The Cork International Choral Festival has announced the full programme for its 70th edition, taking place from 30 April to 4 May. Highlights include a performance of Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius, world premieres by Emma O’Halloran, Francisco del Piño and Donnchadh Mac Aodha, and concerts by Syng Selected (Denmark), Cappella Pratensis (Netherlands) and Chamber Choir Ireland.

This year’s festival has five main strands: gala concerts, national and international competitions, fringe concerts, education and outreach, and public events across Cork city and county.

Gala concerts
The opening gala on Wednesday 30 April features The Dream of Gerontius with soloists Raphaela Mangan (mezzo-soprano), Gavan Ring (tenor) and Gyula Nagy (baritone). This major choral work by the Elgar, based on a poem by John Henry Newman and telling the story of the journey of a man’s soul after death, will be performed by the Cork Fleischmann Symphony Orchestra, East Cork Choral Society, The Guinness Choir, and Madrigal ’75, conducted by Keith Pascoe (Vanbrugh Quartet).

On Thursday 1 May, Syng Selected, a young 31-voice a cappella ensemble from Denmark, will perform at Cork City Hall. The ensemble is conducted by Morten Vinther Sörensen, who will also give a workshop earlier that day.

Friday 2 May includes two concerts. At 7.30pm, Chamber Choir Ireland, conducted by Gabriel Crouch, will present Forgotten Peoples, featuring works by Veljo Tormis and Michael Gordon, alongside the premieres of new commissions by Emma O’Halloran and Francisco del Piño (Argentina). The programme will also include Babel by Donnchadh Mac Aodha, winner of the 2025 Seán Ó Riada Composition Competition. Later that night, at 10pm, Cappella Pratensis from the Netherlands will present Josquin in Rome, a programme of plainchant and work by Josquin Desprez and Guillaume Dufay.

On Saturday 3 May, the Fleischmann International Trophy Competition Gala will showcase choirs from Australia, Canada, Sweden, Latvia, Spain, Germany, Norway and Switzerland. Guest performers include Madrigal ’75, who will present works by Monteverdi, Frank Ticheli and Séamas de Barra.

The Closing Gala Concert on Sunday 4 May brings together international choirs including Stockholms Musikgymnasium Youth Choir, Coro Sinfonía, Kammerkoret NOVA, McMaster University Choir Cantemus, and others. Repertoire spans Mendelssohn, Jonathan Harvey, Selga Mence, Josu Elberdin, and a range of contemporary and folk-inspired choral works.

Competitions
The competitions will take place across the week and include categories for primary and post-primary schools, youth choirs, chamber choirs, adult ensembles, and workplace choirs. Ireland’s Choir of the Year brings together the highest-scoring ensembles from across the categories. Prizes include the Fleischmann Trophy, Victor Leeson Perpetual Trophy and the IBEC Workplace Choir of the Year.

Fringe and public events
The festival will present many events throughout Cork city and county, including a fringe programme and free public performances.

Fringe concerts will be held in a variety of venues including St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Goldie Chapel, Griffith College, Sirius Arts Centre, St Anne’s Shandon and more. Public events include the long-running Choral Trail and Cobh Choral Trail, which see choirs perform in cafés, galleries, public spaces and historic sites.

The Afternoons in the Atrium series returns at the Clayton Hotel on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 May, and a new strand at the Marina Market on 3 May offers family-friendly choral performances.

Education and outreach
The festival’s education programme is for both developing and professional musicians. A three-day choral conducting course will be led by Anna Fűri (Hungary) and Shane Lynch (USA), aimed at conductors seeking to refine their technique and repertoire knowledge. A workshop for post-primary school choirs will be delivered by the conductor of Syng Selected, and further sessions for singers include workshops on the Alexander Technique, vocal health, and movement in choral singing.

Roddy O’Keeffe will also present a talk tracing the 75-year history of The Guinness Choir.

Download the full programme below. For further details and booking, visit www.corkchoral.ie.

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