Cork choral festival kicks off on a high note

They were singing on the banks of the Lee last night as Cork’s longest-running festival kicked off its diamond jubilee event on a high note.

Organisers of the 60th annual Cork International Choral Festival said almost 5,000 participants — the largest number it has ever had — will take part in a series of competitive and non-competitive concerts, workshops and free outdoor performances right across the bank holiday weekend, bringing the city to life through song.

Publicans, restaurateurs and hoteliers are also preparing for a bumper weekend, with thousands expected.

The festival’s first performance took place at Cork Airport yesterday followed by a schools’ choir competition.

Parteen National School won the primary school competition, with Cór Choláiste/Gael Choláiste Choilm winning the post-primary mixed voice competition.

The Irish Examiner-supported festival’s opening gala concert took place in City Hall later featuring a performance of Carl Orff’s ‘Carmina Burana’ by the Tallaght Choral Society, the East Cork Choral Society and an extended Band of 1st Brigade, under the baton of Lt Col Mark Armstrong.

Cara O’Sullivan, Owen Gilhooly and Peter Kerr featured as soloists.

One of Europe’s finest vocal ensembles, VOCES8, will perform their special blend of Renaissance polyphony, mixed with jazz and pop arrangements at City Hall tonight.

The group travels to Waterford for a fringe concert in the iconic Christ Church Cathedral at 8pm tomorrow.

The festival has welcomed the return of the Seán Ó Riada Competition which calls for submissions to be entered under a pseudonym, ensuring that all works are judged purely on merit and composition.

* Details and tickets are available on corkchoral.ie, or by tel: [phone].