National Non-Competitive Participation - Cork International Choral Festival

Applications for the National Non-Competitive strand are now open! Closing date: Friday, 2nd February 2024.

If your choir is interested in joining us in Cork but prefers not to enter a competition, consider non-competitive participation in our popular Afternoons in the Atrium, Choral Trail, Emmet Place Festival Market and the exciting new addition for 2024, Cork's funky Marina Market! This will give your choir the opportunity to be part of a world-renowned Festival, sing in a friendly atmosphere, attend excellent concerts, and have the opportunity to explore Cork while connecting with audiences and other visiting choirs.

New County and City Venues are also welcome to apply if interested in being included in the Festival Choral Trail.

Participation in the Festival implies acceptance of the rules and regulations below.

Go to Online Application

National Non-Competitive Participation Syllabus

Each Festival weekend, as part of the popular Afternoons in the Atrium, national and international choirs present short performances back to back from 1pm to 6pm on Saturday and Sunday in the laid back and informal atmosphere of the Clayton Hotel. We are also delighted to welcome back our Emmet Place Food Market, and we're excited to announce the new addition, Cork's funky Marina Market, where performance areas will be programmed with choirs throughout the Saturday. Finally, and throughout the Festival, international and national choirs will bring the city to life with song in our Choral Trail, with events happening across the city and county, all for free!

Afternoons in the Atrium

This has become an annual Festival event and is the perfect setting for families and festival goers who want to relax in the hotel’s bright atrium and experience the festival atmosphere in full flow. Afternoons in the Atrium provides a weekend of energetic and entertaining performances by national and international choirs in the fresh, modern setting of the Clayton Hotel, Lapps Quay.

Choirs will be asked to prepare a 9-minute programme of popular nature. A piano will be available on the day, however, due to limited space, rehearsals cannot be facilitated. Should singers however wish to warm up, choirs are welcome to do this in front of Clayton Hotel on the Lapp’s Quay Board Walk. Please note that you will be contacted with regards to your performance time closer to the Festival.

Emmet Place Market Stage

Choirs will be asked to prepare a 20-minute programme of a popular nature. Due to limitations at the location, all pieces performed must be a cappella. Due to the outdoor nature of the performance, rehearsals cannot be accommodated on site. Please note that you will be contacted with regards to your performance scheduled time before the Festival.

Choirs at Marina Market

Choirs will be asked to prepare a 15-minute programme of a popular nature. Due to limitations at the location, all pieces performed must be a cappella. Due to the outdoor nature of the performance, rehearsals cannot be accommodated on site. Please note that you will be contacted with regards to your performance scheduled time before the Festival.

Choral Trail

Take part in the Festival’s Choral Trail where national and international choirs bring our city to life with song, with events happening across the city and county! Choirs will be asked to prepare a 15-minute programme of their choosing. Due to the variety of venues and limitations in space, pieces should be unaccompanied. However, if accompaniment is needed, choirs must provide their own accompanist/instrument.

Applications can be submitted online by completing the entry form available here.

Closing date for receipt of completed applications is Friday, 2nd February 2024.

30 members or less: €60
31 to 40 members: €70
41 to 50 members: €90
51 to 60 members: €110
60 members or more: €120
Schools Primary: €40 / Secondary €50

Bank Details

Entry fees can be paid by cheque or bank transfer.

Account Holder: Cork International Choral Festival
Bank: Allied Irish Banks plc, Patrick Street, Cork, Ireland
IBAN: IE85 AIBK 9341 5105 1954 48
BIC: AIBKIE2D
Account Number: 05195448
National Sort Code: 93 41 51
NOTE: Please ensure that the name of the choir is noted on the bank transfer as narrative

The final selection of choirs remains with the Cork International Choral Festival.
The Festival accepts no legal responsibility whatsoever in respect to a choir’s participation in the Festival
It is contrary to law to perform music that has been reproduced illegally. Should a choir do so, the Festival accepts no responsibility for any action taken by publishers.
Participation in the Festival implies acceptance of all the rules and regulations.
It is a condition of participation that a choir agrees that: Any performance it gives during the festival may be photographed, broadcast live and/or recorded for subsequent reproduction and/or broadcast on radio/television/internet without payment to the choir. All broadcasting and photographic rights to any performance at the festival shall belong to the festival which will be free to dispose of or utilise them in promotional materials as it sees fit. It is the duty of all choirs with members under 18 years of age to ensure that informed consent is sought from young people and their parents/carers in this regard.