GOVERNMENT departments are known to work in mysterious ways, writes Michael Dervan. But the make up of the new board of the National Concert Hall (expected since late last month) reached this reporter in a genuinely novel way through the concert programme for last Saturday's John Williams concert, in advance of even the whiff of an official press release. The new NCH chairman is Dermot Egan (ex AIB), and, for the first time, a member of the National Symphony Orchestra, principal flautist William Dowdall, has made if to the board room. This latter move may well bring to board meetings an authentic, on the ground view of the much complained about working conditions for orchestral players at the hall. The other members of the new board are Audrey Corbett, Eileen Gleeson, Ellen Gunning, Pat Heneghan, Aiveen Keamey, Thomas Kennedy, Peter McEvoy, John McNally, Irene Nolan, Marie Louise O'Donnell, Joan Parker and Malachy Smith.

RTE meanwhile, finally made a formal announcement of its new relationship with the National Chamber Choir. RTE and NCC have signed a four year contract, whereby the choir will be in a position to offer employment for 17 singers and RTE will have rights to 360 hours of the choir's work. The new arrangement brings a second, and presumably final, demise for the RTE Chamber Choir. The NCC, which remains in residence at Dublin City University (DCU) has appointed a new board under the chairmanship of Frank Casey. Its members are David Byers (BBC Northern Ireland), John Carroll (Registrar, DCU), Seamus Crimmins (RTE FM3), Gerard Keenan (Real Good Management), Carmel O'Reilly (Assistant Secretary, RTE Authority), Karina Lundstrom and Colin Mawby (both of the NCC).

RTC also recently announced that Mark Duley, director of music at Christ Church Cathedral, is to take charge of the RTE Philharmonic Choir. Perhaps these new developments herald the re emergence of the RTE Chorus, formally re instated by the RTE Authority and neither heard nor heard of since!