. They performed with the Omagh Community Youth Choir at Ulster American Folk Park in Northern Ireland, and were able to see many of the places they sing about and get a first-hand view of the places from which the music originates. They even sang on Galway Bay FM radio one morning during their trip. 

Toured East Coast
Moschea also toured the East Coast of the States with the Irish Fest Choir on a joint tour with the Omagh Choir, which ended back in Milwaukee for Irish Fest. This year, 2005, may be Moschea’s last year with the choir. Occasionally the distance between her home in Madison and the choir in Milwaukee gets in the way. But she has definitely gained wonderful experiences while working with the choir. "The kids are awesome," she said, and with "extraordinary" help from her pal Amy Baker, it has been a successful ride. 

Baker, who went to college with Amanda Moschea, will be working with the Irish Fest Choir for her fourth year. She accompanies the singers on piano on most pieces, and helps with rehearsals. "The kids are great, and fun to work with," Baker said. 

She loves to play piano, and accompanies other groups as well. She really enjoys doing high-quality music with a high level of talent. The friendships she’s made have been a key component of her time with the choir, as with many others who have experiences with the choir. 

Baker went on the East Coast joint tour with the Omagh Choir, which took them through Washington, D.C., New York and Pennsylvania. She found the joint tour "very inspiring," describing the Omagh Choir as more improvisational than the more straightforward classical Irish Fest Choir. She believes it was good for the Irish Fest kids to see the Omagh Choir’s songs and performances and vice versa; the kids learned from and were inspired by each other. 

What all the directors and those who have worked with the choir in any capacity say is that the friendships built during the experience make all the hard work worthwhile. Ashley Kmiecik, a choir member who is now also a senior advisor to the choir, immensely enjoyed her experiences as a choir member. 

Kmiecik, who sings alto, had family involved with the choir and wanted to be a part of the tradition. She was also interested in learning more about her heritage and Irish culture in general. Ashley enjoyed performing with her peers and found the schedule of practices easy to handle. Describing her time with the choir as a bonding experience, Kmiecik went on the 2000 tour of Ireland and has since gone back to visit friends made during her first trip there. A niece of Pat Moschea, Kmiecik had an incredible time seeing the places she sings about and learning more about the people of Ireland. 

Joining the choir at 14, the almost 20-year-old Kmiecik recalled having a great time when the choir performed an impromptu gig at a pub at a singer’s request. They had dinner at the pub and were then invited up on stage to perform with the pub band. 

Keeps in Touch with Omagh Choir
Kmiecik has found it "fun to keep in touch" with Omagh Choir members and believes it is beneficial to see that both groups are "going through similar things in two cultures." In her current role as senior advisor to the choir, Ashley acts as a go-between for choir members and directors, a role she accepted when a board was created to keep up with Irish Fest Choir issues and activities. Approaching the cutoff age of 21, Kmiecik has had a "fantastic time" with the choir, she added. 

Former member Briana Lukaszewicz also has fond memories of her time with the choir. A member for two years, Lukaszewicz loves to sing and has never missed an Irish Fest. Briana, whose mother is 100 percent Irish, enjoys singing Irish music as well as singing with other choirs and hearing other groups perform. 

Her most memorable experience with the choir was meeting the Omagh Choir during the 2000 tour of Ireland. Lukaszewicz relished "getting to know them on a personal level." She also really enjoyed seeing the enthusiasm of young people at Irish Fest performances. The joint performances with the Omagh Choir were very powerful, she recalled, adding that the "coming together" of the two groups made them feel unified despite being from different places and situations. An especially poignant moment came when the two groups sang the song "Across The Bridge Of Hope." 

The Omagh Choir was founded following a deadly terrorist bombing in the Northern Ireland city in 1998. "Across The Bridge Of Hope" symbolizes efforts for and the idea of a lasting peace, with the song projecting the notion of a peaceful coexistence of two bridges, one of which goes to a predominantly Protestant area, the other to a predominantly Catholic area.

Fourth Year with Choir
Caitlin Clark is approaching her fourth year with the Irish Fest Choir. Before signing on, she had helped out in various ways and attended performances. A quarter-Irish, Clark joined because her brother was in the choir and she loves to sing. She has enjoyed "everything" about the choir and reported that it wasn’t a conflict in regards to classes or other obligations. Clark lives in Oconomowoc and has made many friends in her time with the choir. She also visited Ireland with her family in 2003. 

Clark indicated that she had a lot of fun in Ireland, and found the country beautiful. In between performances at Irish Fest, she enjoys hanging out with friends, walking in the parades, carrying flags and watching other groups. She makes sure to see Theiss & O’Connor and goes dancing as well. Friendships have been the greatest thing, Clark added. 

She emphasized that she had "grown as a singer and a person," and believed that her experiences with the choir have given her confidence. She still keeps in touch with friends she made in the Omagh Choir, and enjoyed seeing them on the joint tour of the East Coast. A member of the Arrowhead High School Choir, Clark hopes to continue singing in college.

Former choir member Nikki (Henson) Wettstein enjoyed singing with the choir, and learning more about Irish culture and music. Wettstein knew former director Todd O’Connor from Homestead High School, as well as some choir members. She has now graduated from Marquette University and sings with the Milwaukee Symphony Choir. She still helps out, though, and her sister is currently in the Irish Fest Choir. 

Wettstein really appreciates the friendships she made, and she enjoyed trying new things. She still maintains friendships with people she met in the Omagh Choir. During her days with the Irish Fest contingent, Wettstein helped organize the younger students because she was one of the older members. 

The hardest thing about performing at Irish Fest for Wettstein was the rigorous schedule, with early mornings, costume changes and organization proving to be challenges during those hectic days. The greatest things she takes away from her experiences are the memories and the friendships. 

"I thought we sounded pretty good for how young (we were)," she said. She likes music a lot, and went to Irish Fest before becoming a member of the choir. But the memories of her involvement with the Irish Fest Choir will last a lifetime; "you don’t forget the songs once you learn them," she added.

Current choir member Karl Hinze has been with the choir for three years. His grandmother on his mom’s side is Irish, and one of his friends is a cousin of current choir director Amanda Moschea. Hinze sings with the choir and plays piano separately. The main challenges for the choir, he cited, were the miscellaneous things required to prepare for Irish Fest in August, including concerts and fundraising. 

No Stage Fright 
Having done a lot of performing, Hinze reported no stage fright. He is eager for the chance to perform, and the crowds made it all fun. Hinze, who goes to Marquette High School, enjoys "performing for appreciative audiences," at Irish Fest, as well as seeing other groups and tasting the fest’s delicious food. 

Hinze said he made friends easily when the choir met up with the Omagh Choir. The experiences of going on the East Coast tour such as performing fun songs, including a great arrangement of "New York, New York," and traveling in a big bus with other young people were fantastic, he enthused. Hinze loves to perform and would like to visit Ireland in 2006 with the choir.

To a person, those involved with the Irish Fest Choir say that the friendships and experiences of helping others are the greatest benefits. The choir has been able to perform charitable acts over the years, as well. During the 2000 trip, the choir members brought books for a church in Galway that was converted to a library. 

Friendships and alliances have been trademarks of the Irish Fest Choir. Co-founder Pat Moschea recalled that at one concert in Ireland attended by thousands of people, the choir performed "Let There Be Peace On Earth" at the end of the show. As people were leaving, they paused to listen to the rendition. The kids also performed at bars and pubs, because that’s "where the music really takes place," added Moschea. 

The Irish Fest Choir typically performs 45-minute to one-hour sets at Irish Fest, with longer performances on tours. There isn’t much rehearsal during the school year, except around St. Patrick’s Day and Christmas. 

The choir currently has approximately 40 members. At the end of May, rehearsals and practices will begin in earnest. The standing rule is that if someone misses three rehearsals, they’re out. Choir members must be serious in their dedication of time and effort, because there is a waiting list. Members must sign a statement of conditions of responsibility upon joining, indicating consistency in uniform and attendance. They know there are standards, according to Moschea. 

Watching the Kids Develop
Co-founder Moschea has thoroughly enjoyed watching the kids develop as singers and musicians, and as people, and takes pride in seeing the kids take pride in what they do. "They are great ambassadors to Irish Fest," she emphasized. 

The choir now even has its own band, with musicians playing instruments such as the fiddle, tin whistle, flute, bodhran drum, keyboard and guitar. Moschea said the choir is planning a return to Ireland in 2006. Last year, they ventured to the Madison Farmer’s Market, as well as to Middleton and Verona, Wis. This summer, they will embark on a tour to Minnesota, including a performance at the Mall of America. 

The choir has a couple of CDs available, under the name of Milwaukee Irish Fest Choir. For the latest CD, they found out they had to record the entire album in one night or be forced to find the money again to do it some other time. So, in a matter of five hours, they recorded 13 songs and spent three days editing and finishing it up. The choir has also recorded with the Omagh Choir. 

Among the great benefits in participating is that fact that the kids learn about Irish music and culture. They also participate in goodwill community events, such as doing outreach work and performing. The choir has performed locally at the Wisconsin State Fair and Rainbow Summer, as well as singing the national anthem for the Milwaukee Brewers. 

For Pat Moschea, if anybody had asked her back in 1988 whether she’d still be involved with the choir more than 15 years later, she would have been surprised to say "yes." She loves working with the young people in the choir and enjoys meeting people through her participation with the choir and with the fest in general. 

Some kids are shy at first, she said, but they grow musically and socially during their time with the choir. The most difficult obstacle for the choir in the near future will be finding a director. With the possibility of Amanda Moschea leaving after 2005, the search for a new director must begin. But by relying on each other’s strengths, as they have always done, the choir will continue to warm the hearts of audiences from around the globe.