Cork Freemasons Presents

14th Musical Miscellany at the Freemasons’ Hall

Fundraiser in aid of Cork ARC Cancer Support House, Freemasons’ Hall Extension Fund and Cork International Choral Festival

Saturday 16th November 2024, from 7 pm
The Freemasons’ Hall, Cork

Easily Cork city’s most atmospheric room and the oldest performance space of the city, The Freemasons’ Hall of the Province of Munster Freemasons, located on Tuckey Street, Cork, is the venue for a special fundraising concert on Saturday November 16th 2024. This year’s event is to benefit Cork ARC Cancer Support House, Freemasons’ Hall Extension Fund and Cork International Choral Festival.

The concert – entitled A Musical Miscellany – will comprise of classical and contemporary music featuring Cork Garda Male Voice Choir (MD. Matthias Levy), One Voice (MD Sinead Coakley Murphy and Una Daly), Scoil an Spioraid Naoimh Cailini, Bishopstown (MD Maeve Anne O’Brien), with special guests Denis Lane (baritone), Noel Somers (tenor), Anne Bermingham (soprano),  Amanda Neri (contralto), Adam Buttimer (Tuba), Roisin Martin (French Horn) and Tom Doyle (Piano).

The evening will commence at 7 pm, with pre-concert drinks and canapés reception, with the concert commencing at 8.15 pm in the Lodge Room. Special raffle on the night with amazing spot prizes.

Tickets cost €25, including refreshments, and may be obtained by emailing the Masonic Hall at [email protected].

Cork International Choral Festival presents:

2024 Christmas at the Cathedral

A Cork Christmas

Saturday 23rd & Sunday 24th November, 7.30 pm
St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral

Save the dates!
We’re thrilled to announce that our fundraiser event, Christmas at the Cathedral, will return on Saturday 23rd November, and Sunday 24th November, under the new theme, Winter Wonderland Gala!

This year’s event, presented by the Cork International Choral Festival and directed by Catherine Mahon Buckley, promises to be another fantastic experience. Join us for two magical evenings of music and readings in the stunning Saint Fin Barre's Cathedral, and stay tuned as we reveal our headline soloists next week!

Tickets priced at €26 are available online at this link.

Saturday 23rd November featuring:

❄️ Cór Scoil an Spioraid Naoimh Cailíní
❄️ Wilcollane Singers
❄️ White Horse Gospel Choir
❄️ UCC Singers
❄️ Cór Geal Choir
❄️ CADA Performing Arts

Sunday 24th November featuring:

❄️ Belcanto Choir
❄️ Calliope
❄️ Douglas Harmonia Singers
❄️ Voices of Cork Community Choir
❄️ CADA Performing Arts

The much-celebrated Seán Ó Riada Composition Competition is now officially launched!

Be in with a chance of winning this esteemed composition competition and having your work premiered by the acclaimed Chamber Choir Ireland on Friday 2nd May 2025.

Closing date for receipt of applications is Friday 6th December 2024.

Full details and online application form are available here.

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to get in touch:
Tel: + 353 (0)21 4215125
Email: [email protected]

The Cork International Choral Festival is delighted to announce that we are now accepting entries from Irish composers for the 2025 Seán Ó Riada Composition Competition. Judged by a panel of experts and composers of international renown, the competition awards a cash prize (kindly donated by the Ó Ríada family) and the Seán Ó Riada Trophy to the winning composer, and the selected piece will in turn be given its premiere performance by Chamber Choir Ireland at the Festival’s Gala Concert held in St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral on Friday 2nd May 2025.

The Seán Ó Riada Competition was created in 1972 in recognition of the creative life and work of Seán Ó Riada (1931-71). While the format has evolved over the years, the focus has always been on bringing both traditional and new pieces of Irish music to life and to new audiences, as well as encouraging the composition of contemporary music as Gaeilge. The current format focuses on new works from Irish composers and has a novel approach of scores being entered under pseudonym to protect the identity of the composer.   

The winning composition will be selected by a panel, comprising of composers and choral experts. The selected composition will receive its premiere performance during the Festival at a Gala Concert given by Chamber Choir Ireland.

Since the new format was introduced 14 years ago, over 300 original compositions have been entered, which highlights the renewed interest in, and healthy state of Irish composition. Previous winners of the competition include Solfa Carlile, Rhona Clarke, Patrick Connolly, Frank Corcoran, Séamas de Barra, Eoghan Desmond, Amanda Feery, Michael Holohan, Marian Ingoldsby, Donal Mac Erlaine, Simon MacHale, Kevin O’Connell, Criostóir Ó Loingsigh, Donal Sarsfield, James May, Peter Leavy, Norah Constance Walsh, Daragh Black Hynes, Laura Henegan and last year’s winner, Anselm McDonnell. Several of these works have been published by international choral publishing houses.

The competition is open to composers born or resident in Ireland and applications are welcomed from both established and emerging composers. The score should be an original work, written for a cappella choir, and up to 5 minutes in duration. It should be in 4 parts, and the selected text may be original or existing, in the English, or Irish, language.

Applications are now being accepted and full information on the competition criteria is available here.

In collaboration with Chamber Choir Ireland and the Ó Riada Family Trust

Job Title: Digital Marketing & Design Specialist

Location: Hybrid | Job Type: Maternity Leave 6-month Contract starting on 2nd December

About the Role:

We are seeking a creative and detail-oriented Digital Marketing & Design Specialist to join
our team. The ideal candidate will have expertise in both graphic design and digital
marketing, with proficiency in Adobe InDesign and a strong understanding of various online
marketing channels, including websites, social media, ticketing system operations and email
newsletters. This role involves managing the creation, editing, and execution of design
projects while also driving marketing efforts for the Cork International Choral Festival.

Key Responsibilities:

Design & Creative Projects:

• Develop, edit, and manage design projects using Adobe InDesign for both digital and print mediums.
• Proficiency in InDesign is essential, with experience in layout design, typography, colour management, styles and paragraph formatting, managing master pages, image placement and editing, pre-press preparation, and exporting.
• Ensure all designs align with the brand’s style guidelines and maintain a consistent visual identity.

Digital Marketing:

• Website Management: Update and maintain the company’s website content, ensuring all information is current, visually appealing, and user-friendly.
• Social Media Management: Develop, curate, and schedule engaging content across social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, LinkedIn, etc.) to grow brand awareness and engagement.
• Email Marketing & Newsletters: Design, write, and distribute email newsletters.
• Ticketing System Operations: Oversee and manage the ticketing system for our festival and customer service inquiries.

Qualifications:

• Experience as a Graphic Designer, Marketing Coordinator, or similar role with hands-on experience using Adobe InDesign.
• Strong proficiency in digital marketing tools and platforms.
• Excellent understanding of social media strategies and content creation.
• Basic knowledge of WordPress or web editing tools.
• Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously and meet tight deadlines.
• Strong organizational and communication skills, with attention to detail.

How to apply:

Please email your application with a CV to [email protected] by Friday, 25th October 2024.

The time has come – the Gala Concerts lineup for the 70th Cork International Choral Festival has been announced!

2025 will be a landmark year for the Cork International Choral Festival, marking its 70th edition. The festival will take place from Wednesday, 30th April to Sunday, 4th May 2025 across the city and county, bringing Cork to life with colour, vibrancy, and song.

We are thrilled to announce this year’s Gala Concerts programme earlier than ever, along with an exclusive pre-sale period for our Friends of the Festival throughout October.

2025 Gala Concerts Schedule:

As always, the Friend of the Festival package offers exclusive access to the best seats at the lowest prices. You can find the online order form here. To enhance your booking experience, we are pleased to guarantee your preferred seating choice (balcony or parterre for Cork City Hall concerts) until Thursday, 31st October, before general ticket sales open to the public. After this date, Friends of the Festival discounts will still be available, though seat selection will be subject to general availability.

Secure your Single Pass now at the special price of €120 (regular price €195), or share the gift of music with a Double Pass for €200 (regular price €390). This unbeatable value includes all six Gala Concerts and national competitions. Festival Friends also enjoy extra benefits, such as invitations to the Press Launch and Interval Receptions, along with recognition in the Festival programme.

General ticket sales for individual shows will open on 1st November. We hope you’ll join us for another year of magical Gala performances by world-renowned international choral artists!

If you require any additional information, please contact the Festival office at 021 4215125 or [email protected].

Conductors are being encouraged to sign up for the 2025 International Choral Conducting Course as part of the Cork International Choral Festival

Now in its fourth year, the three-and-a-half day, intensive, hands-on course runs from Tuesday 29th April - Friday 2nd May 2025 and will offer a range of techniques to develop conducting skills under the leadership of expert international guest tutors Anna Fűri (Hungary) and Shane Lynch (USA).

The course, which takes place in Cork City, will focus on core conducting skills such as physical gestures, good listening, repertoire details, rehearsal techniques, managing the ensemble, and leadership. Other key areas of developing conducting skills will be covered, including generating new repertoire ideas, as well as singing lessons with a focus on vocal health and helping yourself and others.

The culmination of all these skills will be displayed at an Ensemble Workshop on the final morning with Chamber Choir Ireland - Ireland’s flagship choral ensemble. This will be a public event.

The course is designed for anyone with experience in leading choirs of all kinds and is interested in taking their theory and practical skills to a new level while networking with other conductors. It will help conductors to guide their choirs, tempo, sound and expression. We are honoured to be joined this year by two world-renowned conductors whose vast experience will provide a unique learning experience for participants.

The cost is €295 per person, with a discount rate being offered to conductors of 2025 participating choirs. The rate includes tea/coffee breaks but does not cover main meals or accommodation. In order to create a bespoke experience for all participants, limited places will be available. More information and registration form are available here. Registration closes on 7th February 2025.

The Cork International Choral Festival is looking for enthusiastic, self-motivated candidates for the 70th edition!

We are looking for passionate candidates who are keen to establish a career in the festivals and music events industry. The internship positions are available for the period January-May 2025.

What you will learn and be a part of

This is a great opportunity to be fully involved from the outset with the production of a well-established and exciting festival, and advance your existing creative skills by working with the Festival Team on a range of projects across media and platforms.

You will learn the basic fundamentals of festival events during the months leading up to the Cork International Choral Festival and you will be exposed to the management of all logistical needs of festival events including, but not limited to, box office, entertainment, catering, signage, audio/visual, merchandise, etc.

The internship will involve pre-production planning and general administrative tasks (including handling phone calls and email inquiries), content creation for our website and social media accounts, copywriting, proofreading, designing the festival programme booklet, and creating posters, flyers and online adverts. During the Festival days, you will be required to work on-site at our events (concerts, workshops, rehearsals) at different locations across Cork City and County, including working on marketing research/audience survey administration.

Your strengths and interests include

• Excellent written and spoken English
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Workspace
• Some experience with Canva and the Adobe Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator) is a plus
• A quick-thinking, self-starter with the ability to multitask and willingness to take on projects
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail
• Interest and knowledge about the festival scene and/or choral music
• Interest and some knowledge of digital marketing and social media, including the ability to create new content to promote the festival
• Aware of the ‘all-hands on deck’ attitude required when working at events
• Strong interpersonal skills

About the Internship

Internship starting between the 20th and 24th of January, and concluding in mid May. Part-time hours from 9am-1pm in January and February, transitioning to full-time from March (9am-1pm & 2pm-5:30pm) + increased hours during festival days (30th April - 4th May 2025, schedule to be agreed). We are open to discussing alternative work schedules, hours, and start/end dates for the ideal candidate.

The internship will take place in a hybrid form – online and at the office, depending on the work involved and the office's needs. The candidate is required to be in Cork for the duration of the internship. Our offices are in Civic Trust House on 50 Pope Quays, Cork.
Online communication tools (VoIP/web conferencing platforms, chats, knowledge repositories, etc.) are in place to ensure that work can be carried out as a team and that the candidate receives appropriate and timely support and feedback. Use of own laptop and internet connection required.

This is an unpaid internship.

To Apply

Please submit an application form available at the bottom of the page by 30th November 2024.

About us

Founded in 1954 to be a dynamic force in developing choral music in Ireland, the Cork International Choral Festival is held annually over the five days preceding the first Monday in May in venues across the city, centering around the City Hall, one of the most attractive and acoustically superb venues in Ireland. It is one of Europe’s premier international choral festivals and is noted for its high competitive standards, excellent organisation, and the friendliness of its welcome. Each year some of the finest amateur international choirs are selected to compete for the prestigious Fleischmann International Trophy. The selected choirs also have an opportunity to perform non-competitively in a range of Festival activities presented over the weekend, including Fringe concerts, church and informal performances. Their presence gives audiences and Irish choirs the unique opportunity of attending a diverse range of concerts and competitive sessions while in Cork. As well as foreign choirs, the Festival annually features up to 100 Adult, Youth and School choirs who participate in National Competitions. Overall the Festival attracts some 5,000 participants. The festival continues to ensure that choral music, representative of many historical and cultural traditions, is brought to the people of Cork and the many visitors who travel to the city for the event.

Questions?

If you require further information, please email: [email protected]

We are excited to announce the fantastic line-up for the 2024 edition of our fundraising concert, Gospel at the Cathedral, returning to St Fin Barre's Cathedral on Saturday, 12th October at 8pm! It promises to be another unforgettable evening, with an incredible selection of choirs set to fill the historic venue with the uplifting sounds of gospel music.

Taking the stage will be four fantastic choirs: MTU Gospel Choir, Castlelyons Gospel Choir, White Horse Gospel Choir, and Carrigaline Gospel Choir. Each group brings its own unique style and energy, making for a night that is sure to inspire and entertain.

Don't miss your chance to be part of this special event. Tickets are available here, so grab yours today and join us for an evening of joyous music and community spirit.

We can’t wait to see you there!

Our festival office will be closed from the 27th July to the 1st September. You can still send your questions our way using our contact form, and we will get back to you as soon as we return on Monday, 2nd September!

Happy summer holidays to all!

If you're in Cork and can't get enough of choral music, we're thrilled to announce the return of the Gospel at the Cathedral fundraising concert following last year's success. Mark your calendar for Saturday, 12th October. Tickets are already on sale to avoid disappointment, and details of the choir lineup will be announced in the coming weeks.

Join us for an extraordinary fundraising evening celebrating the vibrant world of gospel music and contemporary vocal performances in the amazing surroundings of Saint Fin Barre's Cathedral, Cork.

Immerse yourself in the infectious energy of gospel music, as well as the mesmerising renditions of other classics and contemporary choral pieces brought to life by incredibly talented singers. This unforgettable night promises to fill your hearts with boundless energy and create an uplifting experience you won't want to miss!