9th Mayo International Choral Festival postponed until 2021
The organisers of the Mayo International Choral Festival, which takes place during the second last week in May each year has announced that the 9th festival is postponed until May 2021.
Said Festival Producer, Declan Durcan “we have taken the decision in light of the rapidly evolving Covid-19 situation. All choir leaders and coordinators of the 36 choirs who have entered have been personally contacted, with very positive responses, and commitments from the majority of these choirs to take part in 2021. We are in the process of engaging with our sponsors, venue operators, suppliers and volunteers. While the postponement is undoubtedly disappointing to all concerned, we remain optimistic about the future of the festival and look forward to May 2021, when we will celebrate it’s 9th year”.
Mayo County Council, the festival’s main supporter, added that while similar to so many other events being cancelled, the postponement is disappointing, but the decision is a responsible one given the current uncertainty and that the Council is fully behind the 2021 festival as other years.
Said Frank Murray, Festival Chairman – “we look forward to our next festival in 2021 and are happy to say it is already shaping up to be a great event. For now though, the most important thing is for everyone to keep safe”.
The festival dates for next year are Wednesday 19th to Sunday 23rd May, 2021.
More information from 094 90 2 30 40, info@mayochoral.com or www.facebook.com/mayochoral
All current entries are valid for 2021.
For further information contact the festival on 094 90 2 30 40 or info@mayochoral.com
AGM Notice
The Annual General Meeting of the Mayo International Choral Festival will take place at 6pm on Thursday 14th November, at ‘Bridge St’ (upstairs), Bridge Street, Castlebar, County Mayo. All Welcome.
Winter Serenade Concert
Presented by: The Mayo International Choral Festival
Venue: The Lodge At Ashford Castle, Cong, County Mayo
Featuring: The Mayo Male Voice Choir,
Headford Presentation College Choir and Musicians and
the Cong Church Choir.
Day, Date & Time: Saturday, November 16th, 2019 at 8pm.
Tickets / Adm: €15/ €10
More info and tickets – click here
A fundraising concert for the Mayo International Choral Festival
Other Events:
For other Mayo-related choral and music events,
check out our events listings page
Gold Rush Concert Tour – Mayo Date
Presented by: Lady Barbalade and facilitated by the Mayo International Choral Festival
Venue: Christchurch, Castlebar, Co. Mayo
Featuring: 6th in the World Barbershop Quartet Champions from California –
The New Fangled Four,
Dublin based National Barbershop Champions – Lady Barbalade
and The Mayo Male Voice Choir
Day, Date & Time: Thurs, September 12th, 2019 at 8pm.
Tickets / Adm: €15/ €10
More info and tickets – click here
Cherry Creek Girls 21, USA High School Choir In Concert
Presented by: the Mayo International Choral Festival
To include: St Joseph’s Secondary School
Senior and Gospel Choirs.
Venue: Ballintubber Abbey, County Mayo.
Date and time: Fri 23rd March 2018, 8pm.
Click here for more details
The University of Iowa USA Concert Band
& The Mayo Concert Orchestra in Concert
Hosted by: the Mayo International Choral Festival
To include: The University of Iowa Concert Band, USA
and The Mayo Concert Orchestra,
Venue: GMIT, St Mary’s Hall, Castlebar, County Mayo.
Date and time: Tuesday 13th March 2018, 8pm.
Click here for more details
19.10.2017
Event Postponed
Unfortunately due to the adverse weather conditions, prior to and forecast on the day, it has been decided to postpone our event on the Mall, that was due to take place this Saturday, 21st October. Thank you to all for your interest and we look forward to announcing our new date in the future.
25.09.2017
AGM of Mayo International Choral Festival, 19th October
The Annual General Meeting of the Mayo International Choral Festival
will be held Thursday 19th October, 6pm Lough Lannagh Village Lodge (room opposite reception).
All welcome to attend.
23.09.2017
‘Amazing Popkoor’ Concert
Presented by: The Mayo International Choral Festival
Venue: Christchurch, Castlebar
To include: From the Netherlands, the ‘Amazing Popkoor’ choir, The Mayo Male Voice Choir and the Rolling Waves.
Date & time: Fri 13th Oct, 2017, 8.15pm
Adm: Tickets €12 and €8
More Details: Click Here
18.09.2017
Details of the 2018 festival announced –
Click on the pic for our Syllabus and Entry Form
04.05.2017
We are delighted to announce the full 2017 festival programme –
Mayo Sings in May!
Click on the pic for an overview of the festival.
02.08.2016
When discussing the 2017 festival, someone said ‘we need a launch’ – and that’s just what we got! See the link to view our vessel that will cruise Lough Corrib on Sat 3rd September 2016 when we will launch the 2017 Mayo International Choral Festival. All choir members and friends welcome – more information by clicking here.
23.06.2016
Join us for what promises to be a lovely concert of song, music and dance, Monday July 11th, 8pm, at the historic Kennedy Glasgow Centre at The Quay, Ballina, overlooking the Moy River estuary, with Our Savior Luthern Choir, USA and members from the Bofield CCE. http://goo.gl/1pUr9c
22.05.2016
Please note the most recent change to our festival programme – the First Time Competitors competition has been moved back in time from 9.30am to 10.30am, and will take place in Christchurch, Castlebar and not the GMIT as previously advertised.
Click here for a full festival programme 2016.micf.prog.events.final2
11.05.2016
Online ticket facility for Concert For Peace Knock to close at 12 noon Friday 13th May.
29.04.2016
President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins and Sabina Higgins to attend the Concert For Peace, Knock Basilica, May 14th.
Mayo International Choral Festival are delighted to announce the attendance of The President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins and his wife Sabina Higgins at the Concert For Peace. The unprecedented scale of such a concert in this venue will see close to 200 artists perform on the night, all presented by lauded broadcaster, RTÉ Lyric FM’s Liz Nolan. Conductor extraordinaire David Brophy of RTÉ’s Award Winning High Hopes Choir and Instrumental fame brings his impressive experience to proceedings, conducting this special event.
The concert will commemorate the 1916 rising and World War One and highlights will include Sibéal Ní Chasaide performing the hauntingly beautiful Mise Eire, giving audiences another opportunity to witness this much-heralded Centenary performance. The esteemed RTÉ Concert Orchestra will perform an Elegy Suite for 1916 by internationally distinguished composer Patrick Cassidy. Mayo born Mezzo Soprano Anne Marie Gibbons and Tenor Owen Gilhooly from Limerick will also perform Cassidy’s well-known aria Vida Cor Meum, joined by the 120-strong Peace Choir. This consists of members of the Ballina Chamber Choir, Cór Mhaigh Eo and Dún Laoghaire Choral Society.
Excerpts from Jenkins’ choral sensation, The Armed Man will feature. This is a powerful and compelling phenomenon in contemporary music, which brings the audience on an inspirational journey from the disharmony of conflict to a final message of hope and peace.
The concert is produced in association with the The Western Development Commission and The Mayo Clinic, and will take place at Knock Basilica, County Mayo, May 14th at 8pm.
Tickets In-Person:
Knock Basilica Book Shop
Downtown Records Castlebar & Westport
Gift Centre, Tone St, Ballina
Tickets Online
02.04.2016
Sibeal to perform at the Concert For Peace
Following her recent haunting and evocative performance during the ‘Centenary’ concert at Easter, as part of the National 1916 commemorations, the organisers of the ‘Concert For Peace’ at Knock Basilica were delighted when it was announced just after the concert that Sibeal Ni Chasaide is to be added to the stellar line up of performers on May 14th. Sibeal will perform, live with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, Mise Eire, a new arrangement of Patrick Pearse’s 1912 poem set to music, which was composed by the respected composer Patrick Cassidy, who is related to Sibeal, and who will also attend the concert.
Hailing from the Gaeltacht in Rath Chairn, County Meath, Sibeal, at only 17 years of age, has been since stealing the hearts of the nation with Mise Eire released on the ‘1916: The Irish Rebellion’ soundtrack, and with her countless interviews on Radio and a recent performance on The Late Late Show.
24.01.2016
Liz Nolan, of RTÉ lyric fm will present the Concert For Peace in Knock, May 14th 2016.
The Mayo International Choral Festival Presents
A Concert For Peace
Commemorating the 1916 Easter Rising
and World War One
featuring
Sir Karl Jenkins’ international choral sensation
The Armed Man : A Mass for Peace
Hollywood movie Composer Patrick Cassidy’s Elegy Suite for 1916
The RTÉ Concert Orchestra
Conductor : David Brophy
Mezzo Soprano : Anne Marie Gibbons
Tenor : Owen Gilhooly
Ballina Chamber Choir, Cór Mhaigh Eo and Dún Laoghaire Choral Society
Presented by Liz Nolan of RTÉ lyric fm
Saturday 14th May 2016 at 8pm
Knock Basilica
Doors open 6.45pm, Concert 8pm
Tickets (all reserved seating): €25 and €15*
A feast for the senses awaits. The Mayo International Choral Festival is proud to present this inaugural concert at the newly refurbished Knock Basilica, to commemorate the 1916 Easter Rising and World War One.
The concert will also include excerpts from composer Sir Karl Jenkins’ choral sensation The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace. This is a powerful and compelling phenomenon in contemporary music which brings the audience on an inspirational journey from the disharmony of conflict to a final message of hope and peace.
In addition, the orchestra will perform an Elegy Suite for 1916 by the distinguished composer Patrick Cassidy, recent recipient of the ‘Creative Talent Award 2015’, at the Richard Harris International Film Festival, together with some of his most acclaimed pieces including his well known aria, Vide Cor Meum.
Born in Mayo, Patrick Cassidy came to prominence with the release of The Children of Lir, the first major symphonic work written in the Irish language, and Famine Remembrance which was commissioned to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Great Hunger in Ireland. Currently, Patrick resides in Los Angeles where, in addition to his concert work and compositions, he scores and collaborates on film and documentary projects including Hannibal, Veronica Guerin, Confessions of a Burning Man, Salem’s Lot, King Arthur, Che Guevara, Ashes and Snow, Kingdom of Heaven, The Front Line, L’Aviatore, The Irishman and Calvary.
Mayo born and based, Mezzo Soprano Anne Marie Gibbons appears regularly with both the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra. She is a former English National Opera company principal and made her acclaimed Royal Opera House Covent Garden debut earlier this year. Her many international credits include performances in Paris, Adelaide, Lausanne and London.
Limerick born, Tenor Owen Gilhooly’s career has taken him from the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden to Tokyo’s Symphony Hall, singing a diverse operatic and concert repertoire from Bach to Weir. He has appeared regularly with leading orchestras including at the BBC Proms with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, as well as at Royal Opera House singing Fauré Requiem for the Royal Ballet.
Widely regarded as the leading Irish Conductor of today, David Brophy’s career has seen him perform worldwide, and he enjoys a close relationship with both the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra in addition to frequent appearances as guest Conductor with the Ulster Orchestra. David will be familiar to TV viewers, having fronted both the RTÉ1 award-winning series Instrumental and the High Hopes Choir for Tyrone Productions and RTÉ1 TV.
The RTÉ Concert Orchestra has been introducing orchestral music to new audiences since 1948 and was recently voted World’s Favourite Orchestra in an international poll (Bachtrack.com, 2015). Having shared stages with legends like Pavarotti and Lang Lang, the RTÉ CO has also collaborated with top Irish acts like Altan, Sharon Shannon, Declan O’Rourke and Imelda May. A wide range of film credits includes Brian Byrne’s score to Albert Nobbs (including a song nominated for a Golden Globe), music for Patrick Cassidy’s score to Calvary, Andy O’Callaghan’s score to Mrs Brown’s Boys: D’Movie and Stephen Rennicks’ score to Room. The RTÉ CO has featured as the ‘house orchestra’ on The Late Late Show.
Members of the Ballina Chamber Choir, Cór Mhaigh Eo and Dún Laoghaire Choral Society will come together to form a 120-strong choir to collaborate on this project.
The concert will be produced in association with the The Western Development Commission.
Tickets (all reserved seating): €25 and €15*
*General Adm 2 (€15 ticket): Due to the seating layout and the scale of the performance, a complete view of the concert platform may not be visible to audience members from these seats. Members will however, be able to see and hear the concert sufficiently, ensuring a pleasurable experience of the event.
Tickets In-Person:
Knock Basilica Book Shop
Downtown Records Castlebar & Westport
Gift Centre, Tone St, Ballina
Tickets Online
06.01.2016
Annual General Meeting of Mayo International Choral Festival
Takes place Wednesday 27th January 2016, at Lough Lannagh Holiday Village, Castlebar, Co. Mayo –
all welcome to attend.
06.09.2015
Canadian Orpheus Male Choir in concert in Mayo
Friday 25th September, together with the Mayo Male Voice Choir. 8pm, Church of the Holy Rosary, Castlebar. See the poster here.
06.09.2015
2016 Syllabus now available to download –
contains many answered FAQ’s and competition details – download here
19.08.2016
2016 Entry Form now available (including competition details).
Click here for 2016 Competing Choirs Entry form
Full 2015 programme announced –
Click here to see events, dates and details:
2015.micf.prog.events.2015
14.12.2014
Closing date for choir entry
Please note that the closing date for entry to the festival by International choirs has been extended to 31st Jan 2015, which is the same entry closing date for choirs from Ireland.
19.08.2014
2015 Syllabus and Entry Forms now available.
Click here for 2015 Syllabus download
Click here for 2015 Competing Choirs Entry Form and Rules and Regs
Click here for a preliminary programme of events at the festival in 2015
08.06.2014
Annual General Meeting of Mayo International Choral July 1st, 2014.
8.30pm, Royal Hotel, Castlebar, Co. Mayo. All Welcome!
16.09.2013
Musical Mountaineers Launch 2014 Festival!
Last Saturday saw the Mayo International Choral Festival reach new heights as the 2014 festival was officially launched from the top of Croagh Patrick, one of Ireland’s most well-