anuna.ie

What is ANÚNA?

ANÚNA is an Irish vocal ensemble, led by composer and director Michael McGlynn, known for blending traditional Irish music with original choral composition. The group performs unaccompanied or lightly accompanied choral music, drawing on Irish language texts, mythology, and folk melodies while using a modern harmonic style.

Its music sits between classical choral singing and folk performance, which is why it appeals to listeners who enjoy groups like Clannad or Enya as well as to choral audiences. The ensemble has toured internationally and has been associated with theatrical productions, including work connected to Riverdance in its early years.

If you are new to ANÚNA, a practical next step is to listen to a piece built on a traditional Irish text, then compare it with one of McGlynn's original compositions; the contrast shows how the group treats its source material. For a concert or recording, check the official site ANÚNA for current lineup, tour dates, and releases, since the roster and programme change over time.

How can I find upcoming ANÚNA performances or tour dates?

Check the official ANÚNA website at ANÚNA first: its news, events or tour section is the most reliable place for upcoming performances, since dates and venues change and third-party listings often lag behind.

If the homepage doesn't show dates directly, look for a menu item labelled "Events," "Tour," "News" or "What's On." If nothing is listed, the choir may simply have no announced dates at that moment rather than the site being out of date.

For a practical routine:

• Visit the site periodically rather than relying on one check, especially in the months before a touring season.
• Join the mailing list if one is offered; announcements usually reach subscribers before casual visitors.
• Follow the choir's official social accounts, which often post date confirmations and last-minute changes.
• If you want to attend, confirm details with the venue's own box office before travelling, as seating and start times are set locally.

A useful next step: search the site for the word "tour" and note whether dates are grouped by country. That tells you whether a run of concerts is being planned near you or whether you'd need to travel.

What albums or recordings has ANÚNA released?

ANÚNA’s recordings are best understood as a discography of the choir’s evolving sound: early studio albums built around the group’s distinctive blend of Irish traditional song, plainchant and new choral writing, followed by later releases that often revisit, rearrange or expand that repertoire.

From the choir’s own site, the recordings most commonly associated with ANÚNA include:

• ANÚNA (the debut album)
• Invocation
• Omnis
• Deep Dead Blue
• Behind the Closed Eye
• Cynara
• Winter Songs
• Sensation
• Sanctuary
• Illumination
• Otherworld
• Christmas with ANÚNA
• Tower of Song
• A Christmas Selection
• St. Nicholas

If you are trying to decide where to start, choose by purpose rather than by completeness. ANÚNA, Invocation and Omnis give the clearest picture of the choir’s early signature style. Deep Dead Blue and Behind the Closed Eye are often chosen by listeners who want the more atmospheric, meditative side. For seasonal listening, Winter Songs, Christmas with ANÚNA and A Christmas Selection are the obvious entry points. Cynara, Sensation and Illumination suit listeners interested in the group’s later, more varied programming.

Because ANÚNA’s line-up and arrangements have changed over time, two recordings can share material but sound quite different. A useful next step is to check the official ANÚNA site for the current discography and any available track listings, then compare a few albums by era and mood before buying. If you already know you like the group’s Christmas material, start there; if you are new to the choir, begin with the debut or Invocation and branch out from there.

How does ANÚNA's choral style differ from traditional Irish music groups?

ANÚNA differs from most traditional Irish groups less in its source material than in how it treats the human voice. Where a typical traditional band centres on instruments — fiddle, flute, bodhrán, guitar — and uses voices to carry a song, ANÚNA is built around unaccompanied or lightly accompanied choral singing, with the ensemble itself as the main instrument.

The main differences

Traditional groups tend to preserve a tune's local character — the ornaments, phrasing and instrument-specific style tied to a region. ANÚNA approaches the same heritage as raw material for choral writing, so a listeners' expectation of "authentic" traditional performance is not really the point. The result is closer to a choral or even ambient listening experience than to a night in a music pub.

Who each suits

If you want to hear jigs, reels and sean-nós singing in a recognisably traditional setting, a dedicated traditional group will serve you better. If you are drawn to choral music, film-like atmosphere, or vocal arrangements of Irish airs, ANÚNA's approach is the more natural fit. The trade-off is real in both directions: choral treatment can smooth out the rhythmic drive and rough edges that many traditional listeners value, while traditional performance rarely offers the harmonic depth and dynamic range a choir can produce.

A practical next step

Listen to one well-known air in both formats — a solo traditional rendition and a choral arrangement — and note which elements you miss and which you gain. That comparison will tell you quickly which side of this divide you sit on. For context on the traditional end, the Irish Traditional Music Archive at Irish Traditional Music Archive documents the styles ANÚNA is responding to.

Can I hire ANÚNA for a private event or wedding?

Yes, ANÚNA can be hired for private events and weddings. The group performs as a professional vocal ensemble, and its ANÚNA site is the starting point for enquiries about bookings.

What a private booking typically involves

• Weddings: ceremony music, drinks reception, or both, depending on the schedule.
• Private events: corporate functions, dinners, anniversaries, memorials, and cultural gatherings.
• Format: usually a smaller ensemble rather than the full company, which suits most venues and budgets.

What to decide before you enquire

1. Date and venue — confirm both, plus whether the venue has sound restrictions or a piano.
2. Set length and timing — a short ceremony set differs greatly from a full evening performance.
3. Ensemble size — more singers suit larger spaces; fewer suit intimate rooms.
4. Travel — if your event is outside Ireland, travel and accommodation will shape feasibility and cost.

A practical next step

Use the contact details on ANÚNA and ask directly about availability for your date, the options for ensemble size, and what information they need to quote. Booking well in advance matters most for peak wedding season and December dates.

How do I join ANÚNA or audition for the choir?

Joining ANÚNA is not a standard open-enrolment process: the choir recruits singers when its touring and recording schedule requires particular voices. The practical route is to make contact through the official website and be ready to audition when a vacancy or project arises.

ANÚNA

What the process usually involves

• Check the official site first. Look for a contact page, audition notice or singer enquiry route. This is where any current openings would be announced.
• Send a clear enquiry. State your voice type (soprano, alto, tenor, bass), your range, your experience and where you are based. Mention whether you can travel and tour.
• Expect an audition. Choirs at this level typically ask for a prepared piece, some sight-reading and possibly ensemble or blend work. Repertoire in this style often calls for a pure, controlled tone rather than a heavy operatic sound.
• Be ready for a flexible commitment. Professional and semi-professional choirs work around tour dates, recording sessions and rehearsals, so availability matters as much as vocal quality.

A realistic reader scenario

If you are a conservatory graduate or an experienced choral singer, treat this like any professional audition: prepare two contrasting pieces, keep your CV and recordings current, and follow up politely after a few weeks if you have not heard back. If you are earlier in your training, build ensemble experience first through local or university choirs, then approach ANÚNA when your sight-reading and blend are strong.

Decision criterion

The key question is not "how do I apply" but "am I the voice they currently need?" Contact them, ask directly what they are looking for, and let that answer guide your next step.