March 11 - 22, 2024

‘Ceoil and the Gang’: High hopes and high notes to fill the RDS this March as the Feis Ceoil returns for its 128th edition, offering Ireland’s newest music talents a chance to shine at this annual landmark music event:

The annual Feis Ceoil (‘Festival of Music’) is Ireland’s leading national classical music festival, that platforms many of Ireland’s emerging classical music talents, that runs over 12 days this March – offering a huge platform for them to perform live and to make their mark in the world. Feis Ceoil remains at the heart of the country’s vibrant music tradition.

A bastion of excellence in the promotion of education and performance, where it has played a significant role in the lives of many successful musicians, actors and writers. The exciting competitive nature of the festival sees the country’s fresh talent perform in a profound live setting for judges and audiences alike, with aim to find the newest musical talent in the country. The festival runs at the RDS, who are long supporters of the Feis, as it also showcases the best in classical music whether is solo musicians, singers or choirs and orchestras all participate. The competitions are fully live with some highlight events being recorded and broadcast later for those who can’t make it to the in-person performances in Dublin.

This year the festival will announce two new competitions for 2024 and makes a stronger path for aiding music artists to develop their craft into the future beyond the Feis – mentoring emerging musicians and taking them to another level of their expertise.

Laura Gilsenan, CEO of the annual Feis Ceoil Competition and Festival says; “With the inclusion of two new competitions this year - Choral Conducting and Senior Percussion - we are thrilled to add Chamber Choir Ireland to our portfolio of competition partners (for Choral Conducting), and to extend our existing partnership with TU Dublin for both Senior and Junior percussion competitions.”

*This year again certain competitions will be filmed and videos posted online the day following the competition:

Feis Ceoil will continue to engage their online audience by recording a selection of the most popular competitions, and posting them online the following day. This will give viewers a good overview of the Feis and the incredibly high standard of performance of their competitors from wherever it best suits.

The Feis Ceoil is an essential element in the musical infrastructure of the country, and throughout the decades almost every classical Irish musician has competed at the Feis. Thousands of young classical musicians from the 32 counties of Ireland compete in over 190 individual music competitions at the festival. Well over half a million musicians have competed at the competition since it began in 1896, with past competitors including James Joyce and Count John McCormack and more recently, pianists John O’Conor and Finghin Collins, singers like Tara Erraught & Celine Byrne and comedian Risteard Cooper.

A selection of the most outstanding competitors from this year’s Feis Ceoil will be showcased at a special Gala Concert in the National Concert Hall on Wednesday 17 April, at 7.30pm. The Gala Concert will be hosted by Laura Gilsenan, CEO of the Feis Ceoil Association and promises to be a triumphant finale to conclude this year’s event. Tickets, from €12.50 on sale from nch.ie !!

2024 FEIS CEOIL HIGHLIGHTS
RDS Concert Hall:
Monday 11th March, 7pm, Choir of the Year Final
The winning choirs from each of the choir competitions will compete against each other in the final for the title of ‘Folens Publishers Choir of the Year 2024’ and a €3,000 award.

Thursday 14th March, 7pm, Dramatic Cup (Opera) Final
Competitors will perform two contrasting operatic arias for the 1st prize of €4,000.

Wednesday 20th March, 7pm, Morris Grant Bursary (Senior Piano Final)
The winners of 7 senior piano competitions will compete against each other for this €2,500 Bursary.

Friday 22nd March, 7pm, Gervase Elwes Memorial Cup (Senior Vocal Final)
The winners of 9 senior vocal competitions will compete against each other for this prestigious prize.

Wesley House, Leeson Park:
Saturday 16th March, 10.00 am, Senior Musical Theatre & 2.00pm, Junior Musical Theatre,
Competitors will perform a piece from the musical theatre repertoire.

RDS Dodder Room B:
Sunday 17th March, 2.30pm, Chamber Music Cup
Ensembles of between 3 and 9 musicians perform from the Chamber Music repertoire.

Kevin Barry Room, National Concert Hall:
Wednesday 20th March, 10.00am (rehearsals) & 2.00pm (performances)
Inaugural Choral Conducting competition FINAL*
(*free but ticketed event, via nch.ie)

ABOUT: Feis Ceoil
Since its inauguration in 1896, the Feis Ceoil has remained at the heart of Ireland’s vibrant music tradition. A bastion of excellence in the promotion of education and performance, the Feis has played a significant role in the lives of many successful musicians, actors and writers.

SOCIAL MEDIA:
FACEBOOK: @feisceoil
TWITTER: @FeisCeoil
INSTAGRAM: @thefeosceoil
HASHTAG: #FeisCeoil23