Step into the spirit of the festival through the lens of our talented photographers, who captured the joy, energy, and unforgettable moments of this 2025's edition.
Relive the magic — one beautiful moment at a time.
The complete photo gallery for the 2025 festival is now available! At this link, you can explore the stunning images captured by our brilliant photographers, who have beautifully documented the unforgettable moments of this year's festival.
Stay tuned for more videos from the festival, which will be shared on our social media platforms in the coming weeks. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and X to stay updated and relive the festival magic!
The Cork International Choral Festival came to a climactic penultimate close with its Awards Ceremony at 5.45pm, Sunday 4th May 2025 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:
Photography by Darragh Kane
Fleischmann International Trophy Competition Prize Winners
1st Prize
Choir: Chamber Choir of the Collegium Musicum Berlin, GERMANY
Conductor: Donka Miteva
93.17%
2nd Prize
Choir: Kammerkoret NOVA, NORWAY
Conductor: Julia Selina Blank
92.33%
3rd Prize
Choir: Stockholms Musikgymnasium Youth Choir, SWEDEN
Conductor: Maria Goundorina
92.17%
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: McMaster University Choir - Mixed Chorus, Canada
Conductor: Prof. Melanie Tellez
For the performance of: Rauði riddarinn - Hreiðar Ingi Þorsteinsson
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: Coro Sinfonía, SPAIN
Conductor: Selena Cancino
For the performance of: Verde mar - Bernadet Kühne
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: Junges Consortium Berlin [GERMANY]
Conductor: Vinzenz Weissenburger
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: Maria Goundorina
From: Stockholms Musikgymnasium Youth Choir [SWEDEN]
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: Mount Royal Kantorei, Canada
Conductor: John Morgan
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 [CO. CORK]
Conductor: Ben Jacob
88%
2nd Prize
Choir: MTU Glór Choral Society [CO. CORK]
Conductor: Dylan Tierney
82.56%
3rd Prize
Choir: Alma Choir [CO. CORK]
Conductor: Grace Bergin
82.44%
IBEC Workplace Choir of the Year
1st Place
Choir: The Musgrave Workplace Choir [MUSGRAVE, CORK]
Conductor: Saoirse Daly
86.17%
2nd Place
Choir: City Hall Singers [CORK CITY COUNCIL, CORK]
Conductor: Lorna Moore
85.33%
3rd Place
Choir: Liberty IT Choir [LIBERTY IT, ANTRIM]
Conductor: Donal McCrisken
84.83%
National Adult Competitions
National Competition for Chamber Choirs
1st Prize
Choir: Dynamics Vocal Ensemble [CO. WICKLOW]
Conductor: Jennifer Lee
88.33%
2nd Prize
Choir: Calliope [CORK]
Conductor: Sam Guisinger
85.33%
National Competition for Equal Voice Choirs
1st Prize
Choir: Réalta Chamber Choir [CO. MEATH]
Conductor: Claire Grogan
90.83%
2nd Prize
Choir: The Wilcollane Singers [CO. CORK]
Conductor: Anne Dunphy
87.67%
3rd Prize
Choir: Inver Singers [CO. WICKLOW]
Conductor: Frank Kelly
84.67%
National Competition for Mixed Voice Choirs
1st Prize
Choir: Trinity College Singers [CO. DUBLIN]
Conductor: Donncha McDonagh
88.40%
2nd Prize
Choir: Millicent Singers [CO. KILDARE]
Conductor: Alan Kelly
86.00%
3rd Prize
Choir: Lumina [CO. WATERFORD]
Conductor: Niall Crowley
83.70%
National Competition for Youth Choirs
1st Prize
Choir: SETU Youth Choirs [CO. WATERFORD]
Conductor: Niall Crowley
86%
National Competition for Light, Jazz and Popular Music
1st Prize
Choir: Belle Harmonics [CO. DUBLIN]
Conductor: Sharon Heron
90.67%
2nd Prize
Choir: The Wilcollane Singers [CO. CORK]
Conductor: Anne Dunphy
89.50%
National Competition for Church Music
1st Prize
Choir: UCC Singers, CO. CORK
Conductor: Ben Jacobs
89.50%
2nd Prize
Choir: Réalta Chamber Choir CO. MEATH
Conductor: Claire Grogan
87.00%
Special Awards – National Adult and Youth Competitions
Irish Federation of Musicians & Associated Professions Trophy
Special Award for the performance of a choral work in Irish.
Awarded to:
Choir: Ashton School Choir
Conductor: Mary G. O'Brien
For the performance of: Óre; sé do bheatha ‘bhalile
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: Réalta Chamber Choir
Conductor: Claire Grogan
For the performance of: Cast a cold eye by Micheal Holohan in the Equal Voices 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: Trinity College Singers
Conductor: Donncha McDonagh
For the performance of: Tykus tykus by Vaclovas Augustinas in the Mixed Voices competition
Seán Ó Riada Composition Competition
The Seán Ó Riada Trophy
Awarded to Composer, Donnchadh Mac Aodha, for his work Babel
National Competitions for Schools
National Competition for Schools: (Primary School Choirs)
1st Prize
Choir: Cór Scoil an Spioraid Naoimh Cailíní [CO. CORK]
Conductor: Maeve-Ann O'Brien
91%
2nd Prize
Choir: Cratloe National School [CO. CLARE]
Conductor: Bernadette Kennedy
90%
National Competition for Schools: (Equal Voice Post-Primary School Choirs)
1st Prize
Choir: Regina Mundi College Chamber Choir [CO. CORK]
Conductor: Gráinne O'Neill
93%
2nd Prize
Choir: Ursuline Secondary School, Thurles. [CO. TIPPERARY]
Conductor: Joan Butler
92.50%
National Competition for Schools: (Mixed Voice Post-Primary School Choirs)
1st Prize
Choir: Glanmire Community College [CO. CORK]
Conductor: Ann Mannix
93.50%
2nd Prize
Choir: St Patrick’s Cathedral Grammar School Choir [CO. DUBLIN]
Conductor: Judith Lyons
92.50%
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:
School: Glanmire Community Choir, CORK
Conductor: Ann Mannix
The Sing Ireland Trophy
Special Award for the performance of a piece in the National Competitions for Schools.
For the performance of: Anthem from Chess, in the National Competition for Schools: Section 2: Post Primary Equal Voice
Choir: De La Salle College Senior Choir
Conductor: Ben Hanlon
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:
Lorna Ní Bhroin
Conductor of Laurel Hill Coláiste FCJ, LIMERICK
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.
Tickets for the Chamber Choir Ireland on Friday 2nd May at 7:30pm, St Fin Barre's Cathedral, are sold out.
We are delighted by the overwhelming interest again this year! Thank you all, and we look forward to seeing you there.
2025 Gala Concerts Schedule:
Wednesday, 30th April, 8pm: Opening Gala, Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius
East Cork Choral Society, Guinness Choir & Cork Fleischmann Symphony Orchestra, Cork City Hall. Tickets: €25/€30/€35 (back parterre/front parterre/gallery) – Book now
Thursday, 1st May, 8pm: Syng Selected (Denmark)
Cork City Hall. Tickets: €25/€30/€35 (back parterre/front parterre/gallery) – Book now
Friday, 2nd May, 10pm: Cappella Pratensis (The Netherlands), Josquin in Rome
St. Fin Barre's Cathedral, Cork. Tickets: €25 – Book now
Saturday, 3rd May, 3pm & 8pm: Fleischmann International Gala
Cork City Hall. Tickets: €20/€25/€30 (back parterre/front parterre/gallery) – Book now
Sunday, 4th May, 8pm: Closing Gala Concert
Cork City Hall. Tickets: €25/€30/€35 (back parterre/front parterre/gallery) – Book now
The Cork International Choral Festival has officially launched its 70th anniversary programme, promising a spectacular celebration of choral music this May bank holiday weekend.
Now in its 70th year, Cork’s longest-running festival will welcome over 117 performing groups, including 20 international choirs, who will fill venues across the city with music, colour, and culture. With more than 700 international visitors and thousands more local participants and audiences expected, this year's event is shaping up to be one of the biggest yet.
Speaking, with Irish Examiner, at the launch in Cork City Hall, Artistic Director Peter Stobart shared his excitement about this milestone year:
“We’ve got 20 international choirs visiting – they’ve got to be the highlight. They bring a variety of colourful costumes, different languages, and unique choral styles. All of that being brought into Cork is such a significant thing.”
At the heart of the festival is the Fleischmann International Trophy Competition, which draws world-class amateur choirs from around the globe to compete at the highest level. Events will take place across a variety of iconic venues, including Cork City Hall, St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, St Colman’s Cathedral in Cobh, and the Marina Market, with choral pop-ups also expected to bring music to the streets of Cork.
🎟️ The full festival schedule is now available online
The winning composition will premiere at Cork International Choral Festival
Donnchadh Mac Aodha has been announced as this year’s winner of the prestigious Seán Ó Riada composition competition. The annual competition celebrates new works from Irish composers and is held in collaboration with the Cork International Choral Festival and Chamber Choir Ireland. Donnchadh Mac Aodha's winning composition, ‘Babel’, will have its world premiere at St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral Cork on Friday, May 2nd, at 7.30pm.
A Dundalk native and UCC student, Donnchadh’s current compositional work draws inspiration from his roots in traditional music and the Irish language, seamlessly blended with his training in contemporary composition, led primarily by John Godfrey at UCC. Through his work, Donnchadh looks to push and remold apparent boundary lines between music genres to create a unique blend of old and new. The inaugural performance of ‘Babel’ will be part of the Cork International Choral Festival’s annual collaborative concert with choir-in-residence, Chamber Choir Ireland, led by their Guest Director Gabriel Crouch. This promises to be a night of exceptional musical talent.
The Seán Ó Riada competition, which has been running for over 50 years, provides a platform for Irish composers to have their work judged and rewarded solely on its own merits. Submissions are made under pseudonyms, ensuring anonymity until after the judges' decision has been made. The competition aims to present Irish choirs with fresh, authentic material for their programs and has attracted renowned composers throughout its history.
Chamber Choir Ireland member and composer Eoghan Desmond, conductor Orla Flanagan, and Guest Conductor of Chamber Choir Ireland, Gabriel Crouch, who evaluated McDonnell's winning piece, summarised their reaction, stating, 'Babel' makes a rich contribution to Irish choral literature. The contemporary relevance of Ailbhe Ní Ghearbhuigh's Irish-language poem is striking, with an unsettling sense of lofty ideals soured by arrogance and pride. The composer's musical setting reflects this and is both sensitive and expressively impactful. The phrases inflect upwards, yearning for something, but falter in the (quite deliberate) absence of harmonic stability. The effect is sobering, and captivating. It has a distinct musical identity, and shows great fluency in its approach to choral writing.
With more than 250 compositions being submitted in the past 10 years of the new format, the Seán Ó Riada Composition Competition illustrates the number of composers now working and living in Ireland, and further demonstrates the Cork International Choral Festival’s continuing commitment to encourage the composition and performance of contemporary music. Past winners include Solfa Carlisle, Rhona Clarke, Patrick Connolly, Frank Corcoran, Séamas de Barra, Eoghan Desmond, Michael Holohan, Marian Ingoldsby, Donal MacErlaine, Simon MacHale, Kevin O’Connell, Amanda Feery, Criostóir Ó Loingsigh, Donal Sarsfield, James May, Peter Leavy, Norah Constance Walsh, Darragh Black Hynes, Laura Heneghan and last year’s winner Anselm McDonnell
This year’s Cork International Choral Festival which is set to bring Cork to life with song takes place from 30th April – 4th May 2025.
More about the Composer:
Donnchadh Mac Aodha is a composer and multi-instrumentalist from Dundalk, Co.Louth. In 2024, he graduated from UCC with a 1st-class honours degree in Music and Irish, where he was a Quercus Creative & Performing Arts Scholar.
Donnchadh’s current compositional work draws inspiration from his grounding in traditional music and the Irish language, intermingled with his training in contemporary composition, led primarily by John Godfrey at UCC. His pieces have been performed at the Edinburgh International Harp Festival, Ostrava Days Festival, West Wicklow Chamber Music Festival, The Irish Composers Collective Festival and the New Ross Piano Festival. In 2024 he was commissioned to write a suite for Consairtín, premiered in Glór, Ennis. Donnchadh’s final-year Major Study composition project, Éist le Fuaim na hAbhann: Echoing Sean-nós in Contemporary Classical Composition, won the Danijela Kulezic-Wilson Undergraduate Award for Exceptional Innovation in Research.
Donnchadh has performed extensively in Ireland, Europe, and beyond. A four-time All-Ireland Champion at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, he has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the Donal ‘Doc’ Gleeson Award, UCC Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann bursary, and the Mícheál Ó hÉidhin medal. He was also a finalist in the Bonn Óir Seán Ó Riada competition three times, and holds an Advanced Recital Certificate in piano from RIAM.
We're looking for passionate volunteers to join us for the 2025 Cork International Choral Festival on Wednesday 30th April - Sunday 4th May 2025!
If you're interested in being part of the 70th Edition of this amazing event that celebrates choral music and brings people together from around the world, then we want you!
As a token of our thanks, there are some great perks for volunteers, from free tickets to shows, to invitation to the Festival Reception!
We will welcome any volunteers who are willing to lend their hands, hearts and voices.
It's now time to announce the fantastic ten international non-competitive choirs joining us in Cork this May. We can't wait to enjoy their performances! You can find out more about each of them in the 'Choir & Speakers' section of our website.
Southland - Australia
Urdaibai Kantagunea -Basque Country, Spain
Zarautz Abesbatza- Basque Country, Spain
Quinnton - Finland
Voices International - Luxembourg
Sing4Joy - Switzerland
Hart Male Voice Choir - UK
RockavoX - UK
Voce Chamber Choir - UK
Cân Aderyn - Wales
The Cork International Choral Festival is pleased to invite primary schools to attend the workshop ‘Singing Together - Ag canadh le chéile’ on Tuesday, 4th March 2025 from 10am – 11.45am in Cork City Hall, as part of Seachtain na Gaeilge 2025.
This workshop for primary school children offers a fun and educational opportunity to learn music in the Irish language. Led by Abby Ní Loingsigh and her ensemble, the event will guide schools in mastering a simple choral arrangement of an Irish folk song, fostering a collaborative singing experience. Additionally, students will be introduced to various traditional Irish instruments, will explore different categories of Irish dance tunes and songs, and will practice singing Irish words in harmony with other participants. The event aims to enhance understanding of choral music and cultivate an appreciation for the Irish language and musical tradition.
During the workshop, students will delve into creating a chord with their voices, involving large groups singing three or more different notes. The session will also feature a lively and interactive demonstration of Irish instruments and tune types, incorporating teachable rhythms to identify the tunes. Body percussion will be employed in this section of the event for added engagement.
The cost for the workshop is €5/student (admission is complimentary for teachers and staff). To book your place, please complete the registration form below by Friday, 7th February, and send payment either online at this link, or by bank transfer or cheque to the following account:
Recipient: Cork International Choral Festival
Bank: Allied Irish Banks plc, Patrick’s Street, Cork, Ireland
IBAN: IE85 AIBK 9341 5105 1954 48
BIC: AIBKIE2D
Account Number: 05195448
Sort Code: 93 41 51
NOTE: Please ensure that the name of the school is noted on bank transfer.
Registrations are considered complete upon receipt of payment and will be guaranteed on a first-come, first-served basis.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch by email or phone.
We hope to hear from you soon!
We’re thrilled to announce the choirs selected for the 2025 Fleischmann International Trophy Competition. Each year, top amateur choirs from across the globe compete for the honour of winning the prestigious Fleischmann Trophy.
A huge congratulations to the 10 choirs that will be joining us in Cork next year – we can’t wait to welcome you!
Chamber Choir of the Collegium Musicum Berlin, Germany
Coro Sinfonia, Spain
Junges Consortium Berlin, Germany
Kammerkoret NOVA, Norway
McMaster University Choir - Cantemus Treble Ensemble, Canada
McMaster University Choir - Mixed Chorus, Canada
Mixed Choir "Ventspils", Latvia
Mount Royal Kantorei, Canada
St Mary Treblemakers, Canada
Stockholms Musikgymnasium Youth Choir 2025, Sweden
We’re thrilled to announce that tickets for Christmas at the Cathedral on Saturday, 23rd November, are now SOLD OUT!
Don’t miss your chance to experience this magical evening—there are just a few tickets remaining for the Sunday, 24th November performance, featuring the exceptional guest soprano, Majella Cullagh.
🎟️ Secure your tickets now here.
Join us for an unforgettable musical celebration of the festive season in the stunning surroundings of St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral, under the direction of Catherine Mahon Buckley.
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