Tickets for the Christmas at the Cathedral concerts on Saturday, 25th, and Sunday, 26th November, have sold out.
We are delighted by the overwhelming interest again this year! Thank you all, and we look forward to seeing you there.
Now in its third year, the three-and-a-half day, intensive, hands-on course runs from Tuesday 30th April - Friday 3rd May 2024 and will offer a range of techniques to develop conducting skills under the leadership of expert international guest tutors Angeliki Ploka (Greece) and Dr László Nemes (Hungary).
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 2024 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 9th February 2024.
Cork International Choral Festival is thrilled to announce the complete line-up for this popular event! On Saturday, 25th November and Sunday, 26th November, respectively, acclaimed soprano Fiona O'Reilly and tenor Jim O’Mahony will be joined on stage by two other exceptional soloists this year, Andrew Lane and Siomha Marrion.
Our guest acts promise an unforgettable evening of music! Saturday 25th we will be joined on the evening by actors and singers from CADA Performing Arts (principal Catherine Mahon Buckley), Scoil an Spioraid Naoimh Cailíni, Bishopstown (conducted by Maeve-Ann O'Brien), Ashton School Choir (conducted by Dr Mary O'Brien), Viva Voce (conducted by Bernadette Kiely) and Forte! Women’s Choir (conducted by Serena Standley).
On Sunday 26th November, you will have the opportunity to enjoy CADA Performing Arts, Togher Girls School Choir, Ashton School Choir (conducted by Dr Mary O'Brien), Munster Mix (conducted by Cherry Hartshorn) and Scrubs – CUH Choir.
Join us for this evening of beautiful singing and entertainment, great raffle prizes and mince pies… and even a chance to sing along!
The evening is directed by Catherine Mahon Buckley.
Tickets priced at €26 (incl. booking fees apply) are available online at this link.
Cork Freemasons Presents
Fundraiser in aid of Samaritans, Hall Extension Fund and the Cork International Choral Festival
Saturday 18th November 2023, 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 18th 2023. This year’s event is to benefit Samaritans, Hall Extension Fund and the Cork International Choral Festival.
The concert – entitled A Musical Miscellany – will comprise of classical and contemporary music featuring Leeside Voices, The Rebels Quartet and Forte Womens Choir (Musical Director: Serena Standley) and Frances Kelleher (Accompanist), with special guests Katie Dwane (Piano), Anne Birmingham (soprano), Siobhan Coakley (mezzo soprano), Denis Lane (baritone), Charlotte O’Connor (soprano) and Noel Somers (tenor).
The evening will commence at 7 pm, with pre-concert drinks and canapés reception, with the concert commencing at 8 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:
Save the dates for the 2023 edition of the popular Christmas at the Cathedral, presented by the Cork International Choral Festival under the direction of Catherine Mahon Buckley.
Join us in the magical surroundings of Saint Fin Barre's Cathedral for two nights of music and readings, this year under the iconic title 'A Cork Christmas'. Due to its overwhelming popularity in past editions, we're doubling up this year to ensure more of you can enjoy this much-loved event.
Tickets priced at €26 (incl. booking fees apply) are available online at this link. Prepare to kick off the festive season in the most enchanting atmosphere with the wonderful voices of renowned soloists, emerging vocal talents, and some of the best Cork choirs. Stay tuned for the full program and lineup, which will be unveiled in the coming days, and get ready for a celebration of voices like no other!
The Cork International Choral Festival is delighted to announce that we are now accepting entries from Irish composers for the 2024 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, 3rd May 2024.
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 13 years ago, 277 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, Michael McGlynn, Kevin O’Connell, Criostóir Ó Loingsigh, Donal Sarsfield, James May, Peter Leavy, Norah Constance Walsh, Daragh Black Hynes and last year’s winner, Laura Henegan. 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
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 2024.
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.
Internship starting between the 22nd and 29th 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 (1st - 5th May 2024, 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.
Please submit an application form available at the bottom of the page by 30th November 2023.
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.
If you require further information, please email: [email protected]
Sestina Music is now accepting applications for their 2023-24 Next Generation Mentoring Programme. They are delighted to be visiting Cork this year for a morning of auditions, however places are limited and will be offered to Cork/Kerry based applications first. Closing date for applications is Monday 9 October, 5 pm.
Applications are now open for these dates*.
23 October 2023 | MTU Cork School of Music | CORK
24 October 2023 | UCD Memorial Hall (Gabrieli Room) | DUBLIN
25 October 2023 | Fisherwick Presbyterian Church | BELFAST
*They will also be accepting applications for General Auditions on these dates, however, priority will remain with Next Generation applicants.
How to apply
Please send the following to [email protected] no later than Monday, 9th October, 5pm:
Auditions are allocated upon consideration of CVs as places are limited. Auditions in Cork will be reserved initially for those based in the Southwest of Ireland. Please note that late applications will not be considered.
Audition requirements
You will be required to perform two baroque arias, one of which must be by Handel. Two additional sellotaped hard copies of your scores will be required on the day, along with a hard copy of your CV.
Who can apply
Their mentoring programme is aimed at aspiring professional singers or those who are considering a career in professional singing. It is not a requirement that you study music or voice at third level, but they would expect to see evidence of your ongoing commitment to vocal studies and/or choral singing.
They welcome applications from singers from 18-28 years of age, although there is some flexibility with the upper age limit depending on individual circumstances.
In line with their charitable objectives, they prioritise singers from or living in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, but they also welcome applications from singers in Great Britain.
About
Sestina Music’s Next Generation Mentoring Programme is a mentoring programme for young aspiring professional singers with a strong focus on early music. Unlike other young artist programmes which run as separate strands to an ensemble’s main performance activities, it is integral to their core work as an ensemble, giving young singers the opportunity to work alongside established professionals. Their focus is on developing versatile musicians, giving singers the chance to perform in ensembles of different sizes and as solo singers, and giving them valuable training in opera and stagecraft.
The earliest participants in their mentoring programme are now well established in their professional careers, performing regularly with ensembles such as Gabrieli Consort, Tenebrae, Monteverdi Choir, Grange Park Opera, Opera de Lyon, Garsington Opera and Welsh National Opera, as well as forming a core ensemble for Sestina Music’s showcase performances, touring and collaborations.
The Cork International Choral Festival invites you to 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.
Joining us for this special occasion is The NuVoices Project, all the way from Italy, bringing their unique blend of gospel and contemporary music to the stage. In addition, we are thrilled to feature some of the finest gospel choirs from Cork, including the Carrigtwohill Gospel Choir, the White Horse Gospel Choir, and the Carrigaline Gospel Choir.
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 these 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!
Tickets are €22 and are available here.
Join us in celebrating National Volunteering Week from 15th - 21st May 2023!
We want to take a moment to honour our extraordinary team of dedicated volunteers who make our festival an incredible success year after year. From our amazing voluntary board members who work tirelessly behind the scenes all year round, to the countless teams that step up during festival week in various roles, we want to express our deepest gratitude for their invaluable time, boundless energy, and unwavering commitment.
Without each and every one of you, this event simply wouldn't exist! Your passion and enthusiasm breathe life into every aspect, creating unforgettable experiences for the participants and community. Together, we're making a difference and spreading the joy of choral singing!
Thank you, thank you, thank you! 🙏❤️
English 
Bulgarian 
Czech 
Danish 
German 
Greek 
Spanish 
Estonian 
French 
Hungarian 
Italian 
Polish 
Portuguese 
Ukrainian