2013 CODI Programme Book

PROGRAMME

CONTENTS PAGE

FOREWORD 4

Festival Programme 10

CONCERTS

Opening Gala Concert 12 City Songs 16 International Competition 24

Closing Gala Concert 26 Presenters 28

COMPETITIONS

Post-Primary School Competitions 30

Primary School Competitions 32 National Competitions 34 Workshops 39 Adjudicators 40 International Choir Biographies 42

GENERAL INFORMATION

Choral Trail 49 Sacred Trail 50 Festival Club 51 St. Columb’s Hall 52

Festival Friends and Sponsors 54

Choral Trail Map 56 Sacred Trail Map 57 Festival schedule 58

Music has been at the core of so many of the major events throughout this year of culture, from the opening Sons and Daughters concert through to Music City Day, the All Ireland Fleadh and many more. The choral festival is now set to become yet another memorable weekend of ‘joyous celebration’. With more than sixty choirs performing throughout the four days of the festival, there will be something of interest for everyone. The gala concerts will include international artists such as Latvian Voices, the Holst Singers, Imogen Heap and Gerard McChrystal. Choirs will range in size from small choral groups of seven members to large choirs of 120 singers. There will be educational workshops, choral trails throughout the city and a sacred trail on Sunday morning in local churches. At the heart of the festival will be an International Competition on the Saturday night, with outstanding choirs competing for a prestigious trophy designed by the internationally renowned artist, Maurice Harron.

An initiative of Codetta in partnership with Walled City Music, the festival is particularly grateful for the support of the Culture Company, Arts Council NI and the Garvan O’Doherty Group, as well as our many funders, support sta and volunteers listed elsewhere in this programme.

I am particularly pleased that the festival’s main performance venues - St Columb’s Hall and the First Derry Presbyterian Church - represent some of the nest built heritage of the city, as well as having wonderful acoustics in which to perform.

I would like to thank you, members of our audience, for supporting the festival. I would also like to thank the many participating choirs and other artists for their contribution to such an exciting four days of music-making. Enjoy!

Dónal Doherty, Artistic Director

I am delighted to welcome you to the inaugural City of Derry International Choral Festival.

LORD MAYOR’S GREETING

On behalf of the citizens of Derry, I am delighted to welcome the International Choral Festival 2013 to the city in a year in which we have successfully delivered a number of high profile events already as part of our City of Culture celebration.

The range of exciting events and competitions organised for this four-day choral festival, featuring both competitive and non-competitive opportunities for school, national and international choirs, has created opportunities for participants from a wide range of ages, styles and abilities and from a regional and global audience. A series of workshops, performances and choral trails will encourage locals and visitors alike to be a part of the festival.

In extending the warmest of welcomes to all competitors and accompanying family and friends visiting from Belarus, Italy, the UK and Ireland as well as the fantastic line-up of world-class performers, Derry is proud to host this unique event. It is indeed recognition that we are fast becoming a hub for creativity and culture, o ering a place with signi cant history to explore as well as a new story to tell our international visitors.

As an event supported by the 2013 cultural programme, I have no doubt that all of the participating venues and partners working with the City of Derry International Choral Festival will be successful in both bringing choral traditions to the fore in an interesting and modern way and delivering yet another world-class event for the city in its inaugural year as City of Culture.

Cllr. Martin Reilly, Lord Mayor of Derry~Londonderry

The City of Derry has a long-held reputation as the City of Song, so what better in this unique City of Culture year to demonstrate that the reputation is also wellearned by launching a new Choral Festival, bringing together local choirs and choirs from around Ireland, the UK and Europe in a joyous celebration of musicmaking for all ages.

Choral music is above all a collaborative activity, allowing singers to join their individual talent to a collective e ort, literally bringing harmony from many voicesas such, it is living proof of how music can bring people and communities together, in service of a greater goal. At the same time, the Festival will be a celebration of our own city and community, both in terms of our Festival headquarters - we are delighted to be hosted by the refurbished St Columb’s Hall - and the many locations and landmarks that will form part of the festival as venues on our Choral Trails.

It has been a great pleasure to serve as Chair of this inaugural year of the festival, and to see the inspiration and hard work that has gone in to ensure that the event will be a success. We have every intention that this will be the rst of many Choral Festivals to come.

McGurk, Chair, City of Derry International Choral Festival

The inclusion of the City Of Derry International Choral Festival in the 2013 cultural programme re ects the massive diversity of this special year and brings a truly unique event to the city for the rst time. The passion and commitment of Dónal Doherty and his team to bring such a wealth of talent from across the globe to the streets and venues of Derry~Londonderry is to be applauded and proves that Derry really is a Music City.

Personally, I will get the chance to experience the festival on two fronts as my own children will compete in the coveted Schools Competition - a gloriously proud moment for any parent. Elsewhere, the four-day line-up has an enviable collection of choirs, pop stars and internationally recognised talent that anyone with a love of music can enjoy. Indeed, while it is the international competition that will gather most headlines, as renowned choirs compete for a spectacular Maurice Harron trophy, I urge everyone to come out onto thestreets and experience the event in some capacity. It is my hope that thisyear’s festival will set a benchmark of excellence from which the organisation can ourish and return renewed and refreshed for many years to come.

Shona McCarthy, Chief Executive, Culture Company 2013

Anthony

The UK City of Culture 2013 has seen the introduction of arts and cultural events to many non-traditional audiences from across Northern Ireland. The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is delighted to have seen this growth, enthusiasm and engagement with new audiences.

We are especially delighted to support the very rst International Choral Festival in the City of Derry. This outstanding event will see hundreds of choristers from across the globe descend upon the city to take part in what promises to be an exciting few days of musical excellence.

It is a stand-alone event that not only presents an array of outstanding international work for our local audiences to enjoy, but also o ers indigenous performers the chance to perform on an international stage.

The festival will no doubt introduce many people to the joy of choral music and perhaps be their rst experience of live music. Our support is in keeping with our commitment to nurturing local musical talent and broadening its audiences. We wish all those taking part the very best of luck and we look forward to the rst of hopefully many annual International Choral Festivals in the city.

Ciaran Scullion, Head of Music, Arts Council of Northern Ireland

As a festival sponsor, it is my pleasure to welcome you to the inaugural City of Derry International Choral Festival. The festival will include a wide range of talent, from local school choirs to top-class international choirs and artists, and I am delighted that it is being held in St Columb’s Hall.

St. Columb’s Hall was purchased by the Garvan O’Doherty Group in 2012 and is undergoing a major restoration project to restore the venue to its former glory. Built in 1886, the Hall has always been a social and entertainment hub for local inhabitants and visitors to Derry. Many organisations have availed of this magni cent space for a wide variety of uses and there was a time when the Hall had its own bands, choirs and drama and music societies. It is therefore most appropriate that the City of Derry International Choral Festival is taking place in this venue.

In this historic year for Derry, as the rst ever UK City of Culture, it is most tting to have the inaugural City of Derry International Choral Festival and exciting to think that attendees may enjoy many other events whilst visiting our city, including the unique event that is The Turner Prize exhibition.

I look forward to meeting you all at what promises to be an enjoyable festival!

Garvan O’Doherty, CEO, Garvan O’Doherty Group

Mayo Sings in May!

Both competing and non-competing choirs are invited to sing in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, in very scenic Mayo.

• One hour flight from many UK airports to Ireland West International Airport Knock, in Mayo. Direct rail link from Dublin.

• Competitions with well renowned adjudicators.

• Outdoor mini-performances, several community concerts and a Gala Choral Concert

• Fantastic venues - some modern, some quaint and some quirky! • Choral Workshops / Demos • Dawn chorus

• Impromptu singing in local pubs and after-glows, and plenty of good-natured banter in between.

info@mayochoral.com ++353 (0)94 90 26214

Festival Office: 5 Cashel Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo

FESTIVAL PROGRAMME OVERVIEW

Thursday 24th October - Sunday 27th October 2013

THURSDAY 24TH OCTOBER

Post-primary School Choir Competitions, St. Columb’s Hall

Competition A, 10.30am - 12pm

Competition B, 1pm - 3pm

The Big Sing Workshop (Post-Primary), St. Columb’s Hall, 3.30pm - 4.30pm

Opening Gala Concert featuring Latvian Voices, Lytos, Gerard McChrystal and Codetta, St. Columb’s Hall, 8pm

FRIDAY 25TH OCTOBER

Primary School Choir Competitions, St. Columb’s Hall

Competition A, 10am - 11am

Competition B, 11.15am - 12.30pm

The Big Sing Workshop (Primary), St. Columb’s Hall, 1.15pm - 2pm

City Songs, Ēriks Ešenvalds featuring Latvian Voices, Imogen Heap, Holst Singers, Codetta, Roundhouse Choir, Encore Contemporary Choir, Colmcille Ladies, Music Promise Junior Choir and the Orchestra of Ireland, St. Columb’s Hall, 8pm

SATURDAY 26TH OCTOBER

Equal Voice Competitions, St. Columb’s Hall, 10am - 12pm

Mixed Voice Competition, St. Columb’s Hall, 1pm - 3.30pm

Discovery Gospel Choir Workshop, St. Columb’s Hall, 3.45pm - 4.30pm

Gospel Music Competition featuring a special non-competitive performance from Britain’s Got Talent semi- nalists Gospel Singers Incognito, St. Columb’s Hall, 4.30pm - 5.30pm

International Competition, St. Columb’s Hall, 7.30pm

SUNDAY 27TH OCTOBER

Sacred Music Competition, First Derry Presbyterian Church, 2pm - 4.30pm

Youth Choir Competition, First Derry Presbyterian Church, 5pm - 6pm

Closing Gala Concert featuring all international competitors and the award ceremony for the International Trophy, St. Columb’s Hall, 8pm

See inside back cover for more detail.

OPENING GALA CONCERT

THURSDAY 24TH OCTOBER

ST. COLUMB’S HALL, 8PM

Presented by Sarah Brett

The Opening Gala Concert will launch the inaugural City of Derry International Choral Festival with a truly international line-up of artists, including Latvian Voices, o cial Choral Ambassadors of Latvia and champions of the World Choir Games 2012, Spanish beat boxer Lytos, world-renowned Derry saxophonist Gerard McChrystal, ambassador for Derry-Londonderry City of Culture 2013, and internationally acclaimed local chamber choir, Codetta.

PROGRAMME

CODETTA

The Cure at Troy - Ian Wilson, poem by Seamus Heaney

As I Roved Out - Mark-Anthony Turnage from At Sixes and Sevens

Rop tú mo baile (Be Thou My Vision) - Graeme G. Stewart Meditation 2 - Sonam Di Yi and Phowa - Ciarán Farrell

GERARD MCCHRYSTAL AND RUTH MCGINLEY

Carmen Fantasy - François Borne

Les Berceaux - Gabriel Faure

Deep Purple - Rudy Weidoeft

Pequena Czarda - Pedro Itturalde

INTERVAL

LATVIAN VOICES

Rota - L. Jēkabsone

Pūt, vējiņi - L. Leontjeva

Sākums un gals - L. Jēkabsone

Ellas - Mercedes Peon, arr. L. Jēkabsone

Life Jacket - Instrumental, arr. L. Jēkabsone

LYTOS (BEATBOX PERFORMER)

Zvejnieks mani aicināja - Traditional Latvian Folk Song, arr. L. Jēkabsone Medley: Coldplay (The Scientist), The Rembrandts (I’ll be there for You), L. Cohen (Hallelujah), J. Mraz (I’m Yours), Mika (Happy Ending)arr. L. Jēkabsone, N. Vītiņa Lec, Saulīte - L. Jēkabsone

LATVIAN VOICES

The vocal group Latvian Voices consists of seven young female singers from Riga, Latvia. Many of their concerts take place outside Latvia, and travelling has thus become an integral part of Latvian Voices’ everyday routine. The group has brought home quite a few noteworthy prizes and awards from their travels, including victories in competitions in vokal.total (Graz, Austria), A Cappella (Leipzig, Germany) and the World Choir Games (Cincinnati, US). Latvian Voices are the o cial Choral Ambassadors of Latvia and will be the musical faces of Riga, European Capital of Culture 2014.

Latvian Voices perform music of di erent historical ages and genres yet their hearts belong, rst and foremost, to Latvian folk song, especially the melodies related to the sun. The group’s stage costumes are interweaved with sun symbols of the ancient Latvians, which are like small amulets that accompany the girls around the world.

LYTOS

Lytos (Carlos Vidal) is a Spanish beatbox artist, who since his early childhood has devoted his life to the world of music. Initially, Lytos developed his talent on the streets, where he spent a lot of his time breakdancing and rapping. At the age of 16 he started performing in various night clubs and to date he has performed in concerts in the UK, the US, Russia, France and Austria. He has also participated in prestigious beatboxing forums, including Eastpak Hipnotik Festival, the Battle of the Year and Mallorca Surf Action. In 2009 Lytos became the beatbox champion of Spain. Soon after that he also won the Xtreme BCN beatbox championship as well as the European championship and the title ‘Emperor of the Mic 2010’. Lytos represents Spain at the annual beatbox forums in London, Berlin, New York and Switzerland.

The collaboration between Latvian Voices and Lytos began in the summer of 2011 at the a cappella festival vokal.total in Graz, Austria and has continued with unprecedented musical surprises, most recently at performances in the SchleswigHolstein Music Festival (July 2013), the 1st International Elb A Cappella Festival in Geesthacht, Germany (August 2013) and at the A Cappella Nights in Blieskastel and Bayreuth (October 2013).

GERARD MCCHRYSTAL

Gerard McChrystal is a world-renowned saxophonist from Derry. To date, he has performed in over 30 countries, including London’s Wigmore Hall, the San Francisco Opera House and Stuttgart Stattshalle. He has performed with Philip Glass, the Soweto String Quartet, the guitarist Craig Ogden, the Syzmanowski String Quartet, the Smith Quartet, the tenor Tommy Smith, Irish choir Anúna, ensemblebash as well as many orchestras including the Philharmonia, the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, BBC NOW, the BBC Concert Orchestra, RTE National Symphony Orchestra and Stuttgart Staatsorchester.

Gerard is a gold endorsee for RICO and an ambassador for Derry-Londonderry UK City of Culture 2013.

RUTH MCGINLEY

Derry-born pianist Ruth McGinley began to play the piano at the age of two, taught by her mother. She was awarded a scholarship to the Royal Irish Academy of Music when she was nine, and later received a scholarship to continue her performance studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London with Christopher Elton. She was awarded a 1st Class B. Arts Degree from the Royal Irish Academy in 1999, and a Postgraduate in Performance from the Royal College of Music in 2002.

As a young pianist, Ruth won many awards including the Piano Final of the RTE Young Musician of the Future. However, it was her success in the BBC Young Musician of the Year 1994 that took her career to an international level. Ruth has since performed as soloist with the BBC Philharmonic, the London Mozart Players, the National Symphony Orchestra, the RTE Concert Orchestra and the Ulster Orchestra. She is in great demand as an accompanist and chamber musician, whilst her interest in classical crossover has enabled Ruth to work with artists such as Hayley Westenra and as a regular accompanist for The Priests.

CODETTA

Under the guidance of Dónal Doherty, Codetta is an internationally acclaimed chamber choir based in Derry. Its members live and work throughout Ireland and the UK, and return home for intensive weekend rehearsals every month.

Codetta has given many concerts both locally and nationally, including an acclaimed performance of the Bach Mass in B Minor. In 2006 it participated in the Advent Festival in Prague and it has successfully competed in a range of international choral festivals, most notably reaching the nal of the Grand Prix in Maribor in 2008 and winning awards at the Sligo and Cork International Choral Festivals in 2008/2009. In 2010 Codetta visited Tuscany, performing in Florence, Reggello and Siena, and in April 2011 it participated in the Montreux Choral Festival, Switzerland.

2013 has been a particularly exciting year for the group, with many notable performances both at home and abroad. Highlights include appearances at two Prom concerts in London’s Royal Albert Hall, performing Vaughan Williams’ A Sea Symphony with Sakari Oramo and the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Beethoven’s Symphony No 9 with Vasily Petrenko and the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. In January of this year it featured in the Sons & Daughters concert to open Derry’s year as the rst UK City of Culture, singing alongside guests such as Snow Patrol and Neil Hannon. Other City of Culture performances this year have included Verdi’s Requiem with the Ulster Orchestra and a new cantata, At Sixes and Sevens, by Mark-Anthony Turnage and Paul Muldoon to mark the 400th anniversary of Derry’s Walls.

Codetta is delighted to be part of the inaugural City of Derry International Choral Festival.

CITY SONGS ERIKS EŠENVALDS FEATURING IMOGEN HEAP

Friday 25th October, St. Columb’s Hall, 8pm Presented by Mark Patterson

City Songs is the second performance of a newly commissioned work by Latvian composer Ēriks Ešenvalds, Australian poet Emma Jones and British artist Imogen Heap.

The piece features six choirs - the Holst Singers, Codetta, the Roundhouse Choir, Encore Contemporary Choir, Colmcille Ladies and the Music Promise Junior Choir - and the Orchestra of Ireland. It is narrated by Grammy award-winning singer Imogen Heap.

Three of the above-mentioned choirs also featured in the work’s premiere at the Voices Now Festival in the Roundhouse, London on 23rd June 2013.

The City Songs concert will open with an introductory programme by Latvian Voices featuring works by Ēriks Ešenvalds.

LATVIAN VOICES PROGRAMME

Rūtoj Saule - Traditional Latvian Folk Song, arr. N. Vītiņa Dindaru Dandaru - L. Jēkabsone Es gulu, gulu - Traditional Latvian Folk Song, arr. N. Vītiņa Ej, saulīte drīz pie Dieva - Traditional Latvian Folk Song, arr. L. Jēkabsone Mēnestiņis nakti brauca - L. Jēkabsone

Gloria - L. Jēkabsone

Sanctus - L. Jēkabsone

Lullaby - L. Timmermann, arr. L. Jēkabsone

Oh, Danny boy, Traditional Irish Folk Song, arr. Ē. Ešenvalds O Salutaris Hostia - Ēriks Ešenvalds

INTERVAL

CITY SONGS

Ešenvalds said of the concept behind City Songs that ‘We (Ešenvalds, Jones and Heap) were all born in the same year, 1977, and our creative brainstorms were very special. Returning to one’s native place is always a pilgrimage with lots of memories and emotions’.

SYNOPSIS

A traveller enters a city at dawn, listening to the radio (1. ‘The Radio’) and looking for her childhood home. As dawn breaks, the city sings to her of its own childhood as a village (2. ‘The City’) and as the morning passes she encounters workers and commuters (3. ‘Workers’) and a group of pedestrians whom she asks for directions (4. ‘Pedestrians’). They lead her to some buskers, who relate how they came to sing on the street (5. ‘Buskers’).

The clock strikes noon. The city and the traveller sing about memory (6. ‘Voices’) and the traveller follows the familiar tune of an ice cream truck (7. ‘Customers’). Nearing home, in the mid-afternoon, she asks a passer-by the way, not knowing that he is a former friend (8. ‘Traveller in the Afternoon’).

The work day ends, happy workers spill out into the street (9. ‘Commuters’) and the city sings of the traveller as night falls (10. ‘The City’). The traveller ruminates on homecoming (11. ‘Road Motet’) and concludes that journeys are better than arrivals. Seeing her house down the crest of a hill, she joins a passing joyful street parade (12. ‘Parade’), which nally leads her home (13. ‘Finale’).

ERIKS EŠENVALDS, COMPOSER

Eriks Ešenvalds has won multiple awards for his work, including the Latvian Great Music Prize, an Honourable Mention Diploma at the International Clarinet Association’s competition in Miami for Impressions of Saaremaa, First Place at the International Rostrum for Composers for his work Legend of a Walled-in Woman as well as a British Composer Awards Nomination.

Ēriks was ‘The Year’s New-Composer Discovery’ of the Philadelphia Inquirer in 2010, and received a Composition Teaching Achievement Award from the Riga Dome Choir School in the same year. His music has been performed at numerous international festivals in the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, Japan, South Africa, China, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, Belgium, Poland, Estonia, Belarus, Ukraine, Italy and Latvia. Until 30th September 2013 he held the position of Fellow Commoner in Creative Arts at Trinity College, University of Cambridge, UK.

EMMA JONES, POET

Emma Jones is an Australian poet. Her rst poetry collection, The Striped World, was published by Faber & Faber in 2009. She studied at MLC School (Burwood, Sydney), then worked and travelled abroad, returning to Australia to study English at the University of Sydney, graduating with the University Medal in 2001. She entered Cambridge in 2002 and received a PhD in English Literature from Trinity College, Cambridge. Jones was poet-in-residence at the Wordsworth Trust in Grasmere, Cumbria from 2009 to 2010.

IMOGEN HEAP, NARRATOR

Imogen Heap is an eclectic, eccentric and innovative British musician, considered by some to be the epitome of a digital diva. Her talent spans the craft of songwriting to elaborate live multi-instrumental improvisations, building on a unique voice, classical training and unusual tech-savviness. Self-produced, independent and engaged, she blurs the boundaries between pure art forms and creative entrepreneurship, and uses her knowledge of the web and social networking to communicate and collaborate with her loyal following in pioneering ways.

She is an accomplished performer, having toured the world with 4 albums, including the 2009 Ellipse, which earned her a Grammy and an Ivor Novello award. Her graceful tunes, such as signature track ‘Hide & Seek’, have populated movies and TV shows, dance and theatre performances, and more recently Heap is being sampled by a whole new generation of young rappers and producers. Now in demand and at the peak of 15 years of diversi ed career experiences, she is enjoying exploring how her ‘musical ecosystem’ can have a positive impact by getting involved in creative projects that think big and outside the box.

STEPHEN LAYTON, CONDUCTOR

Stephen Layton is the Director of Music at Trinity College, Cambridge. He is Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the City of London Sinfonia. He also guest conducts with many other renowned ensembles, including the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Minnesota Orchestra, the London Philharmonic, the London Sinfonietta, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, the Ulster Orchestra , Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Britten Sinfonia, Royal Northern Sinfonia, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and the Academy of Ancient Music, and with English, Scottish, Irish and Australian chamber orchestras. Stephen founded Polyphony in 1986 whilst organ scholar of King’s College Cambridge. He is Chief Guest Conductor of the Danish National Vocal Ensemble and Musical Director of the Holst Singers, and in 2006 he was made a Fellow and Director of Music of Trinity College, Cambridge.

HOLST SINGERS

The Holst Singers are one of Britain’s foremost choirs, described by the BBC as ‘a leading chorus on the international stage’. Based in London, in addition to their busy concert diary they regularly record for leading classical labels. With the support of their President, James Bowman, and Musical Director, Stephen Layton, the choir has developed an interest in exploring new and neglected works as well as core choral repertoire. In concert the choir is renowned for dramatic and engaging performances, described by The Times as ‘interactive concert-going at its most revelatory’.

Recent concert highlights include the Scott Centenary Concert Tour with the City of London Sinfonia; performances celebrating Gabrieli’s 400th anniversary at Temple Church and Trinity College, Cambridge; a collaboration with Imogen Heap on her highly acclaimed soundtrack to The Seashell and the Clergyman; and performances in the CLoSer concert series at Village Underground and the Reverb Festival at the Roundhouse. Recent touring includes Santiago de Compostela with the Hilliard Ensemble in Easter 2011 and Estonia in 2009.

ROUNDHOUSE CHOIR

Formed in September 2009 (and currently celebrating their 5th season), the Roundhouse Choir is rapidly establishing itself as one of the most exciting young emerging choirs in London and has consistently impressed audiences with its energy, enthusiasm and fascinating repertoire. Together with Director Osnat Schmool and Assistant Director Rathi Kumar, the choir has developed a far-reaching repertoire, including music from South Africa, Namibia, AfroCuban Orishas, pop, spirituals and original scores. It regularly performs at the Roundhouse as well as venues such as Southbank, Olympic Stadium and the Royal Albert Hall. It has collaborated with the likes of Meta Meta, Amandla Esandla, The Magnets, Mark Ronson, Boy George, Filament Theatre Company and Eliza Doolittle, and has featured on the latest Spiritualized album.

COLMCILLE LADIES

Founded in 1970, the Colmcille Ladies have competed in many of Ireland’s premier choral competitions as well as competitions in Barcelona, Salzburg, Riva del Garda and Prague. They have performed at numerous notable events including a private St. Patrick’s Day dinner for President Clinton and a performance for Pope John Paul II in his private chapel in the Vatican.

ENCORE CONTEMPORARY CHOIR

Encore was founded in 2011 by four singers who shared a love for music and wanted to establish an ensemble that focused on contemporary music and promoted a strong social bond amongst its members. Musical Director Emmet Doherty has guided the choir in performances at the Waterside Theatre and Clipper Quay, as well as performances for the Dalai Lama at Culture of Compassion, Culture Night in Guildhall Square, Derry City Council Summer Animation Festival in the Craft Village and the Amazing Grace Festival in Buncrana.

MUSIC PROMISE JUNIOR CHOIR

The Music Promise is a major part of the UK City of Culture 2013, putting children and young people’s music-making at the very heart of the year-long programme. Two choirs were formed as part of this scheme - Junior and Youth - with the members representing 22 schools in the Derry City Council area. They have already participated in such notable events as the premieres of At Sixes and Sevens by Mark-Anthony Turnage and The Conquest of Happiness directed by Haris Pašović and are delighted to add City Songs by Ēriks Ešenvalds to this prestigious list.

Hallowe’en Carnival

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION

SATURDAY 26TH OCTOBER ST. COLUMB’S HALL, 7.30PM - 10.30PM

Presented by Stephen McCauley

The International Competition will undoubtedly be the highlight of the City of Derry International Choral Festival, featuring seven competitors from Belarus, England, Ireland and Italy who will compete for a prestigious bespoke trophy, designed by international artist Maurice Harron.

PROGRAMME

OPEN ARTS CHOIR, NORTHERN IRELAND

AD SOLEM, ENGLAND

POLIFONICA, BELARUS

COIS CLADAIGH, IRELAND

CLOSING GALA CONCERT

Sunday 27th October, St. Columb’s Hall, 8pm Presented by Marie-Louise Muir

The Closing Gala Concert will provide a celebratory end to the inaugural City of Derry International Choral Festival. The competitors in the prestigious International Competition will each perform an informal programme of music and the International Competition winner will be announced and awarded the bespoke international trophy, designed by Maurice Harron.

MAURICE HARRON, ARTIST AND SCULPTOR

Maurice Harron was born in Derry, Northern Ireland. After studying at the Ulster College of Art & Design, he taught at schools in Belfast and Derry, and in 1983 began working as a painter and sculptor.

For the last 18 years he has worked to address issues of belief, ethnicity and political tension through his sculpture. Working in public locations, he has made works that explore themes connected to social, historical and cultural identity.

In creating the International Trophy, Maurice has taken the oak tree of Derry as a symbol, with the many strands of roots coming together to form a canopy. The trophy stands on a stainless steel base with many thin rods of stainless steel emerging from the ground to entwine around it and join together in a vertical column. Those at the centre climb to the highest point, while the outer group forms the lower branches. The canopy is made from bronze plate using a design based on the ancient La Tene (Celtic) abstract patterns.

Maurice says, ‘Choral art is the result of many varied and diverse talents coming together to create something amazing. Ordinary people blend voices in harmonies to create extraordinary works’.

PRESENTERS

SARAH BRETT

Sarah Brett is a presenter and journalist on BBC Radio Foyle and BBC Radio Ulster.

Since 2010 Sarah has presented the Breakfast programme with Enda McCla erty on BBC Radio Foyle every weekday morning from 7am-9am. This year Sarah is also presenting BBC Radio Foyle’s daily programme Pure Culture, celebrating culture in the north west in 2013.

Sarah worked as a journalist at the Belfast Telegraph for eight years and joined BBC Northern Ireland in 2004, working as a reporter for BBC Radio Foyle. Prior to presenting the Breakfast programme, Sarah presented her opt-out programme Sarah Brett on the station from 2008-2010. Sarah also regularly guest presents on Good Morning Ulster, Talkback and Evening Extra on BBC Radio Ulster. She grew up in Donegal and London and now lives in Derry.

STEPHEN MCCAULEY

Stephen McCauley was born and raised in Derry and is a presenter/producer on BBC Northern Ireland. He is the host of ‘Electric Mainline’ on BBC Radio Foyle and ‘Stephen McCauley’ on BBC Radio Ulster. A passionate and devoted life-long music fan, Stephen thrives o the constant search for music.

After nishing a degree in English at Queen’s University, Belfast, Stephen returned to Derry and started a summer job to help fund his band. The band folded but the summer job endured. Eight mind-blowingly boring years later, he walked out and pitched a radio programme to his local BBC station, BBC Radio Foyle. The show, ‘Electric Mainline’, was given a renewable two-month contract and, almost eight years later, has become an integral catalyst within Northern Irish music. On a typical programme, the listener is presented with Stephen’s tireless search for a bold and contrasting mix of local and international hard-core punk, contemporary classical, electronica, indie and experimental acoustic, all delivered with the enthusiasm and joy of his discoveries.

The Friday night ‘Stephen McCauley’ show on BBC Radio Ulster delivers an exploratory and cinematic mix of contemporary classical, electronica, hip-hop and experimental indie. In February of this year, Stephen made his debut on BBC Radio 6 Music with a week-long series of programmes.

Stephen is also the Chair of the Board of Directors of Void Gallery in Derry.

MARK PATTERSON

Mark Patterson presents ‘Lunchtime with Mark Patterson’, weekdays on BBC Radio Foyle. A Lurgan native who has lived in Derry for nearly 20 years, Mark has featured on Radio 4’s ‘Derry Diary’ many times in the past year and can often be heard presenting various programmes on Radio Ulster.

He has just secured his rst full documentary commission for BBC Radio 4. A passionate surfer and gardener, Mark’s love of music is as broad as it is long: ‘From Tallis to Alison Krauss to Moderat, I really don’t care what the label says: great music is great music’.

MARIE-LOUISE MUIR

Marie-Louise Muir is a respected arts journalist and broadcaster, and is one of BBC Radio Ulster’s best known voices. She began her career in BBC Radio Foyle in the mid-1990s presenting magazine shows, before becoming the anchor of BBC Radio Ulster’s weekly arts magazine show ‘Arts Extra’ in 2004.

As well as radio work, she also works on television and is the presenter of BBC 2 Northern Ireland’s arts magazine programme, ‘The Arts Show’. She has also made a series of ‘In Conversations’ with leading Northern Irish actors, including James Nesbitt, Adrian Dunbar and Bronagh Gallagher, with future episodes planned for later in 2013. Marie-Louise broadcasts regularly from the UK City of Culture 2013 Derry~Londonderry and is currently making several documentaries for BBC Radio 4.

As well as being a skilled broadcaster, Marie-Louise worked for six years as a television assistant producer/director. She worked on a range of programmes for BBC Northern Ireland within factual and entertainment genres. She regularly chairs arts and cultural debates, comperes live events, conducts on-stage interviews in front of a live audience, and chairs panel discussions and audience question and answer sessions.

POST-PRIMARY COMPETITION B

REPERTOIRE: TWO CONTRASTING PIECES, IN THREE OR FOUR PARTS

Thursday 24th October, St. Columb’s Hall, 1pm - 3pm

ST. COLUMB’S COLLEGE CHOIR, DERRY

1. A Gaelic Blessing - John Rutter

2. It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing) - D. Ellington/I. Mills, arr. C. Beale

LORETO GRAMMAR SENIOR CHOIR, OMAGH

1. Sound of Silence - Simon/Garfunkel, arr. Robert Latham

2. Eternity - Michael Bojeson

THORNHILL COLLEGE SENIOR CHOIR, DERRY

1. Earthed Here Still - Neil Martin 2. Gloria - Rhona Clarke

INTERVAL

ST. MARY’S COLLEGE CHOIR, DERRY

1. Love Divine - Howard Goodall

2. It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing) - D. Ellington, arr. Mac Hu

SACRED HEART COLLEGE CHOIR, OMAGH

1. A Clare Benediction - John Rutter

2. Hava Nageela - Maurice Goldman

CROSS AND PASSION COLLEGE CHOIR, BALLYCASTLE

1. The Water of Tyne - Folk Song, arr. Michael Neaum

2. Rhythm of Life - Fields/Coleman, arr. R. Barnes

PRIMARY COMPETITION B

TWO CONTRASTING PIECES, IN TWO OR MORE PARTS

Friday 25th October, St. Columb’s Hall, 11.15am - 12.30pm

SACRED HEART PRIMARY SCHOOL CHOIR, DERRY

1. Whisper! - Greg Gilpin

2. Firework - Katy Perry, arr. Alan Billingsley

NAZARETH HOUSE PRIMARY SCHOOL CHOIR, DERRY

1. A Clare Benediction - John Rutter

2. When the Saints Go Marching In - Traditional Spritual, arr. Rick Hein

CHAPEL ROAD PRIMARY SCHOOL CHOIR, DERRY

1. Street Seller - Bob Chilcott

2. Siyahamba - Traditional Zulu

INTERVAL

FAUGHANVALE PRIMARY SCHOOL, DERRY

1. Consider Yourself - Lionel Bart from Oliver

2. Get on Board This Train - Don Besig/Nancy Price

ST. LAWRENCE’S PRIMARY SCHOOL, TYRONE

1. Panis Angelicus - Cesar Franck, arr. Henry Geehl

2. Siyahamba - Traditional Zulu, arr. Donald Moore

HOLY FAMILY PRIMARY SCHOOL, DERRY

1. Who Will Buy? - Lionel Bart from Oliver

2. Walls Come Tumblin’ Down! - Jean Anne Sha erman

TULLAMORE ACADEMY CHAMBER CHOIR, OFFALY

FUNKY VOICES, ENGLAND

CONWAL SINGERS, DONEGAL

TRINITY SINGERS, DUBLIN

INTERVAL

CANTAMUS CHOIR, DERRY

COR MHAIGH EO, MAYO

OPEN ARTS CHOIR, BELFAST

MUSIC PROMISE JUNIOR CHOIR, DERRY

WESTPORT CHILDREN’S CHOIR, MAYO

MUSIC PROMISE YOUTH CHOIR, DERRY

WORKSHOPS

BIG SING WORKSHOPS

The Big Sing workshops will take place on Thursday 24th October (postprimary) and Friday 25th October (primary) in St. Columb’s Hall.

The festival is delighted to welcome David Lawrence, an internationally recognised choral director and animateur, to lead the two school workshops.

Come along to enjoy the thrill of singing with hundreds of other enthusiastic choristers. Have fun as you explore exciting vocal warm-ups, learn about vocal production and discover the beauty of simple part-singing.

All young singers and their teachers or choir directors are welcome to attend these sessions. No preparation or prior experience is necessary. The only requirement is for all participants to enjoy singing and to share this enjoyment with others. David currently holds the Guinness World Record for conducting the UK’s largest choir - 6,846 singers - so let’s see how big a choir we can put together for him in St Columb’s Hall.

DISCOVERY GOSPEL CHOIR WORKSHOP

The Discovery Gospel Choir workshop will take place on Saturday 26th October at 3.45pm - 4.30pm in St. Columb’s Hall. All are welcome to take part!

This workshop will be delivered by members of the Discovery Gospel Choir. Formed in 2004, Discovery Gospel Choir is one of Ireland’s most innovative and diverse choral groups. The choir is based in Dublin but performs across the country, challenging its audiences to ‘discover beauty in everyone’ and to work towards an integrated society.

In promoting its ethos of integration and unity, Discovery has performed in Mountjoy Prison, for the former Northern Ireland First Minister Rev Dr Ian Paisley in Stormont, in Mosney Accommodation Centre for asylum seekers, for the MAMA Awards, at Africa Day and for Archbishop Desmond Tutu on his visit to Dublin in 2005.

The choir has appeared on numerous national radio and television programmes and has led the national anthems at international matches in Croke Park and Lansdowne Road. It has also made appearances at the Meteor Music Awards, the RCCG’s Festival of Life in the Point Theatre, Electric Picnic and the Festival of World Cultures. Discovery enjoys working with other musicians who share its ethos, and has previously performed with Stevie Wonder, Sinéad O’Connor, Nizlopi, Foy Vance, Liam Ó Maonlaí and Celtic Woman. It has also worked closely with Irish fusion band Kíla.

ADJUDICATORS

RAGNAR RASMUSSEN, NORWAY (CHAIR OF THE ADJUDICATION PANEL)

Ragnar Rasmussen is Full Professor in Choir Conducting at the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Tromsø, Norway and artistic director/conductor of the Mimas Chamber Choir, Tromsø, Norway and the international chamber choir ‘Utopia & Reality’.

In 2007/08 Ragnar was guest professor at the Academy of Music, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. In 2008-10 he was conductor of the Norwegian National Youth Choir and in 2010 he was conductor of the World Youth Choir.

He works frequently with professional choirs and orchestras, and gives masterclasses for choral conductors throughout Europe. He has been awarded numerous awards in Norway and abroad, and has been appointed a member of the Norwegian Association for Composers.

PETER BROADBENT, UK

Peter Broadbent is one of Britain’s leading choral conductors, known for his consistent commitment to contemporary music. In 1988 he formed the Joyful Company of Singers, which rapidly established itself as one of Europe’s leading chamber choirs, giving concerts throughout Europe and the US. JCS has recorded 22 CDs as well as many TV and lm soundtracks, including the music that can be heard at London’s latest attraction, the Shard.

Peter has conducted many of the leading London orchestras, the BBC Singers, and professional choirs and orchestras in Ireland and Hungary. He adjudicates at international choral competitions throughout Europe and the UK, and gives seminars and masterclasses in the UK, Europe, South Africa, South-East Asia, the US and Canada. He is Director of Training for the Association of British Choral Directors and he was also awarded the ‘Pro Cultura Hungarica’ Medal by the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Hungary in recognition of his contribution to Anglo-Hungarian relations.

DAVID LAWRENCE, UK

David Lawrence is one of the UK’s most versatile conductors, working with orchestras, symphony choruses and national youth choirs. In 2010 he was shortlisted for a Gramophone Award for his conducting and he currently holds the Guinness World Record for conducting the UK’s largest choir - 6,846 singers! David’s work has taken him to Singapore, Colombia, Canada, the United States, India and throughout Europe, and since 2005 he has worked regularly in Australia. His positive and engaging manner makes him a popular guest conductor, and he is an experienced and respected trainer of choral conductors. He teaches regularly alongside Ghislaine Morgan in Portugal, and for the company Artsworks he delivers management training and team-building workshops through the media of singing and conducting.

David has a particular passion for working with young people and is the CBSO’s City of Birmingham Young Voices regular conductor. He has adjudicated at international choral festivals as well as for the BBC Choir of the Year and Young Musician of the Year competitions. He conducts for BBC Television’s ‘Songs of Praise’ and directed ‘The People’s Chorus’ for BBC Four. As a guest chorusmaster for Netherlands Radio Choir, he has worked with Stockhausen, John Adams, Kenneth Montgomery and Frans Brüggen.

INTERNATIONAL CHOIR BIOGRAPHIES

AD SOLEM, ENGLAND ROBERT BROOKS, CONDUCTOR

Ad Solem, the University of Manchester Chamber Choir, was founded more than 20 years ago and is made up of the best singers from in and around the University of Manchester. Consisting of between 22 and 26 members, the choir is primarily an a capella group, although they also perform with a number of other student and professional ensembles. As one of the only student-run, university-based choirs in Manchester, the choir puts on numerous concerts and performs at functions throughout the year, both within MUMS and independently. Past conductors include founder Greg Beardsell, Marcus Farnsworth and Matthew Hamilton.

Ad Solem performs new works as well as renaissance polyphony and has recently performed a world premiere in the Bridgewater Hall with the Halle Orchestra. It has also performed Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with the Liverpool Mozart Orchestra, Mozart’s Requiem with the University of Manchester Chamber Orchestra and Victoria’s Requiem, as well as excerpts from Rachmaninov’s Vespers and works by Britten, Lauridsen, Ligeti, Tallis, Pärt, Augustinas, Sisask and Vaughan Williams.

The choir tours regularly and in recent years has visited Poland, Amsterdam and Estonia. It has also broadcast for BBC radio and television and has recorded a number of CDs.

COIS CLADAIGH, IRELAND (GALWAY)

BRENDAN

O’CONNOR, CONDUCTOR

Cois Cladaigh was founded in 1982 and last year it celebrated its 30th anniversary. The choir had an ambitious programme of events to mark the occasion and these included commissions by four contemporary European composers and three Irish composers, as well as a series of workshops and concerts, including performances on Clare Island and Inishbo n and a concert with Clermont Chorale.

The choir has taken part in collaborative performances with U.S. volcanologist Professor John Delaney, harpist Kathleen Cannon and uilleann piper Eugene Lamb, at the International Science Conference in July 2012, and worked with the Carl Hession Jazz Trio as part of the Galway Jazz Festival in October 2012. Cois Cladaigh was greatly honoured to be invited to sing at the inauguration of President Michael D. Higgins in November 2011 and subsequently was also invited to sing at the National Day of Commemoration in Dublin in July 2012.

The choir has travelled extensively throughout Europe and the US and takes an active role in commissioning contemporary composers. It has also recorded four CDs.

NEW DUBLIN VOICES, IRELAND (DUBLIN) BERNIE SHERLOCK, CONDUCTOR

New Dublin Voices, an award-winning chamber choir based in Dublin, Ireland, was founded by conductor Bernie Sherlock in October 2005. NDV, whose concerts range in style and period from the medieval to the contemporary, takes special pleasure in exploring the music of living composers and has given many Irish premières, as well as eight world premières of works by Irish composers. As well as giving concerts, NDV is a regular participant in competitions, both internationally and at home in Ireland.

The singers who make up New Dublin Voices come from many backgrounds but share high levels of experience and musicianship, a commitment to attracting new audiences and, above all, a love of performing excellent choral music.

OPEN ARTS CHOIR, NORTHERN IRELAND (BELFAST)

BEVERLEY WHYTE, CONDUCTOR

The Open Arts Community Choir is an award-winning, dynamic, inclusive choir based in Belfast that demonstrates how people from di erent cultural backgrounds, with and without disabilities, can come together through the medium of song to be positive ambassadors for Northern Ireland.

The OACC was formed in September 2000 with support from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. In 2008 it reached the nal stages of the BBC’s ‘Last Choir Standing’ competition and in 2010 it was a nalist in RTE’s ‘An Cór’ Irish language choral competition. Since then, the OACC has performed at high-pro le events all over the UK and Ireland, and in August 2012 it travelled to the US to participate in the Milwaukee Irish Fest.

The choir has collaborated with many artists, composers and ensembles, and performs songs in a wide variety of musical styles including classical, pop, jazz, gospel, folk and world music. It has recorded three albums and has been successful in choral festivals throughout the UK.

POLIFONICA, BELARUS NIKOLAI KASHURO, CONDUCTOR

Polifonica Choir, founded in 2010, is a group of amateur singers. It consists of 20 members who have extensive experience of choral singing. The choir has a diverse repertoire and its members have performed a wide range of choral music genres by classical and contemporary composers. The choir has participated in many international tours, recently performing a programme of Orthodox church music and folk at the International Choir Festival Apeldoorn Zingt in the Netherlands in June 2012. Polifonica also won second prize in the Competition for Petr Eben at the International Advent Music Festival in Prague in December 2012 and took part in the 59th International Choral Festival in Cork, Ireland in May 2013.

Polifonica has shared its musical gifts on many stages all over Europe, making it a cultural ambassador for Belarus. Its most recent concert tour took place in Legnano, Italy in June 2013 at the world famous Choral Festival La Fabbrica del Canto XXII.

RUDA POLIFONICO, ITALY

FABIANA NORO, CONDUCTOR

The Ruda Polifonico Choir, which dates back to the early 20th century, has given performances throughout the world. Tours include the Philippines, Mongolia, the US, Argentina, Canada, Russia, China and almost all European countries, and it has always been very well received by both the public and critics.

The choir has been successful at many prestigious national and international competitions, including Arezzo, Gorizia, Orvieto, Ravenna, Rome , Tallinn and Vittorio Veneto, where it won four rst prizes in spring 2004, a feat that had never before been achieved by a single choir. In June 2007, the choir was awarded the Grand Prix at the Anton Bruckner International Competition in Linz and it won rst prize in the ‘Polyphony’ and ‘Sacred Music’ categories.

In 2008, at the Choral Olympics in Graz, the choir won three gold medals and an Olympic laurel for the category ‘Male choirs’. To celebrate these achievements, Roman Tico lm lmed a documentary about the choir, which has been broadcast by several European TV networks. In 2010, at the Choral Olympics in Shaoxing (China), the choir also won three gold medals. In 2003, Mrs Fabiana Noro took up the position of conductor of the Ruda Polyphonic Choir.

VOCI NUOVE, IRELAND (CORK) COLM O’REGAN, CONDUCTOR

Voci Nuove was formed in September 2011 by singing students at the Cork School of Music in Ireland. Conducted by CSM graduate Colm O’Regan, it began performing at concerts around Munster, at venues such as the Curtis Auditorium, Fota House and St. Mary’s Cathedral in Limerick. The choir enlarged its membership in September 2012 and began competing in competitions, winning several categories at Cork’s Feis Maitiú.

In May of this year, the group was awarded second place in the sacred and chamber choir categories of the Cork International Choral Festival and was awarded the John Mannion Trophy for chamber choirs. In spring of this year, Voci Nuove completed its rst series of concerts in Cork, Ennis and Galway entitled Pitches be Crazy.

CHORAL TRAIL

Friday 25th - Saturday 26th October, various locations

The City of Derry will come alive with pop-up performances in various locations throughout the choral festival weekend.

Friday 25th October, 3pm - 5pm

Time Location Choir

3.00pm – 3.20pm Richmond Centre/New Market Street Gospel Singers Incognito, England

3.30pm – 3.50pm Tower Hotel Doire Calgach Singers, Derry 4.00pm – 4.20pm Craft Village Polifonica, Belarus 4.30pm – 4.50pm Central Library Polifonico, Italy

Saturday 26th October, 11.30am - 5.30pm

Time Location Choir

11.30am – 11.50am Richmond Centre Roundhouse, UK 12.00pm – 12.20pm Austins Voci Nuove, Cork 12.30pm – 12.50pm St. Augustine’s Church Cantabile Vocal Ensemble, Cork

1.00pm – 1.20pm Tower Hotel Polifonico, Italy 1.30pm – 1.50pm Richmond Centre Encore, Derry 2.00pm – 2.20pm Walls/ St. Augustine’s Church New Dublin Voices, Dublin

2.30pm – 2.50pm Austins Ad Solem, England

3.00pm – 3.20pm Foyleside Polifonica, Belarus

3.30pm – 3.50pm Central Library Doire Calgach Singers, Derry 4.00pm – 4.20pm Richmond Funky Voices, England 4.30pm – 4.50pm Tower Hotel Portadown Male Voice Choir, Armagh

5.00pm – 5.30pm Guildhall Square Trinitones, Dublin

SACRED TRAIL

Sunday 27th October, various churches throughout the city, 10am - 1pm

Church Time Choir

St. Columb’s Cathedral 11am Ad Solem, England

Christ Church 11am New Dublin Voices, Dublin

Holy Family, Ballymagroarty 11am Funky Voices, England

First Derry Presbyterian 11.30am Gospel Singers Incognito, England

Longtower 12pm Polifonica, Belarus

St. Columb’s RC Church 12.30pm Cantamus, Derry

St. Eugene’s Cathedral 12.30pm St. Mary’s Pro-Cathedral Choir, Dublin St. Eugene’s Cathedral Choir, Derry

FESTIVAL CLUB- RESONANCE BAR

Following an exciting evening of choral music-making, why not join us in the beautiful surroundings of the Festival Club - Resonance Bar, located on the ground oor of St Columb’s Hall via the Orchard Street entrance? It’s the perfect way to meet new friends or renew old acquaintances, chat about what you’ve just heard in the main hall, or sit back and enjoy impromptu performances. You might even be inspired to join in the singing!

Thursday 24th October, from 10pm

Friday 25th October, from 10pm with live entertainment

Saturday 26th October, from 10pm

Sunday 27th October, from 10pm for the closing night festival céilí

HISTORY OF ST. COLUMB’S HALL

St Columb’s Hall was built as a recreational and educational space for the Roman Catholic community in Derry City. The concept of St Columb’s Hall was created by Father William Elliot and the building was designed with Italian style architecture in mind by Architects Messrs Croome and Toye. The founding stone of the hall was laid in July 30th 1886 by Father McMenamin.

The original design of the Hall included a huge auditorium with a stage, a large lecture room, billiard and recreation rooms, committee rooms and living accommodation for a caretaker and his family. The Hall has been at the heart of the Derry community since its founding blocks were laid, and beneath the founding block lies a hermetically sealed bottle containing copies of various press and a message saying ‘St Columb’s Temperance Hall’.

St Columb’s Hall was o cially opened on 1st November 1888 and became a lively social hub for the City of Derry, with many organisations availing of the magni cent space for meetings, lectures and dances. By 1889 the Hall had its own bands, choirs, and drama and music societies. During the 1890s the Hall’s popularity increased, with musicians such as John McCormack, Edward Sousa and The Halle Orchestra playing sold-out concerts in the main auditorium. By the 1940s and 1950s the Hall was rmly placed at the heart of society as local concerts and shows became a regular occurrence. In 1943, the rst St Columb’s Hall pantomime was staged and that was the start of a tradition that only ended in the 1990s.

1962 was a signi cant year for the Hall as Father Edward Daly became head programmer. Under his intuitive leadership, the venue became ooded with arts activity and gained a new lease of life. ‘The Sunday Night Variety Shows’ began and welcomed international stars such as Ruby Murray, Val Doonican, The Clancy Brothers, Roy Orbison and Jim Reeves. Local stars including Dana, Phil Coulter and comedian Frank Carson credit performances in St Columb’s Hall as one of the starting points of their careers.

‘The Troubles’ began in the late 1960’s in Derry and the use of the hall during this time was rare. Thankfully, the building survived unscathed. Father Con McLaughlin was assigned to care for the hall in the 1980s and he continued the excellent work of his predecessors. Under his leadership, the building ourished with an extensive theatre programme and numerous exhibitions in the renowned Orchard Gallery and Orchard Cinema.

St Columb’s Hall has had many uses throughout history. In 1910, Emily Pankhurst was the key speaker at a Su ragist Demonstration held in St Columb’s Hall. The Hall was later leased to the London Motion Picture Company and the main auditorium used as a cinema in March of 1913. In the early 1930s, it underwent a refurbishment and reopened to cater for the talkies, or sound lms, for the rst time. In December 1920, the British Army used the Hall for several weeks as a barracks for hundreds of troops and in the 1950s it was used as a temporary school. In the 1960s and 1970s the Hall was the community meeting point for the Nationalist Party, Butchers’ Union, Sean Dolans GAA club and the Pioneers Temperance Association Society.

In 2008 The Playhouse took residence whilst their building was being refurbished and during this time the Hall housed the 2008 ‘Big Tickle’ comedy festival, where famous comedians such as Colin Murphy and Andrew Maxwell took to the stage. Most recently, in September 2013, it hosted the DANI business award ceremony.

In September 2012, St Columb’s Hall was purchased by the Garvan O’Doherty Group from the Long Tower Parish. The Hall is currently undergoing an extensive three-phase restoration project, with phase one recently completed.

The Hall is a celebrated building in terms of its design aspect, as a historical monument, as a centre for the arts and as the people’s building, inviting the locality through its doors for generations and for generations to come.

THE CITY OF DERRY INTERNATIONAL CHORAL FESTIVAL IS PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH WALLED CITY MUSIC AND WISHES TO THANK…

FESTIVAL FUNDERS

Culture Company

Arts Council NI

The Honourable The Irish Society British Enkalon

FESTIVAL SPONSORS

Garvan O’Doherty Group (Lead Sponsor)

Foyleside Shopping Centre

FESTIVAL PARTNER

Voices Now Festival - Roundhouse, London

FESTIVAL FRIENDS

Derry Visitor and Convention Bureau

Fiorentini’s

FESTIVAL STAFF

Dónal Doherty, Artistic Director

Matthew Greenall, Executive Director, Walled City Music Trust Fiona Crosbie, Festival Manager

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

Anthony McGurk, Chair Grainne Stevenson

Joy Tennis

Jillian Wilson Colm Rainey Martin White

EVENTS MANAGER

Padraig O’Duinnin

SPECIAL THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT FROM:

Rachel Clarke, Music Promise

Padraig O’Duinnin, Event Manager, Culture Company

Siobháin O’Reilly, Events O cer, Culture Company

Kathryn Calvin, Events O cer, Culture Company

Melissa Meenan, Volunteer Coordinator, Culture Company

Niall Kerr, Marketing O cer, Culture Company

John Fitzpatrick, Cork Choral Festival

Sineád Madden, Cork Choral Festival

Declan Durcan, Mayo Choral Festival

COMPETITION ANNOUNCERS

Jill Flanagan, Marie Lindsey, Tony Jackson, Colm Rainey, Geraldine Kelley, Des Rainey, James Kelley & Martin White.

VOLUNTEERS

Emma Barr, Gerry Brady, Pat Crosbie, Tom Curran, Cíana Darrell, Bronagh Deeny, Brendan Doherty, Colm Doherty, Liz Doherty, Elena Dunne, Rachael Ewing, Nicky Fallon, Anne Gallagher, Jenny Grant, Catherine Flanagan, Patrick Flanagan, Chris Greene, Rachel Harkin, Kevin Healy, Jenny Huey, Margaret Kelly, Maurice Kelly, Chris Kerrigan, Fidelma Legge, Fergal Logue, Bridgeen MacManus, Anna McAllister, Margaret McCay, Laura McFall, Julia McIvor, Julia McIvor, Niamh McGowan, Helen O’Hare, Sadie O’Kane, Paddy Quinn, Vicki Quinn, Maureen Rainey, Rachel Tennis, Rebecca Tennis & Maeve Ward.

SPECIAL THANKS TO THE NORTH WEST VOLUNTEER CENTRE VOLUNTEERS

AT-A-GLANCE FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

THURSDAY & FRIDAY

Thursday 24th October

Post-Primary School Competition A

St. Columb’s Hall 10.30am - 12pm

Post-Primary School Competition B

St. Columb’s Hall 1pm - 3pm

Big Sing Workshop (Post-Primary)

St. Columb’s Hall 3.30pm- 4.30pm

Adjudication of Post-Primary Competitions

St. Columb’s Hall 4.30pm - 5pm

Opening Gala Concert

St. Columb’s Hall 8pm - 10pm

Festival Club St. Columb’s Hall 10pm

Friday 25th October

Primary School Competition A St. Columb’s Hall 10am - 11am

Primary School Competition B St. Columb’s Hall 11.15am - 12.30pm

Big Sing Workshop (Primary) St. Columb’s Hall 1.15pm - 2pm

Adjudication of Primary Competitions St. Columb’s Hall 2pm - 2.30pm

Choral Trail City centre 3pm - 5pm

City Songs featuring Imogen Heap St. Columb’s Hall 8pm - 10pm

Festival Club St. Columb’s Hall 10pm

AT-A-GLANCE FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

SATURDAY & SUNDAY

Saturday 26th October

National Female Voice Competition

St. Columb’s Hall 10am - 11.15am

National Male Voice Competition

St. Columb’s Hall 11.15am - 11.45am

Adjudication of Equal Voice Competitions

St. Columb’s Hall 11.45am - 12pm

Choral Trail City Centre 11.30am - 5.30pm

National Mixed Voice Competition

St. Columb’s Hall 1pm - 3.30pm

Discovery Gospel Choir Workshop St. Columb’s Hall 3.45pm - 4.30pm

National Gospel Music Competition St. Columb’s Hall 4.30pm - 5.30pm

Adjudication of Mixed Voice and Gospel Music Competitions

St. Columb’s Hall 5.30pm - 6pm

International Competition

St. Columb’s Hall 7.30pm - 10pm

Festival Club St. Columb’s Hall 10pm

Sunday 27th October

Sacred Trail City Churches 11am - 1.30pm

National Sacred Music Competition

First Derry Presbyterian Church 2pm - 4.30pm

National Youth Choir Competition

First Derry Presbyterian Church 5pm - 6pm

Adjudication of Sacred and Youth Competitions 6pm - 6.30pm

Closing Gala Concert St. Columb’s Hall 8pm - 10pm

Festival Club St. Columb’s Hall 10pm