Sheelagh Greer is to receive the BEM in recognition for her services to music in Northern Ireland . Sheelagh, who has had a passion for music from an early age, has been involved with numerous choirs and orchestras throughout her career. Advertisement Advertisement Did you know with an ad-lite subscription to NorthernIrelandWorld, you get 70% fewer ads while viewing the news that matters to you.
Speaking to this newspaper, she explained: “It came as a huge, but very pleasant surprise to receive the news of my BEM honour. "I’m absolutely thrilled to bits and feeling very happy to know the music I love is being enjoyed by others. It’s humbling to see it marked in this way and how poignant the first concert I’ll be involved with since the news is being held in Hillsborough Castle with The Clare Chorale (June 21).
"I’ve always had a passion for music, weaned early through my grandmother who was always singing and then through my father who sang for many years with Ballyclare Male Choir. "As it happens, in recent months, I’ve been appointed as their Conductor after having been their Accompanist for over 10 years. Advertisement Advertisement “I started to learn piano at the age of seven and found an easy flair with it.
I then became interested in singing at Ballyclare High and was fortunate enough to receive singing tuition from the late Irene Sanford whose wealth of experience opened up a new area of contacts within the music world. "My solo singing has been a major .