Anti-war oratorio ‘A Child of Our Time’ will open Cork choral festival, says Jo Kerrigan.

Nearly 5,000 singers from 20 countries will participate in this year’s Cork International Choral Festival, which gets under way on May 1.

ROLL over Beethoven — the hallowed halls of the historic Cork School of Music rocked at the weekend as Ireland’s newest “school of rock” opened for classes.

MEET the country’s next popstars who have signed up for classes in Ireland’s very own school of rock.

THE screams of joy were almost audible at home in Cork when the girls from Presentation Secondary School in Ballyphehane were announced as winners of the All-Island Choir Competition in Belfast.

A MAGNIFICENT 200-year-old violin made by one of the 19th century’s greatest craftsmen will be presented to the winner of a prestigious music competition.

THE letter you published (March 22) from Seamus Crimmins, executive director of RTÉ’s Performing Groups, in response to Jo Kerrigan’s excellent article (March 12) about the plight of the RTÉ’s Vanbrugh Quartet is disingenuous in the extreme.

IN your article headlined ‘Bowing Out’ (March 12), the demise of RTÉ Vanbrugh Quartet is heralded by your correspondent based on views which are inaccurate.

THERE are fears the smallest of the RTÉ-funded performing groups – and the only one based outside Dublin – could be axed as part of a cost-cutting drive.

EVERY organisation in the country has had to rearrange its affairs to cope with reduced revenues. RTÉ is no different and is reviewing its funding of performing groups.

THE death toll on Irish roads has climbed to 74 after a string of weekend tragedies.

MUSIC classes for junior students at the flagship Cork School of Music have been saved — for this year at least.

FUNDING concerns have led to a temporary ban on the enrolment of new pupils at the €60 million Cork School of Music.

THANKS to the Fleischmann Choir and Cork School of Music Symphony Orchestra for a superb concert at Cork City Hall on March 1.

THE renowned Fleischmann Choir will debut a chart-topping “peace Mass” in Cork’s City Hall on March 1 and 2.

THE €60 million Cork School of Music catering for 3,500 students from ages 5 to 75 was officially opened yesterday — eight years after being first announced.

IT seemed like an impossible dream for many years but Cork School of Music is ready to open the doors to a new €60 million future.

I WISH to thank Dr Geoffrey Spratt for bringing the huge company of the Fleischmann Choir and Cork School of Music Symphony Orchestra to UL Concert Hall, Limerick, on Wednesday, December 7.

THE Cork School of Music has provided an education in music and drama for the people of Cork and its environs for over 125 years.

CORK School of Music can expect a fourfold increase in student numbers following the Government’s endorsement of plans for construction of a new €60 million premises.

I WISH to lend my support to the new Cork School of Music project.

I WISH to thank Dr Geoffrey Spratt for the musical spectacular at the University of Limerick on April 16.