Cork International Choral Festival gets underway today, Wednesday, 29 April, marking the start of five days of music across the city and county as more than 5,000 performers from 13 countries gather for one of Europe’s longest-running and most respected celebrations of choral music. Running until Sunday, 3 May, the 71st festival will see 149 groups perform across more than 60 venues, with a programme spanning gala concerts, competitions, community events and free performances.
Opening Day places a strong focus on young voices, with more than 800 primary school children gathering at Cork City Hall. Of these, 344 students from eight schools will take part in a choral competition, while a further 390 children attend to experience live performance, reflecting the festival’s continued commitment to nurturing the next generation of singers.
That momentum carries into tonight’s Opening Gala at Cork City Hall, the first of seven gala concerts across the festival. A specially formed choir of 280 young singers from Cork and Dublin will perform Benjamin Britten’s ‘St Nicolas’, alongside a newly commissioned work by Artistic Director Peter Stobart, in what promises to be one of the defining moments of the week.
Artistic Director Peter Stobart said the scale of youth participation is a significant and meaningful part of this year’s programme. “There’s something very special that happens when young people come together to sing on this scale. It’s not just about performance, it’s about connection, confidence and a shared experience that can stay with them for life.”
Across the days ahead, the festival will bring music into every corner of the city, from concert halls and cathedrals to libraries, public spaces and outdoor venues. The gala programme continues on Thursday with acclaimed UK ensemble Black Voices performing at Cork City Hall, followed on Friday by a concert at the Cathedral of St Mary & St Anne featuring Chamber Choir Ireland and New Dublin Voices.
Saturday will see the return of the prestigious Fleischmann International Trophy competition, widely regarded as one of the most sought-after prizes in choral music, drawing elite amateur choirs from across Europe and beyond for two gala sessions at Cork City Hall. The festival will conclude on Sunday with a closing gala concert celebrating standout performances from across the week.
Alongside the headline events, a vibrant programme of free and accessible performances will unfold across the city. The much-loved Choral Trail will bring pop-up performances to streets, libraries and community venues, while Afternoons in the Atrium at the Clayton Hotel offers continuous drop-in performances throughout the weekend.
Outdoor highlights include a full afternoon of performances at Marina Market on Saturday, where community, workplace and youth choirs will create a lively, informal festival atmosphere, and a series of open-air concerts at Elizabeth Fort on Sunday, offering a striking backdrop overlooking the city.
Participatory events such as The Big Sing invite audiences to take part, while performances extend beyond the city centre to locations including Cobh, Ballincollig, Bishopstown and Glanmire, reinforcing the festival’s long-standing connection to communities across Cork.
With 189 performances taking place over five days, the Cork International Choral Festival once again balances artistic excellence with accessibility, ensuring that music is not only heard in concert halls but encountered throughout the everyday life of the city.
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