News:
July 2007

John Fitzpatrick, the man behind the success of the Cork International Choral Festival, has been named June Cork Person of the Month. Now in his fifteenth year as Festival Director, he has been involved in the Choral Festivals organisation for thirty three years.

Now considered one of the major choral festivals in Europe, the Festival runs over five days each May, and the recent 53rd Festival, provided 117 performing groups, 3,910 participants from 20 countries, giving some 73 performances in 38 venues around Cork City and County. It gives a major financial boost to the region and is now one of our top visitor and local attractions.

John Fitzpatrick, an Arts and Music Graduate of U.C.C., has broad ranging experience as a choral conductor and lecturer. He is also noted for his commitment to community choirs, and is considered Irelands most experienced adjudicator at international level. In his professional life he is Director of the County Cork VEC School of Music, which employs 90 teachers and provides instrumental music tuition to over 2,800 students in 35 centres throughout the county.

This years 53rd Festival was considered by the critics and general public to be a huge success, for its standards, range, diversity of activities and especially for the manner in which it interacted with the City said awards organiser Manus OCallaghan.

John Fitzpatricks name will now go forward for possible selection as Cork Person of the Year. On January 25th next, at a Gala Awards Lunch in the Sheraton Fota Island Golf Resort & Spa, President Mary McAleese will be Guest of Honour and Brian Crowley MEP plus a personality from RTE will be joint M.C.s.

Other monthly winners already selected this year areJanuary Mary OSullivan of the Cork Traveller Womens Network; February Noel Barrett & Pat OSullivan, Variety performers since the 1950s; March Phil ODonovan retired businessman and voluntary worker; April Br. Edwin OSullivan, Missionary in Ghana; and May Charlie Daly, Guide Dogs for children with autism.