The Cork International Choral Festival came to a climactic penultimate close with its Awards Ceremony at 5.30 pm on Sunday 3rd May 2026 in Cork City Hall. Following a hugely successful Festival, the Jury results were finally announced for all sections of the Festival’s varied and prestigious categories. International and national choirs from near and far waited nervously for the announcements. The following are the results for all categories:
Fleischmann International Trophy Competition Prize Winners
1st Prize
Choir: Vancouver Youth Choir, CANADA
Conductor: Carrie Tennant
95.1%
2nd Prize
Choir: LORICA, IRELAND
Conductor: Michael T. Dawson
92.60%
3rd Prize
Choir: Kammerchor der Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg, GERMANY
Conductor: Cornelius Trantow
91.60%
International Awards
Lady Dorothy Mayer Memorial Trophy
Donated by Chris Mahon
Special Award for the performance of a piece in the Fleischmann International Trophy Competition.
Awarded to:
Choir: LORICA, IRELAND
Conductor: Michael T. Dawson
For the performance of: Nead na Lachan – Eoin Conway
Schuman/Europe Trophy
In memory of Moira Pyne (1916 – 2009)
Special Award for the performance of a piece by a living European Composer in the Fleischmann International Trophy Competition.
Awarded to:
Choir: UCC Singers, IRELAND
Conductor: Ben Jacob
For the performance of: Movement 2: “Roots”, from Spirit of Nature – Zuzanna Koziej
Heinrich Schütz Perpetual Trophy
In memory of Hans Waldemar Rosen
Special Award for the performance of a choral work by Heinrich Schütz in the National or International Competitions.
Awarded to:
Choir: Kammerchor der Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg, GERMANY
Conductor: Cornelius Trantow
The McCurtain and McSwiney Memorial Trophy
Donated by the Cork Council of Trade Unions
Special Award, decided by the members of the International Jury, to a conductor in the International Competition for the performance of an imaginative and artistic programme. The recipient of this Trophy also receives a special award, kindly donated by Musica International, which offers them full access to the Musica International website and their virtual choral library. Musica International is a major project of the International Federation for Choral Music.
Awarded to:
Conductor: Carrie Tennant
From: Vancouver Youth Choir, CANADA
PEACE Trophy
Donated by the P.E.A.C.E Movement Cork
Awarded to the choir that best embraces the spirit of the Festival, and fulfils the intentions of the trophy’s benefactors, the P.E.A.C.E. Movement, Cork.
Awarded to:
Choir: Sing For Your Life!, AUSTRALIA
Conductor: Jane Christie-Johnston
Ireland’s Choir of the Year
Ireland’s Choir of the Year and Recipient of The Victor Leeson Perpetual Trophy
Donated by The Guinness Choir in memory of its founder Victor Leeson
1st Prize
Choir: UCC Singers, CORK
Conductor: Ben Jacob
88.27%
2nd Prize
Choir: DYC Singers, DUBLIN
Conductor: Lynsey Callaghan
88 %
3rd Prize
Choir: Trinity College Singers, DUBLIN
Conductor: Callum Jeacle
85.53%
National Open Competitions
Workplace Choir of the Year
1st Place
Choir: City Hall Singers, CORK
Conductor: Lorna Moore
89.50%
2nd Place
Choir: Scrubs CUH Workplace Choir, CORK
Conductor: Patrick D’Alton
87.42%
National Competition for Chamber Choirs
1st Prize
Choir: –
Conductor: –
2nd Prize
Choir: In Caelo Chamber Choir, KILKENNY
Conductor: Peter Nolan
80%
National Competition for Lower Voice Choirs
1st Prize
Choir: Harmony Bro, CLARE
Conductor: Michael Hennessy
85%
2nd Prize
Choir: Portadown Male Voice Choir, ARMAGH
Conductor: Rachel Power
80%
National Competition for Upper Voice Choirs
1st Prize
Choir: The Wilcollane Singers, Cork
Conductor: Anne Dunphy
87%
2nd Prize
Choir: Belle Voci
Conductor: Eamon O’Malley
80.5%
National Competition for Mixed Voice Choirs
1st Prize
Choir: DYC Singers, DUBLIN
Conductor: Lynsey Callaghan
91%
2nd Prize
Choir: Lumina, WATERFORD
Conductor: Niall Crowley
88.6%
National Competition for Youth Choirs
1st Prize
Choir: Dublin Youth Choir, DUBLIN
Conductor: Lynsey Callaghan
91.20%
2nd Prize
Choir: Loinnir Chamber Choir, CLARE
Conductor: Fiona Walsh
87.70%
National Competition for Light, Jazz and Popular Music
1st Prize
Choir: University of Galway Alumni Ensemble, GALWAY
Conductor: Peter Mannion
90.5%
2nd Prize
Choir: The Wilcollane Singers, CORK
Conductor: Anne Dunphy
90.33%
National Competition for Church Music
1st Prize
Choir: Dublin Youth Choir, DUBLIN
Conductor: Lynsey Callaghan
93.25%2nd Prize
Choir: Limerick Chamber Choir, LIMERICK
Conductor: Maire Keary-Scanlon
86.5%
Special Awards – National Adult and Youth Competitions
Trofaí Cuimhneacháin Philib Ui Laoghaire
Donated by Cór Cois Laoi
Special Award for the performance of a choral work in Irish.
Awarded to:
Choir: UCC Singers
Conductor: Ben Jacob
For the performance of: Molainis go Léir an tAon-Mhac Críost by Ben Hanlon in Ireland’s Choir of the Year
Perpetual Trophy for the Performance of Irish Contemporary Choral Music
Donated by The Contemporary Music Centre
Special Award for the performance of an original choral work by an Irish composer written after 1975 and chosen from the library collection of the Contemporary Music Centre.
Awarded to:
Choir: Limerick Chamber Choir
Conductor: Marie Keary-Scanlon
For the performance of: Regina Coeli by Rhona Clarke in the Church Music Competition
The John Mannion Trophy
Donated by the family of John Mannion
Special Award to a Chamber Choir for the performance of a work in the National Competitions.
Awarded to:
Choir: University of Galway Alumni Ensemble
Conductor: Peter Mannion
For the performance of: Wannabe by The Spice Girls, Matt Rowe, Richard Stannard in the Light Jazz and Popular Music Competition
Seán Ó Riada Composition Competition
The Seán Ó Riada Trophy
Awarded to Composer, Timothy Doyle, for his work Points and Line
National Competitions for Schools
National Competition for Schools: Section 1 (Primary School Choirs)
1st Prize
Choir: Glasheen Girls’ School Choir, CORK
Conductor: Rachel O’Brien
90.25%
2nd Prize
Choir: Cratloe NS, CLARE
Conductor: Bernadette Kennedy
89.75%
National Competition for Schools: Section 2 (Equal Voice Post-Primary School Choirs)
1st Prize
Choir: Ursuline Secondary School, Thurles, TIPPERARY
Conductor: Joan Butler
90.50%
2nd Prize
Choir: Laurel Hill Coláiste FCJ, LIMERICK
Conductor: Lorna O’Byrne
90%
National Competition for Schools: Section 3 (Mixed Voice Post-Primary School Choirs)
1st Prize
Choir: St. Patrick’s Cathedral Grammar School Choir, DUBLIN
Conductor: Judith Lyons
91%
2nd Prize
Choir: Cashel Community School, TIPPERARY
Conductor: Patrice Davern
90%
Special Awards – National Competitions for Schools
School Choir of the Festival and the Recipient of The John Cunningham Trophy.
Awarded to the school choir who received the highest overall mark in the National Competitions for Schools.
Awarded to:
Choir: St. Patrick’s Cathedral Grammar School Choir, DUBLIN
Conductor: Judith Lyons
The Sing Ireland Trophy
Special Award for the performance of a piece in the National Competitions for Schools.
For the performance of: Stars – Ēriks Ešenvalds, in the National Competition for Schools Post-Primary Equal Voice
Awarded to:
Choir: Ursuline Secondary School, Thurles
Conductor: Joan Butler
The Irish Federation of Musicians & Associated Professions Trophy
Special Award for the performance of a choral piece in Irish in the National Competitions for Schools. For the performance of: Iníon A’Phalaitínigh, in the National Competition for Schools: Primary
Awarded to:
Choir: Cratloe NS
Conductor: Bernadette Kennedy
The Sing Ireland Bursary for Conductors
Special bursary award to a conductor in the school competitions to attend Sing Ireland’s Annual Summer School.
Awarded to:
Max Philpott
Conductor of De La Salle College Senior Choir, Waterford
The Cork International Choral Festival is supported by the Arts Council, Fáilte Ireland, Cork City Council and Cork County Council, with the Irish Examiner, The Echo and Cork’s 96FM as media partners.
