Announcing our 2018 Gala Concert Programme!

Cork International Choral Festival Announces 2018 Gala Programme as Part of World Choral Day Celebrations

Sunday 10^th December, 12.30pm - Grand Parade, Cork

December 2017 – On Sunday the 10^th December, Cork International Choral Festival launches their exciting 2018 Gala Concerts box office in celebration of World Choral Day. This year will be the Festival’s 64^th and will reaffirm its position as the longest running Festival in Cork. As part of the Glow Celebrations in marking World Choral Day, Cork International Choral Festival will bring together a great number of voices, including CIT Staff & PostGrad Choir, Scrubs CUH, St. Francis College, Cantate Chamber Choir and High Hopes Choir to perform on Grand Parade from 12.30 to celebrate World Choral Day and to get us into the Christmas Spirit!

The newly launched programme will see everything kick off at the Opening Gala Concert on Wednesday 18^th April 2018 with two works by Irish composers: Aloys Fleischmann’s Clare’s Dragoons with the Army No. 1 Band (Owen Gilhooley - Baritone) along with Bernard Geary’s In Praise of a City (Mairead Buicke - Soprano and Goethe Institute Choir, Viva  Voce Choir and East Cork Choral Society), conducted by Lt. Mark Armstrong.

The following Gala Concert on Thursday 19^th April will see Solala & Ardú Vocal Ensemble join their voices for a Joint Gala Concert. Solala brings 3 of the most stunning vocalists from Sweden together in an all-male trio showcasing some of the most popular vocal music around. Joining Solala on the night will be Ardú Vocal Ensemble, one of the most notable vocal groups to have emerged from the Irish vocal scene in the last number of years.

Friday 20^th April will leave you spoilt for choice.  The 7.30pm concert in St Fin Barre’s Cathedral from Chamber Choir Ireland (Festival choir-in-residence) premières new work from the winner of this year’s Séan Ó Riada Competition for Irish composers. That evening gets even busier with the late-night concert Evocations set to take place in the Cathedral of St Mary & St Anne at 10.30pm. The evening will platform Tenebrae Consort, an ensemble of singers handpicked from the award-winning choir Tenebrae, focusing on repertoire originally conceived for consort performance and promising a serene and intimate concert experience.

With 9 International groups already confirmed for the Festival, 2018 looks set to maintain its high standard and cosmopolitan appeal, ensuring its artistic future and integrity as one of the world’s most prestigious Choral Festivals. In light of that prestige we have the International Fleischmann Gala which will take pride of place on Saturday 21^st April in City Hall, where some of the world’s top amateur choirs compete for one of the most prestigious prizes in International standards.

The Closing Gala Concert in City Hall on Sunday 22^nd April will mark the end of a jam-packed Festival week with International choirs presenting choral music representative of their musical and cultural backgrounds in a joyful celebration of song and colour.

Festival Tickets are available for purchase through the online booking system at www.corkchoral.ie. Special packages are also available in partnership with the Clayton Hotel Cork City to ensure visitors get the best of their journey to Cork while enjoying all the Festival has to offer. So get set this Christmas with the perfect gift for you or a loved one and get booking to ensure yourself a weekend that will have you singing in the city, the ultimate soundtrack to your social life.

The Cork International Choral Festival gratefully acknowledges the financial support of The Arts Council of Ireland, Fáilte Ireland, Ireland’s Ancient East, Cork City Council and Cork County Council.