Polifonica, Belarus, performing in the Choral Trail in Foyleside Shopping Centre during last year’s City of Derry International Choral Festival. Photo: Lorcan Doherty Photography
Derry is set to come alive today with the sound of singing at the start of the second City of Derry International Choral Festival which see over 2,000 singers perform over the next five days.
The choral action kicks off today with the festival’s first choral symposium in association with the University of Ulster.
Conductors and choral music enthusiasts will take part in panel discussions, the launch of a new music catalogue and a practical workshop with one of Europe’s finest chamber choirs, Utopia & Reality.
Primary and post-primary schools will enjoy two days of competitions and workshops and experience the sounds of visiting international choirs tomorrow and Friday.
National choirs will compete in various categories throughout Saturday and Sunday including Mixed Voice, Gospel and Sacred Music and the prestigious International Competition will take place on Saturday night with choirs from the Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Wales and Ireland.
For those out and about on Friday and Saturday afternoons choirs will pop-up for impromptu performances in shopping centres, open spaces, bingo halls and other venues throughout the city.
Visiting choirs will join parishes for Sunday services on 26th October and the festival will host two community concerts in St. Columb’s Park House and St. Joseph’s Parish Centre, ensuring that every corner of the city will experience choral music as part of the festival.
In addition to the many competitions and performances, the festival will also welcome some of the world’s finest vocal ensembles and musicians as part of a series of evening concerts, including Harry Christophers and The Sixteen (today), the Neil Cowley Trio and Utopia and Reality Chamber Choir (tomorrow) and The Swingle Singers (Friday).
Dónal Doherty, Artistic Director, said he was “very excited” at how this year’s festival had shaped up.
He added: “We have built on the energy and success of 2013 to provide an even more ambitious programme over the five days of this year’s festival.
“With more than 2,000 singers descending on the city, this will undoubtedly be the largest gathering of choristers ever seen in Northern Ireland.
“We’ll have some of the best choirs in the world sharing the programme with choirs who are being provided with an opportunity to perform for the first time – how exciting is that? For music lovers everywhere, this is a must-see event.”
Tickets for all festival events are on sale at the Millennium Forum Box Office on 02871 264 455 or online at www.millenniumforum.co.uk.
chool, local, national and international choirs will compete in a range of categories, perform in public spaces throughout the city, participate in choral workshops and take part in exciting concerts over the five-day event.
The main venue for concerts, competitions and workshops will be St. Columb’s Hall and the festival’s Choral Trail will bring visiting choirs to city centre locations and wider community venues and parishes for pop-up performances and Sunday services.
Festival Timetable
Today:
International Choral Symposium
Opening Gala Concert with The Sixteen and Harry Christophers
Tomorrow:
Primary school competitions and workshop
Evening Concert with Neil Cowley Trio and Utopia & Reality Chamber Choir, Norway
Late-night jazz gig with the Neil Cowley Trio
Friday:
Post-primary school competitions and workshop
Choral Trail (afternoon in various locations)
Evening concert with The Swingle Singers
Saturday:
National competitions for female voice, male voice, mixed voice and gospel music (morning and afternoon)
Choral Trail (afternoon in various locations)
International Competition (evening)
Sunday:
Sacred Trail (morning)
National competitions for youth choirs and sacred music (afternoon)
Community Concerts (afternoon)
Closing Gala Concert with awards ceremony (evening)
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