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FOREWORD
WELCOME!
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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
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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
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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 voices - as 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.
Anthony McGurk, Chair, City of Derry International Choral Festival
6 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
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
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