2020 Competition Details

Competition Details
All competitions take place on Saturday 23rd May, in the town of Castlebar.

Premier Competition
The first-prize-winners of all competitions below (with the exception of ‘First Time Competitors’), automatically qualify for entry to the Premier Competition. Programme should consist of two contrasting part songs. One of the pieces must be chosen from the repertoire already performed in the qualifying competition. The second piece must not have been previously sung by your choir, in any of the other 2020 competitions as below. Please note, a choir can qualify to enter the Premier Competition in one competition category only, in each year of the festival. In 2020, should a particular choir win in two or more competition categories during the day, it may chose which one of those categories it wishes to represent in the Premier. The competition(s) that the winners do not represent, will be represented by the runners up of that competition(s) instead. Choirs taking part in the Premier Competition (which takes place at the Gala Concert), and any guest choir at the Gala Concert, in addition to those attending the Gala Concert, will join together as one large group to sing Handel’s ‘Hallelujah Chorus’. Choirs are encouraged to rehearse this piece in the weeks prior to the festival. Please feel free to bring your scores as scores will not be provided. Prizes Winner: Trophy and €1,000. Runner-up: €200.
Four Part Choirs
Any combination of voices. Four-Part or more. Programme should consist of two contrasting part songs, and be chosen as follows: (i) A piece composed before 1800 (ii) Any part song contrasting with (i). Prizes Winner: Trophy and €300. Runner-up: €150.
Choirs from Ireland
Any combination of voices. (Four-Part or more) Programme should consist of two contrasting, 4 part songs. Prizes Winner: Trophy and €300. Runner-up: €150.
Female Voices Margaret Bourke Sheridan
Programme should consist of two contrasting 3 or 4 part songs. Prizes Winner: Trophy and €300. Runner-up: €150. Male Voices Jack Feeney Programme should consist of two contrasting 3 or 4 part songs. Prizes Winner: Trophy and €300. Runner-up: €150.
Sacred Music Programme
should consist of two contrasting part songs. Prizes Winner: Trophy and €300. Runner-up: €150.
Gospel Choirs
Programme should consist of two contrasting part pieces from the gospel choral music repertoire. Prizes Winner: Trophy and €300. Runner-up: €150.
Gaelic or Celtic Language, Delia Murphy
Amhrán is Fearr i nGaeilge nó i dTeanga Cheilteach
.
Programme should consist of two contrasting 3 or 4 part songs in Irish or any Celtic Language. Prizes Winner: Trophy and €300. Runner-up: €150. Barbershop Chorus Programme should consist of two contrasting pieces from the Barbershop repertoire. Prizes Winner: Trophy and €300. Runner-up: €150.
Barbershop Quartet
Programme should consist of two contrasting pieces from the Barbershop repertoire. Prizes Winner: Trophy and €300. Runner-up: €150.
Barbershop Chorus
Programme should consist of two contrasting pieces from the Barbershop repertoire. Prizes Winner: Trophy and €300. Runner-up: €150.
First Time Competitors
For choirs who have never entered into competition before but would love to do so with choirs of a similar standard. Programme should consist of two contrasting 3 or 4 part songs. Winning choir of this competition is not eligible to enter the Premier Competition. Prizes Winner: Trophy and €200. Runner-up: €100.
Songs from a Musical, Light Opera or Pop / Chart song.
Also open to musical societies and associations as well as choirs. Programme should consist of two contrasting 3 or 4 part songs. Prizes Winner: Trophy and €300. Runner-up: €150.
A Cappella Groups
Open to groups of a minimum of four to a maximum of eight members. Programme should consist of two contrasting 3 or 4 part songs/pieces, in any genre, sung without accompaniment. Prizes Winner: Trophy and €300. Runner-up: €150.
Smaller Choral Groups
Open to groups of a minimum of four to a maximum of eight members. Programme should consist of two contrasting 3 or 4 part songs/pieces. Prizes Winner: Trophy and €300. Runner-up: €150.
New: Third-level, University / College Choir
Any combination of voices. Three or Four Part or more. Programme should consist of two contrasting part songs. Prizes Winner: Trophy and €300. Runner-up: €150.
New: Work-place Choir
For choirs consisting of members working in the same organisation/business/company. Any combination of voices. Three or Four Part or more. Programme should consist of two contrasting part songs. Please note at least 80% of the members must be working in the organisation. Prizes Winner: Trophy and €300. Runner-up: €150.

Competing Choirs
Click here to download the 2020 Entry Form for Competing Choirs containing rules and regulations and competition details (one document).
We equally welcome non-competing choirs to our Festival –
please revisit soon for the Non-competing choirs entry form

2020 Syllabus 
Download by clicking here, the 2020 Festival Syllabus, containing a timetable of events and competition details
Also contains a useful FAQ’s page

Closing date for choir entry
Please note that the closing date for entry to the festival by International choirs is December 31st, 2019 and for choirs from Ireland 31st January 2020.

2020 Festival Dates
Wed 20th – Sun 24th May 2020