Our Musical Team
Born in Wickham, Hampshire, Colin Block studied horn, piano, composition and conducting at the Royal Academy of Music in London. In 1965 he came to Dublin as a horn player in the RTE Symphony Orchestra, (a temporary stay of 44 years and counting!), and became very active as a conductor of various instrumental groups which frequently broadcast on RTE. For many years he ran his own chamber orchestra called “Serenata”, led by Alan Smale, and he has also been guest conductor with the RTE Symphony Orchestra, the RTE Concert Orchestra, NICO, the RTE Singers, the National Chamber Choir, and the Orchestra of St. Cecilia.
He later developed a keen interest in choral conducting and training and has appeared with numerous different choirs over the years. He has as a result gained an enviable reputation as one of Ireland’s top choral directors. He has also been involved in musical comedy with the Clontarf, Bray, Greystones, Glencullen and Navan musical societies.
In 1980 he resigned from the RTE Symphony Orchestra for health reasons, and despite a constant and debilitating battle with chronic back pain, is currently Musical Director and regular conductor of the Dublin County Choir. In 2007 he retired from the Culwick Choral Society, and was by far the longest serving Musical Director (21 years) in its 111-year history.
Colin is married to pianist Carole, until recently a bassoonist in the RTE Concert Orchestra: they have two sons and 5 grandsons. He, Carole, and their eldest son Robert currently run a recording and photographic studio called The Dream Factory, which, amongst many other things, does commercial album recordings for choirs, demo CD’s for vocal soloists, and portrait photography.
John Dexter
Chorus Master and Organist
John is currently conductor of the Goethe-Institut Choir, music teacher in St Patrick’s Cathedral Grammar School and Chorus Master of the Dublin County Choir. From 1977 to 2001 he was Organist and Master of the Choristers in St Patrick’s Cathedral and is now organist in Whitechurch Parish Church. Previously he had been an Organ Scholar in Jesus College, Oxford, and at St Paul’s Cathedral London, studying orchestral conducting with the late Norman Del Mar in the Royal College of Music. Recently he has conducted the Dublin Orchestral Players, the Dublin Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestra of St Cecilia . In 2008 he conducted the Dublin County Choir on its trip to Québec.
Celine Kelly studied piano with Frank Heneghan at the Dublin College of Music. Following numerous competition successes, and having graduated from Trinity College Dublin with an Honours degree, she spent two years at the Royal College of Music, obtaining a Performer’s Diploma. To date, Celine has accompanied many solo artists and choirs in performances in Moscow, France, Italy, USA, China and throughout Ireland. She is currently on the teaching staff of DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama.
