Cork Choral festival voices funding fears as it holds fundraising concert

One of Europe’s largest choral festivals has to stage a fundraising concert to offset what has been described as “savage cuts” to its core funding.

Leading soul and gospel singer Karen Underwood and her band will headline the soul-themed Christmas gig at the Everyman Theatre next week to ensure the Cork International Choral Festival can stage another high-quality event again in 2016.

The festival, Cork’s oldest, staged its 61st event last May, attracting nearly 5,000 participants from all over Ireland and the rest of Europe.