2015 CODI Programme Book

Wednesday 21st – Sunday 25th October 2015 programme

Ticket Information Tickets available from the Millennium Forum Box Office New Market Street, Derry Call +44 (0) 28 7126 4455 Book online at www.millenniumforum.co.uk N.B. Booking fee of £1 applies per ticket

Evening Concerts An Evening with The King’s Singers £20 (full), £12 (concessionary) Bluebottle with Ulster Orchestra £10 (full),£6 (concessionary)

All other concerts Friday 23rd – Sunday 25th October £12 (full), £8 (concessionary), £6 (groups of 10+)

Full Day Passes All competitions plus concert on same day Thursday 22nd October £12 (full), £8 (concessionary) Friday 23rd – Sunday 25th October £15 (full), £10 (concessionary)

Full Festival Pass All events £60 (full), £50 (concessionary)

Competition Day Passes All competitions for one day £5 (full), £3 (concessionary), £2 (groups of 10+) Available to purchase on the door only

For more information see www.codichoral.com.

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Contents Foreword Festival Overview

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Evening Concerts An Evening with The King’s Singers Bluebottle with Ulster Orchestra Utopia & Reality | Codetta International Competition Closing Gala Concert Festival Club

10 12 18 24 26 28

Competitions Primary School Competitions Post-Primary School Competitions National Competitions Special Awards

30 31 33 37

Workshops and Symposium Sing Joyfully! International Choral Symposium Big Sing Workshops Sales and Merchandise

38 38 39

Trails and Community Events Choral Trails Sacred Trail Community Concerts Kickstart Your Choir Utopia & Reality Tour

40 42 43 43 44

Biographies Adjudicators International Choir Biographies Evening Concert Presenters

46 50 60

Festival Friends and Sponsors Choral Trail Map Sacred Trail Map At-a-Glance Festival Schedule

62 64 66 68

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foreword I’m delighted to welcome you to the third edition of the City of Derry International Choral Festival. We hope you enjoy what has been packed into an extremely exciting and varied five days of music-making.

Even a cursory glance at the festival timetable will reveal just how much the festival has grown this year, with what has already become the established pattern of concerts, workshops, choral and sacred trails, and, of course, a range of school, national and international competitions. The line-up of choirs for the international competition is the most varied and impressive so far, with singers from Slovenia, Sweden, Belarus, Poland, the Czech Republic, Germany, England and Ireland.

Other key events include the second International Choral Symposium, taking place this year in the Great Hall of the Ulster University. It will focus on the choral works of Bob Chilcott, recognised as one of the world’s foremost choral composers and a former member of the King’s Singers, who will perform at the Opening Gala Concert. We are particularly pleased to welcome the Ulster Orchestra for their first visit to the festival, as they accompany a 300-voice children’s choir in a performance of Bluebottle by Brian Irvine and John McIlduff.

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It has always been a key aim of the festival to reach deep into the heart of local communities; this year we’ve expanded on that theme by organising a concert tour of venues outside the city by the festival’s resident guest choir, Utopia & Reality. They will be performing in Armagh, Enniskillen and in the Alley Theatre, Strabane, where they will be joined by Strabane Concert Brass. Utopia & Reality complete their concert series when they combine with Codetta to give the world première of newly commissioned pieces by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.

None of this ambitious programme would be possible without the generous support of our sponsors – Arts Council Northern Ireland, Derry City and Strabane District Council, Derry Journal, City Hotel, Enkalon Foundation and the Honourable the Irish Society – along with the exceptional dedication of the Choral Festival Committee and a small army of volunteers.

We extend an especially warm welcome to first time visitors to the city and a heartfelt welcome back to friends from previous festivals, our esteemed international panel of adjudicators, all festival participants and you, members of the audience.

In words taken from Bluebottle, ‘everything you need to know, you’ll find it in a song’. Enjoy the singing!

Dónal Doherty Artistic Director

welcome to the city of derry international choral festival 2015 As Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, I am hugely proud that we are once again hosting the City of Derry International Choral Festival.

Now in its third year, this magical celebration of music and song is unique: not only does it showcase the wonderful choral talent we have on our doorstep, it also gives us a chance to see choirs and performers from all over the world who travel to our city and region to be part of the event.

We are delighted that a number of choirs are making a return visit to our festival and the feedback we have received from them has been phenomenal, with all of them enjoying the Derry welcome and hospitality.

This year will be no different, as we welcome choirs and performers from Ireland, the UK and Europe for what promises to be a spectacular celebration of music and song.

The Derry and Strabane area is renowned for its musical history and talent. The Council continues through its legacy projects to champion emerging talent.

We showcase our local talent at every opportunity, and we encourage the public to engage with music as a way to overcome barriers, celebrate our diverse culture and history, and appreciate our talent and passion.

The International Choral Festival is a fantastic event that was first established during our year as City of Culture but that has continued to develop and grow. Now in its third year, it provides a forum for choirs of all ages, genres and abilities to come together, sing and celebrate.

I am extremely excited about the lineup for this year’s festival and would like to pay tribute to everyone involved in the festival.

On behalf of Derry City and Strabane District Council, I would like to extend my best wishes to everyone associated with the Festival and wish it every success.

I am confident that this year’s festival will once again deliver an exceptional celebration of choral tradition and performances.

Cllr. Elisha McCallion Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council

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A note from our sponsors…

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is delighted once again to be a principal funder of the third City of Derry International Choral Festival. This festival has established Derry City as a world centre of excellence for choral singing, capable of attracting major choirs and leading choristers from across the globe.

The festival presents audiences with a wonderful opportunity to experience the very best of choral singing. It also creates important openings for local singers of all ages and abilities, from school and community choirs right up to national choirs, to develop and showcase their talents on the festival stage.

Providing inspiration and opportunity for an emerging generation of singers and musicians is the way to build continued success and to strengthen Derry’s richly deserved reputation as a City of Song. We wish all those taking part in the 2015 festival another tremendous success.

Ciaran Scullion Head of Music Arts Council of Northern Ireland

The City Hotel is delighted to be on board as festival sponsor of the City of Derry International Choral Festival for the second year running.

The festival is one of the highlights on the city’s calendar and we are proud to be associated with such a successful event. Last year we welcomed an array of international visitors to our city and this year we hope to see even higher visitor numbers. We look forward to working with the organisers on yet another fabulous event.

Rory Cooper Deputy General Manager, City Hotel Derry

The Derry Journal was delighted to have been approached by the organisers of the City of Derry International Choral Festival to become the media sponsors for this year’s event.

Now entering its third year, we have no doubt that the success achieved over the past two years will again be surpassed, given the quality and high profile of this special event.

Derry has always been recognised as the “City of Song”, with so many of our sons and daughters having performed at the highest level in the field of entertainment.

The Derry Journal prides itself on regularly featuring the city’s many musical events that continue to attract significant attention throughout the North-West area.

Having fashioned a partnership with the International Choral Festival, we believe that we are associated with an organisation that breeds success and continues to serve our city so well as a perfect ambassador for musical achievement.

As the leading local newspaper, we are confident that our readers will continue to support and, indeed, applaud the efforts of the City of Derry International Choral Festival over another five magnificent days of high-quality musical entertainment.

Marian Harkin Advertising Manager, Derry Journal

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Festival Programme Overview Wednesday 21st – Sunday 25th October 2015 Wednesday 22nd October Sing Joyfully! International Choral Symposium Opening Gala Concert with The King’s Singers

Thursday 23rd October Introducing Ireland’s charmingly historic 17th Century Walled city. Immersed in culture, packed with personality and home to a diverse range of a ractions, rich heritage and a vibrant events calendar.

Named by Lonely Planet as a ‘Top 10 City in the World’ and winner of the inaugural ‘UK City of Culture 2013’ we guarantee a LegenDerry Experience Awaits…

Primary school competitions and workshops Bluebottle with Ulster Orchestra

Friday 24th October Post-primary school competitions and workshops Choral Trail Evening concert with Utopia & Reality Chamber Choir and Codetta

Saturday 25th October National competitions for Equal Voice, Mixed Voice and Gospel Music Big Sing Workshop Choral Trail Community Concert International Competition

Sunday 26th October Sacred Trail National competitions for Sacred Music, Vocal Ensemble and Youth Choir Choral Trail Community Concert Closing Gala Concert & Awards Ceremony See inside back cover for more detail.

visitderry.com 8

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EVENING CONCERTS

The King’s Singers David Hurley Countertenor Timothy Wayne-Wright Countertenor

An Evening with The King’s Singers

Julian Gregory Tenor

Wednesday 21 October, St. Columb’s Hall, 7.30pm

Christopher Bruerton Baritone

Presented by John Toal, BBC

Christopher Gabbitas Baritone

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The third City of Derry International Choral Festival opens with a special Gala Concert by world-renowned vocal ensemble The King’s Singers. The group will present a lively and varied programme, ranging from Renaissance madrigals to Romantic partsongs, along with Goffredo Petrassi’s madcap setting of Edward Lear’s Nonsense Limericks. Other selections will come from two recent King’s Singers’ recordings: “Postcards”, featuring songs gathered by the singers on their trips around the world, and some of the great jazz standards from the “Great American Songbook”.

Programme Now is the month of maying Thule, the period of Cosmography Fair Phyllis I saw sitting all alone Cruel, wilt thou persever?

All creatures now are merry-minded

Thomas Morley Thomas Weelkes John Farmer Thomas Morley John Bennett

Quick, we have but a second

Sir Charles Villiers Stanford

The Bluebird

Sir Charles Villiers Stanford

The Goslings

Sir John Frederic Bridge

Long Day Closes Nonsense

Jonathan Howard Bass Acclaimed for their life-affirming virtuosity and irresistible charm, The King’s Singers are in global demand. Their work – synonymous with the best in vocal ensemble performance – appeals to a vast international audience. They perform over 120 concerts each year, touring regularly to Europe, the United States, Asia and Australasia. The King’s Singers are admired for their musical excellence and recognised as consummate entertainers – a class act with a delightful sense of humour. Their generous spirit and magical ability to move audiences have remained constant since the group’s foundation in 1968.

They have premiered more than 200 new works, including landmark compositions by Luciano Berio, György Ligeti, James MacMillan, Krzysztof Penderecki, Toru Takemitsu, John Tavener and Eric Whitacre, and commissioned thrilling arrangements of everything from jazz standards to pop chart hits.

The King’s Singers are double Grammy award-winning artists, honoured for their Signum Classics release, Simple Gifts, and again for their contribution to Eric Whitacre’s Light & Gold album on Decca. In 2013 they were chosen as one of only two vocal ensembles to enter the Gramophone Hall of Fame fortheir unique discography of over 175 albums.

In addition to their multi-continent concert, broadcast, workshop and recording career, the group also runs a residential Summer School in the UK and, through The King’s Singers Foundation, a composition competition in association with King’s College Chapel Cambridge and Classic FM.

Sir Arthur Sullivan Goffredo Petrassi

INTERVAL

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Postcards

A selection of folk songs from around the world

Great American Songbook

A selection of songs from the Great American Songbook

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Bluebottle with Ulster Orchestra

Participating Schools

Thursday 22nd October, St. Columb’s Hall, 5pm & 7.30pm Music by Brian Irvine, Words by John McIlduff, Animation by Matthew Robins ‘Everything you need to know you’ll find it in a song’ Nancy loves the noise of her neighbourhood – the trains, the planes, the televisions, the neighbours, the dogs barking… all of this filled her with life and energy. Most of all she loved her Dad singing… pop songs, love songs, opera arias, rock’n’roll… he sang all the time. Until one day he stopped.

Mum said that Dad was afraid of swallowing a bluebottle. Nancy was broken-hearted. So off she went on a rampaging mission to get rid of all the bluebottles, flies, wasps, mosquitos, daddy-long-legs – every type of flying insect must be exterminated. As Nancy struggles to change the world around her, she eventually realises that the most potent thing she can do is to change herself.

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conception, captivating and gripping in performance, and full of unstoppable joie de vivre.

Bluebottle is a joyful avalanche of orchestra, animation, narration and 300 singing children – a roller-coasting rollicking ride that tells the uplifting story of one little girl’s quest to get her dad to sing again. Lying somewhere between the big orchestral worlds of Tim Burton, Roald Dahl, Wizard of Oz and Stravinsky, Bluebottle bursts at the seams with hope, adventure, celebration and big unapologetic tunes. Watch out for the mystic, wise and all-knowing hipster, Riche Golden, the menacing ballet of fireflies, the Jobar Electronic Bug Zapper JB5000 and, of course, one particularly huge gooey, sucker-footed Bluebottle.

Bring your musical fly swat and step inside Richie’s Fear and Phobia Extermination Emporium to stock up on happiness.”

Bluebottle is a 50-minute whirlwind of music and creativity involving songs by a massive 300-piece children’s choir, orchestral fly-squashing, gripping narration, live animation and a musical climax of all forces together.

Brian Irvine

Text by John McIlduff, music by Brian Irvine in his trademark style; influences from classical, jazz, rock and every other musical type, zany in

Brian Irvine Choir Conductor

Altishane Primary School Bunscoil Cholmcille Broadbridge Primary School Chapel Road Primary School Cumber Claudy Primary School Ebrington Primary School Gaelscoil na Daroige Gillygooley Primary School Greenhaw Primary School Groarty Integrated Primary School Longtower Primary School Lisnagelvin Primary School Model Primary School Mullabuoy Primary School

Rosemount Primary School Sacred Heart Primary School St. Anne’s Primary School St. Colmcille’s Primary School St. Eugene’s Primary School St. John’s Primary School St. Mary’s Primary School, Altinure St. Oliver Plunkett Primary School St. Patrick’s Primary School St. Patrick’s Primary School, Castlederg St. Patrick’s Primary School, Dunamanagh St. Therese’s Primary School Steelstown Primary School

Ulster Orchestra Aoife Duffin Narrator Niamh Lawlor Live Animation Márta Cunningham Soloist Fergus Sheil Orchestra Conductor City of Derry Junior Choir

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Brian Irvine, Composer and Choir Conductor Brian was born in Belfast. His huge body of work reflects an obsessive love of music creation in all its forms, and includes operas, orchestral works, film scores and dance works. His music has been performed and commissioned by many international artists and organisations, and much of his output has involved close collaborations with diverse artists from a range of disciplines.

He was Associate Composer with the Ulster Orchestra from 2007 to 2011, and with his own ensemble he has toured extensively throughout the world, appearing at some of the world’s leading international music festivals/venues.

He has won a number of awards for his work including a British Composer Award for Opera, BBC Radio 3 Jazz Award, MCPS Joyce Dixey Award for Composition, Major Individual Artist Award (Arts Council of Northern Ireland) and Bass Ireland Award.

Along with John McIlduff, he is artistic director of the multi-discipline production company Dumbworld.

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John McIlduff, Writer John McIlduff is a writer, filmmaker and stage director from Belfast. He studied at L’École de Theatre Jacques Lecoq, Paris. He has made films about fighting cows, pear trees and irresponsible parents, which have been screened in festivals from Tehran to Clermont Ferrand.

His debut feature film, Behold the Lamb, was selected for the Toronto International Film Festival in 2011 and has garnered awards throughout the world. As a writer, he has worked on both opera and soap opera, most recently writing for the French television show Strictement Platonique and for the opera Postcards from Dumbworld.

His works for children include the libretto for Rain Falling Up and the upcoming A Peculiar Wintery Thing.

Along with composer Brian Irvine, with whom he runs the creative production company Dumbworld, he was awarded the Artists Taking the Lead commission for Northern Ireland as part of the Cultural Olympiad celebrations for London 2012 for their project NEST.

Matthew Robins, Puppets and Animation

Fergus Shiel, Orchestra Conductor

Matthew is an artist and musician from the UK. Combining live-animation, puppetry, music, short films, made-up games and competitive craftwars, he tours regularly with his band,taking their show around the country, performing stories about animals, death,monsters, the ocean and love.

Fergus Sheil is a conductor and producer of music and opera based in Ireland.

He is Artistic Director of Wide Open Opera, Wide Open Music and Opera Theatre Company.

Matthew is now turning his live shows into a collection of short films, and he has worked on animation commissions from The Barbican, Arts Admin, Opera North and Dumbworld/Northern Ireland Screen. Work for the National Theatre includes making shadow puppet sequences and, most recently, a series of papercut-out stop-motion animations for a new musical by Tori Amos and Samuel Adamson.

His most recent shows as puppetmaker and designer include work for Opera North and for the Unicorn Theatre, which won the Off West End award for Best Show for Young People. Matthew has just completed work on a commission from the Science Museum in London, making an installation for their new permanent gallery.

With Wide Open Opera, Fergus scored a notable triumph with Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde at the 2012 Dublin Theatre Festival, and he has since conducted the world première of Raymond Deane’s opera The Alma Fetish and the Irish première of John Adams’ Nixon in China. He has worked for numerous opera companies in a wide range of repertoire.

He has also forged a strong relationship with the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, and conducted the Ulster Orchestra, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and many other groups.

Strongly committed to youth music, Fergus is conductor of the Dublin Youth Orchestra and the Julianstown Youth Orchestra, which he founded in 2011. He has conducted the Irish and Australian Youth Orchestras, and undertaken youth opera projects for Welsh National Opera and the Belfast Festival.

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Ulster Orchestra For almost 50 years the Ulster Orchestra has been at the forefront of musical life in Northern Ireland. Founded in 1966, the Orchestra’s 63 full-time musicians form the region’s only professional symphony orchestra. In 2014 the Ulster Orchestra appointed Rafael Payare as its Chief Conductor.

The Orchestra gives around 40 evening and lunchtime concerts each season in its home, the Ulster Hall, and in the Belfast Waterfront. It performs for the BBC Radio 3 invitational concert series at the Ulster Hall and in front of tens of thousands on the Titanic Slipway for the BBC’s Proms in the Park celebrations each year. In 2015 it will give two performances as part of the Ulster Bank Belfast International Arts Festival. The Orchestra’s successful partnership with Northern Ireland Opera will see it perform Puccini’s Turandot with an international and Irish cast and 90-strong chorus in the Grand Opera House, Belfast in October/November 2015.

Wishing the City of Derry International Choral Festival every success from all at McIvor Plastics Ltd

Learning and engagement is at the core of all that the Ulster Orchestra does, ranging from free concert tickets for children to the award-winning Move to the Music scheme that helps isolated elderly people in rural area access live orchestral music, and from cross-community projects in areas of social deprivation to workshops and education programmes in schools throughout the region.

tel. 028 71267535

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e. info@mcivor.co.uk

w. www.mcivor.co.uk

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Utopia & Reality | Codetta Friday 23rd October, St. Columb’s Hall, 7.30pm Presented by Mark Patterson, BBC

The Food of Love International chamber choir Utopia & Reality join Derry chamber choir Codetta for the world première of three new works by composer Gary Carpenter set to the words of Shakespeare as part of the “Singing Shakespeare” project.

The second half of this concert will feature a programme by Utopia & Reality. Utopia & Reality is an international chamber choir established in 2011 by conductors Ragnar Rasmussen (Norway) and Urša Lah (Slovenia), who have brought together talented young singers from Norway, Slovenia, Serbia, Italy and Iceland to perform contemporary choral music. The aim of the choir is to perform at a high artistic level and to explore different ways of affecting audiences with their music.

Programme Alack!

Gary Carpenter

Cleopatra

Gary Carpenter

Sigh-Fie

Gary Carpenter

Suite de Lorca

Einojuhani Rautavaara

- Canción de jinete - El Grito - La luna asoma - Malagueña Iz kamna v vodi Ciudad sin sueño (Nocturno del Sarajevo)

Einojuhani Rautavaara

Motion

Ragnar Rasmussen

The Hope

Ragnar Rasmussen

The Fight

Ragnar Rasmussen

Call of the Wild

Ragnar Rasmussen

Wie ein Kind (1. Wiigen-Lied)

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Lojze Lebič

Alack!

Cleopatra

From Love’s Labour’s Lost

From Antony and Cleopatra

On a day, alack the day!

Love whose month is ever May. Spied a blossom passing fair Playing in the wanton air.

Through the velvet leaves the wind, All unseen can passing find; That the lover sick to death, Wish himself the Heaven’s breath.

Air, quoth he, thy cheeks may blow Air, would I might triumph so!

But, alack, my hand is sworn Ne’er to pluck thee from thy thorn,Vow, alack!

For youth unmeet Youth so apt to pluck a sweet!

Do not call it sin in me that I am forsworn for thee.

Playing in the wanton Air, quoth he, thy cheeks may blow Air, would I might triumph so!

But, alack, my hand is sworn Ne’er to pluck thee from thy thorn, On a day!

Thou for whom Jove would swear Juno but an Ethiope were, And deny himself for Jove Turning mortal for thy love.

The barge she sat in, like a burnished throne, Burned on the water; The poop was beaten gold; Purple the sails, and so perfuméd, That the winds were lovesick with them.

The oars were silver, Which to the tune of flutes kept stroke, And made the water which they beat to follow faster; As amorous of their strokes for her own person, It beggared all description.

She did lie in her pavilion in cloth of gold tissue, O’er picturing that Venus, Where we see the fancy Outwork nature.

On each side her, Stood pretty little dimpled boys, smiling like Cupids, With divers coloured fans Whose wind did seem to glow the delicate cheeks which they did cool.

The barge she sat in, like a burnished throne, Burned on the water; The poop was beaten gold; And what they undid.

Purple the sails and so perfuméd.

Per Nørgård

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Sigh-Fie From The Merry Wives of Windsor and Much Ado About Nothing Fie on sinful fantasy!

Fie on lust and luxury!

Lust is but a bloody fire, Kindled with unchaste desire.

Fed in heart whose flames aspire, As thoughts do blow them higher and higher,Higher and higher!

Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more, Men were deceivers ever; One foot in sea and one on shore; To one thing constant, never.

Then sigh not so, But them go, And be you blithe and bonny; Converting all your sounds of woe into Fie on sinful fantasy!

Fie on lust and luxury!

Lust is but a bloody fire, Kindled with unchaste desire.

Fed in heart whose flames aspire, As thoughts do blow them higher and higher, Higher and higher!

Sing no more of ditties, Sing no more of dumps so dull and heavy;The fraud of men were ever so Since Summer was so leavy.

Then sigh not so, But them go, And be you blithe and bonny; Converting all your sounds of woe into -Pinch him!

Hey, Nonny!

Sinful lust, Fantasy, luxury, unchaste desire.

Burn him! Turn him! Starlight!

Moonshine!

Men were deceivers ever; One foot in sea and one on shore; To one thing constant, never.

Pinch him fairies mutually, Oh pinch him for his villainy!

Pinch him and burn him, And turn him about, ’Til candles and starlight and moonshine be out.

Hey, Nonny, hey!

Ah, sigh – Fie!

Singing Shakespeare Project “Singing Shakespeare” is a large-scale project focusing on choral settings of Shakespeare to celebrate the 400th anniversary of his death in 2016. The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust has already commissioned a number of new works for “Singing Shakespeare”.

Gary studied composition at the RCM with John Lambert. He has lived in Holland and Germany, and has written operas, musicals, ballets, a radio music-drama (The One Alone with Iris Murdoch) and much concert music. The musical director and/or arrangerorchestrator on many stage Gary Carpenter has written four books shows and films (including The of Shakespeare Songs: the first was Wicker Man [1972]), he received premiered at the Stratford launch concert; a 2006 British Composer Award the second was premiered by the National (chamber category).

Youth Choir of Scotland in Edinburgh in April 2015; and the remaining books are being premiered at the City of Derry International Choral Festival in October 2015 and by the Northampton Male Voice Choir in March 2016.

In the next 18 months there will be concerts, festivals and workshops focusing on Shakespeare in many parts of the world: performances by professional, amateur, youth and college choirs at venues particularly associated with Shakespeare (such as The Globe Theatre, Southwark Cathedral in London and venues in Stratford-upon-Avon), but also performances by groups in countries as varied as the US, Ireland, China, Israel, Lithuania, Poland and South Africa.

The “Singing Shakespeare” website was launched in the summer of 2015, and includes a list of events, a repertoire list, photographs and details of commissions/ premières. It provides a contact point for choirs/conductors/composers and will also give choirs/festivals the chance to advertise their own events and upload films of their performances (www.singingshakespeare.com).

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Gary Carpenter

A portrait CD, Die Flimmerkiste, is available on NMC. Recent works include The Listening Project Symphony (Radio 4, Prix Europa 2013 nominee), Fred and Ginger (LSO, Daniel Harding), SET (Iain Ballamy (tenor sax), BBCPO, HK Gruber), The Food Of Love (12 Shakespeare songs commissioned by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust) and Dadaville (BBCSO, Sakari Oramo) for The First Night of the Proms 2015.

Gary is Professor of Composition at the RNCM, Manchester and a professor of composition at the Royal Academy of Music, London. He was elected an Honorary Member of the Royal Academy of Music (HonRAM) in 2013 and is a director of the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (BASCA).

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Utopia & Reality

Urša Lah, Conductor

Codetta

The International Summer Academy “Utopia & Reality” is a project established in 2011 by two conductors, Ragnar Rasmussen from Norway and Urša Lah from Slovenia.

They have brought together talented young singers from different countries to perform contemporary choral music.

Urša Lah studied Musical Education at the Ljubljana Music Academy and Choral Conducting at the University of Tromsø (Norway).

Codetta is an internationally acclaimed chamber choir based in Derry. It has given many notable performances both at home and abroad.

With Mixed Youth Choir Veter, APZ Tone Tomšic University of Ljubljana and the National Radio Chamber Choir, she has been involved in many première performances, and won many first prizes, golden plaques, special prizes and conducting awards at national and prestigious international choral competitions, including the Grand Prix of Europe (Debrecen, 2008).

Highlights include trips to Switzerland, Italy and Slovenia, appearances at two Prom concerts in London’s Royal Albert Hall in 2013 with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, and two concerts in 2014 at the Sacred Music Festival in Cuenca, Spain, performing with Barry Douglas and Camerata Ireland.

In recognition of her valuable work with choirs, Urša received the highest award of the Municipality of Ljubljana for cultural achievement in 2008, and in 2009 the award of Public Fund of the Republic of Slovenia for Cultural Activities.

Urša now lives in Norway, where she conducts the Finnmark Opera Choir, the choir of the Arctic Philharmonic Orchestra and the chamber vocal ensemble of the Tromsø Music Conservatory. She teaches at the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Tromsø, is a lecturer in educational seminars for choral conductors, a frequent member of juries at international choral competitions, a guest conductor of recognised ensembles and one of two artistic leaders of the international Utopia & Reality Chamber Choir.

Nadene Fiorentini, Accompanist

The aim of the project is to perform at a high artistic level and to explore different ways of affecting audiences.

Encouraged by their excellent singing companions, every young singer rapidly improves their singing ability, grows in the role of performer and develops an understanding of different nations through their singing traditions.

The project is aptly named “Utopia & Reality”: two very diverse ideas become interdependent through creative activity and through the human desire to change.

Is it utopia or reality to bring together talented young singers from different singing traditions and get them to sing advanced contemporary music at a high artistic level in just a few days? Is it utopia or reality to expect young people in today’s world to pay for their journey to become part of a project during which they will rehearse tirelessly? Is it utopia or reality to hope that these young ambassadors of their countries might teach their politicians to invest in culture in order to make our world a better place?

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As well as performing with the NSO, Nadene has appeared as soloist with the RIAM Symphony Orchestra, the Dublin Orchestral Players and the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland, and in 2010 she was invited to record Schumann’s Piano Concerto with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra.

She is currently in the final year of a Doctorate of Performance in Music course at the Royal Irish Academy of Music and was appointed as an examiner for the RIAM, where she is also a teaching fellow.

Nadene Fiorentini, the National Concert Hall’s “Rising Star” of 2014, made her solo recital debut on the main stage of the NCH in March 2014 and her concerto debut with the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra in July of the same year, which featured on a live broadcast for Lyric FM. In December 2014, she released her debut solo piano album entitled “Nadene Fiorentini, Piano Recital”.

Nadene was the highest placed Irish competitor in the 2012 Dublin International Piano Competition, claiming the Brennan Prize, The National Concert Hall Prize, The RTÉ Prize, The Seán O’Connor Bursary and the McCullough Bursary.

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International Competition Saturday 24th October, St. Columb’s Hall, 7.30pm Presented by Stephen McCauley, BBC The International Competition will undoubtedly be the highlight of the City of Derry International Choral Festival, featuring 10 competitors from Belarus, the Czech Republic, England, Germany, Ireland, Poland, Slovenia and Sweden, who will compete for the prestigious Oak Tree of Derry trophy, designed by international sculptor Maurice Harron.

Programme Vokalconsort Osnabrück, Germany 1. Haec Dies, William Byrd 2. Du best taller Dinge schon, Melchior Franck 3. Ich had die Nacht getraumet, Max Reger 4. Gloria, Greg Knauf Polifonica, Belarus 1. El Grillo, Josquin des Pres 2. Angelis suis Deus, Vytautas Miskinis 3. Sodai, sodai, leliumoi, G. Svilainis 4. Karavai, A. Litvinovsky Härlanda Voces, Sweden 1. Trilo, Ale Möller 2. Gjendines Bådnlåt, Gunnar Eriksson 3. The Tyger, Emil Råberg 4. Pingst, Oskar Lindberg 5. Exultate Justi, Ludovici Viadana Academic Choir of Carinthia Mohorjan, Slovenia 1. Unsere Trübsal, Johann Ludwig Bach 2. Denn Er hat seinen Engeln befohlen, Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy 3. Peace I leave with you, Knut Nystedt 4. Riba Faronika nosi svet, Nana Forte Choros Amici, England 1. Daemon irrepit callidus, Gyorgy Orban 2. Hear My Prayer, O Lord, Henry Purcell 3. The Conversion of Saul, Z Randall Stroope 4. Richte mich Gott, Felix Mendelssohn 5. The Way You Look Tonight, Jerome Kern, arr. Alan Simmons

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INTERVAL Chamber Choir of the Feliks Nowowiejski Academy of Music, Poland 1. Hear My Prayer, O Lord, Henry Purcell 2. O Vos Omnes, Szymon Godziemba-Trytek 3. Ave Maris Stella, Trond Kverno 4. Daemon Irrepit Callidus, Gyorgy Orban Salutaris Chamber Choir, Belarus 1. Cantate Dominum, Claudio Monteverdi 2. Rivers of Light, Ēriks Ešenvalds 3. Goscik (Guest), Andrey Sauritski Vox Iuvenalis, Czech Republic 1. Ne forte credas, Antonin Tucapsky 2. Ascendit Deus, Peter Philips 3. Lydia, dic per omnes, Jan Novak 4. Milostny, Klement Slavicky 5. Vinea mea electa, Francis Poulenc Voci Nuove, Ireland 1. Bagairt na Marbh, Michael Holohan 2. Dixit Maria, Hans Leo Hassler 3. Letztes Glück, Op. 104, No. 3, Johannes Brahms 4. Advance Democracy, Benjamin Britten Saint Nicholas Choir Litija, Slovenia 1. Musica noster amor (Moralia 28), Iacobus Handl Gallus 2. Richte mich, Gott, Psalm XLIII (Drei Psalmen op. 78, No. 2), Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy 3. The Conversion of Saul, Z. Randall Stroope 4. Sing joyfully to God our strength, Ambrož o Č pi (2015, world première) Join us at our Resonance Bar Festival Club, St. Columb’s Hall Ballroom immediately after this concert for a drink and some impromptu singing!

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Closing Gala Concert

Maurice Harron, Artist and Sculptor

Sunday 25th October, St. Columb’s Hall, 7.30pm Presented by Marie-Louise Muir, BBC The Closing Gala Concert will provide a celebratory end to the third edition of the City of Derry International Choral Festival. The International Competition winner will be announced and awarded the Oak Tree of Derry trophy, designed by Maurice Harron, and the competitors of the prestigious International Competition will each perform a celebratory programme of music.

Programme Chamber Choir of the Feliks Nowowiejski Academy of Music, Poland 1. I denna ljuva sommartid, Bengt Ollén 2. Na glinianym wazoniku, Stanisław Wiechowicz Academic Choir of Carinthia Mohorjan, Slovenia 1. Petelinček Je Zapieu, Slovenian folk song, arr. Hilarij LavrenČiČ 2. Igraj Kolce, Slovenian folk song, arr.

Jakob Jež Salutaris Chamber Choir, Belarus 1. Gukannie viasny (Calling the spring), Anastasiya Benderskaya 1. Ci nie bystraya rechka (By the running river), Andrey Sauritski Saint Nicholas Choir Litiija, Slovenia 1. Bog daj, Bog daj, Slovenian folk song, choral improvisation 2. Petelinček je zapieu (The Rooster sang), Slovenian folk song, arr. Hilarij LavrenČiČ

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Polifonica Chamber Choir, Belarus 1. Words, Anders Edenroth 2. Sauka and Gryshka, Andrei Savritski Voci Nuove, Ireland 1. The Wishing Tree, Joby Talbot 2. Kalinda, Sydney Guillaume

INTERVAL Vokalconsort Osnabrück, Germany 1. Tanz, Mädchen, tanz!, Joh. H. E. Koch 2. Fatise kolo, Ivan Markovitch Härlanda Voces, Sweden 1. Butterfly, Mia Makaroff 2. Shosholoza, Traditional South African Choros Amici, England 1. I Get Along Without You Very Well, Hoagy Carmichael, arr. Chris Mallinson 2. The Battle of Jericho, Spiritual, arr.

Moses Hogan Vox Iuvenalis, Czech Republic 1. Lydia, Jan Novák 2. Tancuj, tancuj, Czech Folk Song

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 Oak Tree of Derry 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.”

Join us at the Closing Night Festival Club, City Hotel immediately after this concert for a drink and some impromptu singing!

Closing ceremony of the festival and award of the Oak Tree of Derry International Trophy to the winning choir of the 2015 International Competition.

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Resonance Bar Festival Club Following an exciting evening of choral music-making, why not join us in the beautiful surroundings of the Resonance Bar Festival Club, located on the ground floor 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!

Wednesday 21st October, 9.30pm Thursday 22nd October, 8.30pm Friday 23rd October, 10pm

City Hotel d e r r y

The 4* City Hotel is set in the heart of the City of Londonderry on the banks of the River Foyle. The hotel is 5 minutes walk from the famous historic Walled City which boasts excellent high street shopping and tourist attractions such as the Tower Museum and the Guildhall.

The City Hotel also is the perfect place to base yourself for a few days whilst exploring other areas of North West Ireland such as Donegal & Causeway Coast.

Saturday 24th October, 10.30pm Sunday 25th October, City Hotel, 10.30pm NB. Please note that the Closing Night Festival Club will take p lace in the City Hotel.

• Four star hotel complete with 158 bedrooms • Conferencing facilities for up to 450 delegates • Thompson’s Restaurant for excellent cuisine in the heart of the City • Coppin’s Bar with live entertainment every Friday & Saturday night • Secure car parking (Limited to 40 spaces)

Contact us: Queens Quay Derry BT48 7AS T: 0044 (0) 28 71365800 F: 0044 (0) 28 71365801 E: reservations@cityhotelderry.com W: cityhotelderry.com Offer subject to availability.

Terms & conditions apply.

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COMPETITIONS

Post-Primary Sessions Friday 23rd October St. Columb’s Hall, 10am – 2pm

Primary School Sessions

Big Sing Workshop

Thursday 22nd October

with Bernie Sherlock, 10am

St. Columb’s Hall, 10am – 12.30pm

Post-Primary Unison/2-Part Competition

Big Sing Workshop with The King’s Singers, 10am

Primary Unison Competition Castledawson Primary School, Magherafelt (non-competitive performance) 1. All Night, All Day/Jesus Loves Me Medley, Anna Barlett Warner 2. Do-Re-Mi, Richard Rodgers Gaelscoil na gCrann, Omagh 1. Sister Act Medley, Alan Menken/Glenn Slater, arr. Brian McDevitt 2. Isle of Hope, Brendan Graham Lisnagelvin Primary School, Derry 1. Castle on a Cloud, Claude-Michel Schonberg and Herbert Kretzmer 2. A Windmill in Amsterdam, Ted Dicks and Myles Rudge Holy Family Primary School, Omagh 1. Colours of the Wind, Stephen Schwartz and Alan Menken 2. Friend Like Me, Howard Ashman/ Alan Menken, arr. Bryan Louiselle

Primary Partsong Competition Ebrington Primary School, Derry 1. Beauty and the Beast, Howard Ashman/Alan Menken, arr. MacHuff 2. Chattanooga Choo Choo, arr. Pete Schmutte

Salutaris Chamber Choir, Belarus (guest performance) 1. Ci nie bystraya rechka (By the running river), Belarusian folk song, arr. Andrey Sauritski 2. Sauka dy Gryshka ladzili dudu (Sauka and Gryshka fashioned a tune), Belarusian folk song, arr.

Andrey Sauritski

Thornhill College, Derry 1. Steal Away, Harry Dexter 2. Mr Sandman, Pat Ballard The Motley Crew, Perth High School, Scotland 1. A Courting, Sheena Phillips 2. Singin’ in the Rain, Brown arr Kinahan St. Mary’s College, Derry 1. Cabaret, Kander, arr. Kirby Shaw 2. Remember Me, Bob Chilcott Knockavoe School, Strabane (non-competitive performance) 1. Something Inside So Strong, Labi Siffre 2. Oliver! Choral Medley, Lionel Bart, arr. Barrie Carson Turner

St. Colmcille’s Primary School, Claudy 1. My Favourite Things, Oscar Hammerstein and Richard Rodgers 2. True Colours, Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly Holy Family Primary School, Omagh 1. Beauty and the Beast, Howard Ashman/ Alan Menken, arr. MacHuff 2. Jubilate Deo, Jay Althouse Nazareth House Primary School, Derry 1. Somewhere Out There, James Horner 2. Happy, Pharrell Williams, arr. Rick Hein Chamber Choir of the Feliks Nowowiejski Academy of Music, Poland (guest performance) 1. Hear my prayer, O Lord, H. Purcell 2. Ave Maris Stella, T. Kverno Primary adjudications will take place after the Partsong Competition.

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National Equal Voice Competitions

Post-Primary 3/4-Part Competition Härlanda Voces, Sweden (guest performance) 1. Pingst, Oskar Lindberg 2. The Tyger, Emil Råberg Thornhill College, Derry 1. The Seal Lullaby, Eric Whitacre 2. De Angelis, Petr Eben

Cross and Passion College, Ballycastle 1. Love Divine, Howard Goodall 2. This Old Man, arr. James Fulleylove

Mulroy College, Donegal

Holy Child Secondary School, Killiney, Dublin

1. Alleluia, William Boycre,

1. The Snow Begins to Fall, Andy Beck

arr. Robinson

2. Hotaru Koi, Ro Ogura

2. Just Give Me a Reason, Pink & Nate Ruess, arr. Mark Brymer Loreto Grammar School, Omagh 1. The Frog in the Well, Phyllis Tate 2. O Waly Waly, John C. Philips Lumen Christi College, Derry 1. The Bluebird, Charles Villiers Stanford 2. How High is the Moon, Steve Zegree

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St. Mary’s College, Derry 1. Adiemus, Karl Jenkins 2. Dúlamán, Michael McGlynn

St. Nicholas Choir Litija, Slovenia (guest performance) 1. Bog daj, Bog daj, Slovenian folk song, choral improvisation 2. The Conversion of Saul, Z. Randall Stroope

Saturday 24th October St. Columb’s Hall, 11am

Female Voice The Musical Originals Singers, Jersey 1. Orpheus, Dominic Argento 2. Bobby Shaftoe, Traditional, arr. Robert Latham Allegri, Derry 1. Shenandoah, Traditional, arr. Mack Wilberg 2. Blackbird, Lennon & McCartney, arr. Deke Sharon Lynn Singers, Westmeath 1. Ave Maria (Angelus Domini), Franz Biebl 2. Las Amarillas, Stephen Hatfield

Male Voice Rosemount Male Voice Choir, Derry 1. And So It Goes, Billy Joel, arr. Kirby Shaw 2. Do You Hear The People Sing, Schönberg and Boubil Vokalconsort Osnabrück, Germany (guest performance) 1. Verleih uns Frieden, Heinrich Schütz 2. Es gulu gulu, Arijs Skepasts The Equal Voice adjudications will take place immediately after the Male Voice Competition.

Post-primary adjudications will take place immediately after the guest performance.

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National Mixed Voice Competition

National Gospel Music Competition

Saturday 24th October

Saturday 25th October

St. Columb’s Hall, 1.30pm

St. Columb’s Hall, 3.15pm

Cantamus Choir, Derry 1. O-Re-Mi (Nigerian Highlife Song), arr. Mike Brewer 2. Defying Gravity, Stephen Schwartz, arr. Roger Emerson Quire, Belfast 1. Adiemus, Enya/Starfinger 2. Hallelujah, Leonard Cohen/ Roger Emerson Strabane Chamber Choir, Strabane 1. Two For the Price of One, Traditional, arr. Andrew Carter 2. Sleep, Eric Whitacre Cill Aodáin Choral Society, Mayo 1. Turkish March for Voices, Wolfgang A. Mozart, arr. Greg Gilpin 2. Ave Maria, Bach-Gounod,

Cork Chamber Choir, Cork 1. Ah! Dolente partita,

The Motley Crew, Scotland 1. Rock My Soul, Traditional, arr. Barthelson, arr. Kinahan 2. Sinner Man, Traditional, arr Eddleman, arr Kinahan

Claudio Monteverdi 2. Dejadme a ras del mar, Dante Andreo Cór Mhaigh Eo, Mayo 1. Si ch’io vorrei morire, Claudio Monteverdi 2. In Memoriam from the Vauday Part Songs, Patrick Hawes The Moy Singers, Mayo 1. And So It Goes, Billy Joel 2. Óró ‘s é do Bheatha ‘Bhaile, Deirdre Moynihan

North Dublin Community Gospel Choir, Dublin 1. Steal Away, Mark De Lisser 2. Higher and Higher, Mark De Lisser Polifonica Chamber Choir, Belarus (guest performance) 1. Words, Anders Edenroth 2. Sauka and Gryshka, Andrei Savritski

Big Sing Workshop with Julian Wilkins, 4pm The adjudication of the National Mixed Voice and Gospel Music competitions will take place immediately after the Big Sing Workshop.

UCD Choral Scholars, Dublin 1. Du bist der Herr, unser Gott from ‘Vier geistliche Gesänge’, Wolfram Buchenberg 2. There is no rose, Eric Sweeney

arr. Henry Geehl

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National Sacred Music Competition

National Vocal Ensemble Competition

National Youth Choir Competition

Sunday 25th October, St. Columb’s Hall, 1pm

Sunday 25th October, St. Columb’s Hall, 2pm

Sunday 25th October, St. Columb’s Hall, 2.30pm

Cór Mhaigh Eo, Mayo 1. Almighty and Everlasting God, Orlando Gibbons 2. Crucem tuam adoramus, Domine, Pawel Lukaszewski

YouFour, Dublin 1. I Shall Keep Singing, Emily Dickinson/Philip E. Silvey 2. Now My Heart, Jacques Arcadelt/ Patrick M. Liebergen

City of Derry Junior Choir, Derry 1. Can You Hear Me?, Bob Chilcott 2. Cat, Miklós Kocsár

Cork Chamber Choir, Cork

Ardú Vocal Ensemble, Dublin 1. Libertango, Astor Piazolla, arr. Fabio Alessi 2. Mack the Knife, Kurt Weill and Marc Blitszein, arr. Fabio Alessi

1. Christus factus est, Felice Anerio 2. Salve Regina, Francis Poulenc UCD Choral Scholars, Dublin 1. Ich bin ein rechter Weinstock SWV 389, Heinrich Schütz 2. Jesu dulcis memoria, Pierre Villette Strabane Chamber Choir, Strabane 1. Be Thou My Vision, John Rutter 2. Lux Arumque, Eric Whitacre The Musical Originals Singers, Jersey 1. Ave Maria, Milosz Bembinow 2. Lauda Sion, György Orbán

Lynn Singers, Westmeath 1. O Salutaris Hostia, André Caplet 2. Puttin’ on the Ritz, Irving Berlin, arr. Kirby Shaw The Musical Originals Singers, Jersey 1. Chinese Poem, Chen Yi 2. Prayer of the Children, Kurt Bestor St. Mary’s College Alumni Choir, Derry 1. Bohemian Rhapsody, Queen, arr. Mark Brymer 2. Dúlamán, Michael McGlynn The Motley Crew, Scotland 1. Wayfarin’ Stranger, Traditional, arr.

Gilpin, arr. Kinahan 2. The Herrin’s Heid, Traditional, arr. Kinahan City of Derry Youth Girls’ Choir, Derry 1. Jubilate Deo, Lee R. Kesselman 2. Lift Thine Eyes, Mendelssohn Jewel Tones, England 1. Astonishing, Howard, arr. Brymer 2. I Know An Old Woman, Alan Mills and Rose Bonne Choros Amici, England (guest performance) 1. Deus qui illumines, Dominguez 2. Soul Bossa Nova, arr. L’Estrange

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The adjudication of the National Sacred Music, Vocal Ensemble and Youth Choir competitions will take place at the end of the afternoon session.

Special Awards The festival is delighted to announce the introduction of three new special awards and is grateful to the generosity of Matchetts Music, Foyleside Shopping Centre and the Contemporary Music Centre, Ireland for their part in making this possible. All three awards will be announced as part of the awards ceremony at the Closing Gala Concert on Sunday 25th October.

Matchetts Music Award for Best School Choir Foyleside Shopping Centre Award for Best National Choir Contemporary Music Centre award for best performance of a piece by an Irish composer, as listed in the CMC Library.

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WORKSHOPS & SYMPOSIUM Sing Joyfully!

International Choral Symposium Wednesday 21st October, Great Hall (UU Magee) A one-day symposium bringing together a distinguished panel of international conductors and composers to lead open rehearsals, a practical conducting workshop and panel discussions on the Irish choral music scene.

Led by Bob Chilcott, Ragnar Rasmussen and the Contemporary Music Centre, Ireland.

9.30am: Registration.

10am: Session 1 Equal Voice Repertoire by Bob Chilcott.

Open rehearsal of Chilcott’s equal voice repertoire with the City of Derry Junior Choir

10.50am: Tea/Coffee.

11.15am: Session 2 20th & 21st Century Choral Music by Irish Composers, Contemporary Music Centre, Ireland.

This will focus on choral music by three different generations of Irish composers from the 1950s to the present day. Concentrating on a capella work and providing an historical context, a variety of styles will be discussed from the most straightforward to the most adventurous.

12pm: Session 3 Mixed Voice Repertoire by Bob Chilcott.

Open rehearsal of Chilcott’s SATB repertoire with Utopia & Reality International Chamber Choir

1.15pm: Lunch.

2pm: Session 4 Conductors’ Workshop led by Professor Ragnar Rasmussen.

A practical workshop inviting aspiring choral conductors to work with guest demonstration choir Utopia & Reality to develop their conducting skills under the guidance of Ragnar Rasmussen, Professor of Conducting at the University of Tromsø , Norway.

4pm: Closing Comments.

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Bob Chilcott Described by the Observer newspaper as “a contemporary hero of British choral music”, Bob Chilcott has always been immersed in the choral tradition of his country. He sang as a chorister and choral scholar at King’s College, Cambridge, and after singing professionally in London and as a member of the King’s Singers for 12 years, he became a full-time composer in 1997.

It was perhaps through his many works for young singers that he first came to prominence as a composer, prompting some large-scale performances of his pieces. He has written a number of substantial sacred works including Salisbury Vespers (2009), St John Passion (2013) for Wells Cathedral Choir and his Requiem (2010), which has now been performed in over 16 countries.

In 2013 he wrote The King shall rejoice for the service at Westminster Abbey to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Big Sing Workshops, St. Columb’s Hall A series of entertaining, fun workshops exploring the building blocks of successful choral singing, led by inspiring performers from the festival programme.

Big Sing Workshop (primary schools) The King’s Singers Thursday 22nd October, 10am

Big Sing Workshop (post-primary schools) Bernie Sherlock Friday 23rd October, 10am

Big Sing Workshop (open to all) Julian Wilkins Saturday 24th October, 4pm

Over the past 18 years Bob has worked with many thousands of singers in Britain through a continuing series of Singing Days throughout the country.

Between 1997 and 2004 he was conductor of the choir of The Royal College of Music in London and since 2002 he has been Principal Guest Conductor of the BBC Singers.

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Sales and Merchandise CODIChoral merchandise will be available for sale throughout the festival in the foyer of St. Columb’s Hall. Stocks are limited so be sure to buy your own unique memento of the 2015 festival whilst you can!

T-Shirts Tote bags Pencils

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£5 £2 50p

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TRAILS & COMMUNITY EVENTS Choral Trails

Venue

Time

Choir

Foyle Arena

11am – 11.20am

Jewel Tones, England

Friday 23rd – Sunday 25th October, Various Locations

City Hotel

12pm – 12.20pm

Cork Chamber Choir, Cork

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

City Hotel

12.30pm – 12.50pm

Big Belfast Choir, Belfast

Quayside Shopping Centre

1pm – 1.20pm

Polifonica Chamber Choir, Belarus

Central Library

1.30pm – 1.50pm

The Motley Crew, Scotland

Maldron Hotel

2pm – 2.20pm

Newtown Park Gospel Choir, Dublin

The Sandwich Co.

2.30pm – 2.50pm

Ardú Vocal Ensemble, Dublin

Abbey House

3pm – 3.20pm

Doire Calgach Singers, Derry

Craft Village

3pm – 3.20pm

Quire, Belfast

Craft Village

3.30pm – 3.50pm

Glórtha an Fheabhail, Derry

Richmond Centre

4pm – 4.20pm

Härlanda Voces, Sweden

Sainsbury’s

4pm – 4.20pm

Encore Contemporary Choir, Derry

Foyleside Shopping Centre

4.30pm – 4.50pm

Ardú Vocal Ensemble, Dublin

City Hotel

6pm – 6.20pm

Ardú Vocal Ensemble, Dublin

Friday 23rd October

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Saturday 24th October

Venue

Time

Choir

Ardnashee School and College

9.30am – 9.50am

Doire Calgach Singers, Derry

Glenview Community Centre

12pm – 12.20pm

Polifonica Chamber Choir, Belarus

Foyle Disability Day Centre

1pm – 1.20pm

The Chamber Choir of the Feliks Nowowiejski Academy of Music, Poland

Richmond Centre

1pm – 1.20pm

U3A Singing for Fun, Derry

Central Library

2pm – 2.20pm

Pink Ladies, Derry

Foyleside Shopping Centre

3pm – 3.20pm

The Chamber Choir of the Feliks Nowowiejski Academy of Music, Poland

Asda, Strabane

3.30pm – 3.50pm

Polifonica Chamber Choir, Belarus

Richmond Centre

4pm – 4.20pm

St. Nicholas Choir Litija, Slovenia

Venue

Time

Choir

City Hotel

5pm – 5.20pm

Salutaris Chamber Choir, Belarus

City Hotel

1pm – 1.20pm

Jewel Tones, England

City Hotel

1.30pm – 1.50pm

Choros Amici, England

St. Joseph’s Parish Centre Bingo Hall, Galliagh

8.30pm – 8.50pm

Momentum, Derry

Foyleside Shopping Centre

2.30pm – 2.50pm

Voci Nuove, Ireland

The Sandwich Co.

3pm – 3.20pm

YouFour, Dublin

St. Joseph’s Parish Centre Bingo Hall, Galliagh

8.30pm – 8.50pm

Foyleside SC

4.30pm – 4.50pm

Newtown Park Gospel Choir, Dublin

Foyleside SC

4.30pm – 4.50pm

Newtown Park Gospel Choir, Dublin

Momentum, Derry

Sunday 25th October

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Community Concerts

Sacred Trail Sunday 25th October, various churches throughout the city, 10.30am – 1.30pm

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FREE ENTRY

Church

Service

Choir

Immaculate Conception Church, Trench Road

10.30am

Salutaris Chamber Choir, Belarus

St. Columb’s Cathedral

11am

St Nicholas Choir Litija, Slovenia

Christ Church

11am

Ardú Vocal Ensemble

St. Joseph’s Church, Galliagh

11am

The Motley Crew, Perth High School, Scotland

All Saints Clooney

11am

Vokalconsort Osnabrück, Germany

First Derry Presbyterian

11.30am

Härlanda Voces, Sweden

Kilfennan Presbyterian Church

11.30am

Polifonica Chamber Choir, Belarus

St. Columba’s Church, Longtower

12pm

Hollybush Primary School, Derry

St. Eugene’s Cathedral

12.30pm

The Chamber Choir of the Feliks Nowowiejski Academy of Music, Poland

The Gasyard Centre Saturday 24th October, 12.30pm This special event combining a choral concert and tea dance is delivered in partnership with the team at the Gasyard Centre. Three choirs will perform at the event, including local group Momentum, the Lisburn Harmony Ladies Choir and Salutaris Chamber Choir from Belarus, with additional music from Eddie Breslin.

Includes complimentary refreshments and a Halloween theme.

“Songs in the Park” at St. Columb’s Park House Sunday 25th October, 1pm The festival’s community programme will return to the tranquil setting of St. Columb’s Park House for a second year, with new local choir Glórtha an Fheabhail (Voices of the Foyle), Newtown Park Gospel Choir from Dublin and Vox Iuvenalis from the Czech Republic. Lunch and refreshments available at the Café in the Park.

Kickstart Your Choir Project With the support of Derry City and Strabane District Council and the Big Lottery Fund, the Choral Festival has been working with two of the city’s local community choirs to pilot ways of building capacity and developing musical skills in community singing groups. Siobhan Heaney, Conductor of Momentum, and Ruth McPhillips of new choir Glórtha an Fheabhail (Voices of the Foyle) have been working intensively with individual choir members and will showcase their new skills at community concerts and Choral Trail events in this year’s festival.

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Utopia & Reality International Chamber Choir NI Tour, 19th – 23rd October One of Europe’s most talented young chamber choirs and our guest artists for 2015, Utopia & Reality takes the Choral Festival on the road with a tour of Northern Ireland leading up to the festival.

Running from Monday 19th October to Friday 23rd October, the tour takes the choir’s exuberant and virtuoso performances of contemporary work to The Alley Theatre, Strabane, St. Michael’s Parish, Enniskillen and St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh, before finishing with a final performance on the Festival’s main stage, St. Columb’s Hall, Derry.

“Absolutely incredible performers, breathtaking atmosphere.”

Audience feedback, Utopia & Reality Concert, Derry October 2014 Supported by Arts Council Northern Ireland NI Music Touring Programme.

Tour Information Monday 19th October The Alley Theatre, Strabane, 8pm *With Strabane Concert Brass Band Tuesday 20th October St. Michael’s Parish, Enniskillen, 7.30pm Thursday 22nd October St. Patrick’s RC Cathedral, Armagh, 7.30pm Friday 23rd October St. Columb’s Hall, Derry, 7.30pm *With Codetta Chamber Choir

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Adjudicators Ragnar Rasmussen Norway (Chairman of the Adjudication Panel) Ragnar Rasmussen is Full Professor of Choir Conducting at the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Tromsø, Norway and artistic director/ conductor of the Mimas Chamber Choir and the Arctic World Ensemble.

Together with Urša Lah he directs the international chamber choir Utopia & Reality. He was conductor of the Norwegian National Youth Choir in 2008-10, the World Youth Choir in 2010 and the Catalan Youth Choir in 2014.

He works frequently with professional choirs and orchestras, and gives masterclasses for choral conductors throughout Europe and other parts of the world. As a composer, he has written several a cappella works, vocal/ instrumental works and an opera.

Ragnar has been awarded numerous awards in Norway and abroad. In 2008 he was awarded both the “Northern Light Prize” and the “Honorary Prize of the Town of Tromsø” for his extraordinary artistic achievements, his contribution to artistic enjoyment among his fellow citizens, and his contributions to positive profiling of his home town in Norway and abroad. In December 2009 the Norwegian Choral Association awarded him the “Norwegian Choir Prize” for his dedicated work at all levels in his homeland’s choral life.

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Gabriella Thész Hungary Gabriella Thész is a graduate of the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest, Hungary and has degrees in music education and choral conducting. From 1992 to 2012 she lectured in choral conducting at the Teacher Training Institute of the Franz Liszt Academy of Music, Budapest. For 27 years Gabriella was conductor of the Hungarian Radio Children’s Choir and from 1995 to 2012 she was the artistic director of the ensemble. She has made numerous CDs and recordings for radio broadcast, and has toured both home and abroad including almost every country in Europe, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea and the US. As the director of the Children’s Choir she gave several premières of contemporary pieces and worked with distinguished composers including Karlheinz Stockhausen, Luciano Berio, Franco Donatoni, Niccoló Castiglioni and Philip Glass, and conductors such as Paul Sacher, Jeffrey Tate, Semyon Bychkov, Georg Solti, Adam Fischer and Ivan Fischer.

With her ensemble she has participated in outstanding European music festivals such as Salzburger Festspiele, Milano Musica, Wien Modern, Flemish Festival and Biennale of Venice. Gabriella is a regular guest professor, lecturer and adjudicator in Hungary and throughout Europe, the US, Japan, Australia and Canada.

Josep Vila i Casañas Spain One of the best-known choral conductors in Catalonia and Spain, Josep Vila i Casañas has since 1998 been the director of the Orfeó Català, based in the Palau de la Música Catalana, Barcelona. He was recently appointed director of the Cor de Cambra del Palau, an ensemble of professional voices set up by the Orfeó itself in 1991. Alongside his artistic work, he has taught choral conducting at the Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya since 2005.

He was the founder and director of the Lieder Càmera choir of Sabadell for 16 years, enabling him to build up an extensive body of recorded work. Josep has also conducted the Coro Nacional de España, Orfeón Donostiarra, the choir of the Franz Liszt Academy of Budapest, the Orquesta de Radiotelevisión Española, the Orquestra Simfònica del Vallès and the Orquesta Sinfónica de Málaga.

In the field of composing, he has created an extensive catalogue of works for choirs of all kinds, including works with chamber music ensembles and symphony orchestras. As a teacher specialising in choral conducting, he often gives courses and masterclasses in different cities, including Barcelona, Palma, Lleida, Murcia, Ljubljana, Budapest, Caracas, Puerto Madryn and Mendoza (Argentina).

Julian Wilkins England Julian Wilkins is an inspiring conductor, organist and pianist who works throughout the UK and overseas with prestigious musical organisations, including the CBSO and Choruses, Hallé Choir, Brandenburg Sinfonia and Baroque Soloists, BBC Proms Youth Choir and the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Julian has performed in many of the world’s cathedrals and leading concert venues as conductor, soloist and accompanist. He is Music Director of Cambridge Chorale, the CBSO Youth Chorus and the University of Birmingham Chorus.

He is also the Associate Conductor of the CBSO Chorus.

A respected teacher, mentor and choral consultant, Julian teaches Choral Conducting at the University of Birmingham, is a member of the teaching panel for the ABCD National Conducting Courses, and is Vocal Coach and Guest Conductor for the City of Birmingham Choir, directed

by Adrian Lucas. He has co-directed the Art of Choral Direction course at Sherborne Summer School of Music and the Sintra International Singing and Choral Conducting Course in Portugal. Julian has also adjudicated for the BBC Young Musician competition, the National Eisteddfod of Wales and a number of regional music competitions and festivals.

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Bernie Sherlock Ireland

Bernie Sherlock has a BA in music from Trinity College Dublin and a Masters in performance from NUI Maynooth.

She studied choral conducting for two years with Peter Erdei and Ildikó Herboly Kocsár in Hungary, followed by orchestral conducting with Gerhard Markson in Dublin.

Her award-winning chamber choir, New Dublin Voices, is known for its innovative concert programming and its work in television, radio and recording.

It is also a consistent prize-winner at major competitions throughout

Europe, including the Grand Prix at the 2009 Budapest International Choir Competition, all six prizes at the 2011 International Choir Contest of FlandersMaasmechelen (Belgium), the Grand Prix at the 2013 Concorso Polifonico Internazionale “Guido d’Arezzo” and the Fleischmann International Trophy at the 2015 Cork International Choral Festival.

Bernie is Musical Director of the eminent Culwick Choral Society and she is a Music Lecturer at the DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama. She has an international profile as an adjudicator, choral animateur, and teacher of conducting and aural training, giving workshops in a wide variety of subjects.

Bernie is Artistic Director of the annual AOIC International Conducting Summer School and founded the Kodály Society of Ireland in 1993. She is also the Irish representative on the World Choir Council.

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 time from many UK airports to Ireland West International Airtport Knock in Mayo.

Direct rail link from Dublin.

Competitions with well renowned adjudicators Fantastic venues - some modern, some quaint and some quirky!.

International Choir entry before 31st December 2015.

Choirs from Ireland entry before January 31st, 2016. www.mayochoral.com

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International Choirs Academic Choir of Carinthia Mohorjan, Slovenia Conductor: Helena Buhvald Gorensek

The Academic Choir of Carinthia Mohorjan comes from Prevalje and consists of around 40 singers, mostly university and secondary school students from the Carinthia region. During its first six years the choir was conducted by Majan Berložnik, with Helena Buhvald Gorenšek taking over in 2005. The main focus of the choir is to perform choral music from various periods and countries, with special focus on Slovenian (and Carinthian) folk music.

The choir has won a number of national and international choral awards. At the 2012 Maribor International Choral Competition it won a silver medal in the national competition and the award for best first-time competitor. In April 2014 the choir also won a gold medal at the same competition. In 2012, the choir took part in its first international competition, “Slovakia Cantat” in Bratislava, where it won a gold medal and third place in the adult mixed choir category. It also won a gold medal at the international competition in Rimini, Italy in September 2013.

Chamber Choir of the Feliks Nowowiejski Academy of Music, Poland Conductor: Janusz Stanecki

The Chamber Choir of the Feliks Nowowiejski Academy of Music was set up in 1986, when students from various musical fields who wished to sing choral music were brought together by conductor Janusz Stanecki. Janusz has a degree in Choral Conducting and Music Education from the Feliks Nowowiejski Academy of Music and is an accomplished accordion player.

He is currently the Deputy Dean of the Academy’s Faculty of Conducting, Jazz and Music Education.

Today the choir works with a number of orchestras, and its repertoire features Polish and other European music from the Middle Ages through to the present day. The choir has toured extensively and has frequently been awarded prizes in various competitions. In 2007 it won the Peace Trophy at the 53rd Cork International Choral Festival, and it took 2nd prize in the Fleischmann International Trophy Competition at Cork in 2015. It won gold and silver medals at the International Choir Contest of Sacred Music in Preveza, Greece in 2009 and five medals in the “Singing World” International Competition in St. Petersburg in 2012.

The choir regularly gives concerts in Slovenia and abroad, performing works by Slovenian and foreign composers. However, its main focus is to preserve the love of quality singing among young Carinthians.

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Choros Amici, England Conductor: Chris Mallinson

Since its first meeting in 1992, Choros Amici (the ‘choir of friends’) has always been a very special and individual choir. The singers, all friends of the musical director, Chris Mallinson, come from all over England and meet for occasional rehearsal weekends to work hard, laugh hard and play hard.

Founder and Musical Director Chris Mallinson has worked with a number of highly regarded choirs and is a soughtafter choral trainer for groups of many styles, from chamber ensembles to quartets and barbershop choruses. Alongside his passion for inspiring and improving choirs of all types, Chris has trained new and experienced choral directors for Sing for Pleasure, the British Federation of Young Choirs and the British Association of Barbershop Singing.

The choir has won many competitions, including the Grand Prix and Mixed Voice Choir awards at the Isle of Man International Festival 2013. It was runner-up at the Choir of the World competition in Llangollen in July 2011 and it won the Fleischmann International Trophy Competition in Cork in 2005.

Härlanda Voces, Sweden Conductor: David Molin

Härlanda Voces was founded 10 years ago and consists of 35 singers aged 15 to 25, most of whom are students at Gothenburg’s music colleges. The choir has toured and visited festivals and competitions all over Europe, winning prizes in England, France, Italy, Poland, Croatia, Austria and Switzerland. It performs mostly a cappella music but also larger works with orchestra such as the Fauré, Mozart and Lloyd Webber Requiems and God In Disguise by LarsErik Larsson. Three years ago the choir performed at the “Göteborg Globe Award” and it often collaborates with musicians from the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra.

Conductor David Molin is the founder and conductor of Härlanda Voces. He works as a church musician in Härlanda Church and was educated primarily at the Academy of Music in Gothenburg, Sweden between 1994 and 1998. David is himself an experienced choral singer, having been a member of choirs such as Göteborgs Kammarkör and Simon Phipps Vocal Ensemble (now called Svenska Kammarkören). In 2011 he received the prize for Best Conductor at the Krakow International Choir Competition. David has also founded the choirs Härlanda Kammarkör and Härlanda Ortoriekör.

Choros Amici has built an international reputation in its 20odd years of singing, entertaining audiences of 70 to more than 70,000. The choir has also given concerts and recitals for BBC radio and television, and recorded several CDs.

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Polifonica Chamber Choir, Belarus Conductor: Viacheslav Larin

Conductor: Helena Fojkar Zupančič

Polifonica Chamber Choir, Belarus comprises 25 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 singers have shared their musical gifts on many stages across Europe, making them cultural ambassadors for Belarus, and they regularly give concerts in Minsk and abroad.

Saint Nicholas Choir Litija consists of over 45 singers, brought together by the power of spiritual music. Since its foundation in 1997, the choir, directed by Helena Fojkar Zupančič, has evolved into an acclaimed vocal group, and it has become renowned in Slovenia and abroad for its performances of classical and Slovenian folk music.

In June 2012 Polifonica performed a concert of Orthodox church music and folk songs at the Apeldoorn Zingt International Choir Festival, winning both critical and public acclaim. It won 2nd prize in the Competition for Petr Eben at the Prague International Advent Music Festival in December 2012. In 2013 it toured Italy, performing at the renowned International Choir Festival “La Fabbrica del Canto” and at “Concordia Vocis” in Sardinia.

Most recently, Polifonica won 3rd prize at the International Choral Competition in Derry in October 2013 and it took part in the Cork International Choral Festival in May 2014. It was also honoured to be a special guest and participant at the 2014 Karuizawa International Choral Festival, Japan, which it combined with concerts in Sakura and Tokyo.

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Saint Nicholas Choir Litija, Slovenia

The choir performs compositions from different eras, and has received many awards at national and international competitions.

Its latest achievements include 1st place at the “Venezia in Musica” international choral competition in Venice in 2011, a golden plaque at the national choral competition in Maribor in 2012 and 1st place at the Maasmechelen International Choral Competition, Belgium in 2013.

The choir has released three CDs of classical music and Slovenian folk songs, and has collaborated with many renowned ensembles and artists (Radio Slovenia Symphony Orchestra, David de Villiers, André J. Thomas, Yoav Talmi, Valerij Gergijev, etc.). Celebrated Slovenian composers, including Damijan MoČnik, Ambrož C Č opi, Nana Forte and Ivan Florjanc, have written new compositions for the choir.

The choir is under the patronage of the Nova Kultura Litija cultural organisation and is a member of the European choir union Europa Cantat.

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Voci Nuove, Ireland Conductor: Lynsey Callaghan

Formed in Cork in 2011, Voci Nuove originally consisted of nine friends who came together to perform at the Galway Jazz Festival. Since then, the choir has expanded in both number and repertoire, and has performed all over Ireland and beyond, winning numerous accolades.

Salutaris Chamber Choir, Belarus Conductor: Olga Yanum

Salutaris is a mixed choir consisting of 25-30 singers. The soul and creative director of the group is Olga Yanum. A talented scientist, conductor and leader, Olga graduated from the Belarusian State Academy of Music in 1994 as a conductor and singer.

In May 2009 Salutaris was awarded 1st prize at the Orthodox Chants Festival in Minsk and a month later it took part in the International Choir Festival “La Fabbrica del Canto” in Italy. In May 2010 Salutaris won the “Hajnówka 2010” International Festival of Orthodox Church Music in Poland.

Founded by students from the Cork School of Music and conducted

by Lynsey Callaghan, Voci Nuove has in the last five years achieved acclaim and recognition that belies its young age. Currently holder of the title “Ireland’s Choir of the Year”, awarded at the 2015 Cork International Choral Festival, the choir focuses on a wide variety of a capella music and it has worked with some of the world’s most highly regarded international choral ensembles.

The group has won many awards at various choral festivals, including 1st place in the international and sacred music competitions at the inaugural City of Derry International Choral Festival in 2013, alongside numerous awards at the Feis Maitiú and the Cork International Choral Festival.

Voci Nuove has premiered a number of works by contemporary Irish composers and enjoys strong relationships with many other choirs, which have led to exchanges in Dublin and Vienna. The choir’s most recent tour, Going Home, saw the group perform in Waterford, Limerick and Dublin.

In 2012 Salutaris gave more than 70 concerts in Germany, Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine, Serbia and Belarus. The high point of the season was undoubtedly singing in the most prestigious concert halls of Moscow and St. Petersburg. In May 2013, at the Cork International Choral Festival, the choir won the Lady Dorothy Mayer Memorial Trophy special award for one of its pieces. In 2014 the choir was lucky enough to be able to take part in two international music festivals, “Virgo Lauretana” in Loreto (Italy) and “Voix du Monde” in Nancy (France). It was also invited as a special guest to the “Rusu Klasika” international music festival in Vilnius (Lithuania).

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Vox Iuvenalis, Czech Republic Conductor: Jan Ocetek

Vokalconsort Osnabrück, Germany Conductor: Stephan Lutermann

Vokalconsort Osnabrück consists of a core of around 34 singers. The founder and conductor of the ensemble is Stephan Lutermann. Stephan began his career as a conductor with the Archi di Colonia Orchestra in Cologne. After several different positions in Salzburg and Cologne, he became assistant to Johannes Rahe, master of music at Osnabrück cathedral, a post he held from 2001 to 2009. In addition to his associations with church music and many engagements as a concert organist, Stephan also lectures in choral conducting at Osnabrück University.

Vox Iuvenalis (The Voice of Youth) was established in 1993 by graduates of Gymnázium Vídečská Brno secondary school who wanted to continue to sing in a choir after graduation. The choir has nearly 50 members, who are mainly students and graduates of Brno universities. Its founder and conductor is Jan Ocetek, who is also the assistant conductor of the Czech Philharmonic Choir Brno and a PhD student and teacher at the Department of Composition and Conducting at the Faculty of Music at JAMU, Brno.

The choir’s repertoire comprises compositions from the 16th century up to the present day, with special focus on contemporary Czech choral music and sacred music of the 20th century. It has collaborated with numerous national and international artists and ensembles, and it gives a number of concerts throughout the year.

Vox Iuvenalis has gained a reputation as a high-quality young ensemble and it has won many awards at international competitions, including 3rd prize in the mixed choir category of the 2014 Béla Bartók International Choir Competition and 1st prize in the mixed choir category of the 2012 “Laudate Dominum” International Festival.

Founded in 2011, Vokalconsort Osnabrück has a repertoire of unaccompanied works ranging from the Renaissance to the contemporary. Their concerts are an outstanding listening experience, they showcase the choir’s detailed analysis and stylistic interpretation, and they offer an exploration of the entire acoustic experience. The choir’s trademark is its individual, well-informed membership, which creates the much vaunted harmonious sound that the ensemble produces. Audiences at concerts in Germany and further afield have been left captivated and thrilled.

The choir has won numerous awards and prizes at various competitions at home and abroad, including the Heinrich Schütz Trophy at the Cork International Choral Festival in 2013.

These awards are a reflection of the choir’s quality and the excellent standard of singing that it produces.

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EVENING CONCERT PRESENTERS John Toal An Evening with The King’s Singers Wednesday 21st October, St. Columb’s Hall, 7.30pm

John Toal presents The John Toal Show and Classical Connections on BBC Radio Ulster.

John joined the BBC in 1989 while he was studying for a music degree at Queen’s University Belfast. Since then he has presented “Your Place and Mine”, “Arts Extra” and the “Saturday Magazine”. John has been presenting live Ulster Orchestra concerts for almost 25 years on BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Radio 3, and has broadcast on RTÉ and BBC Radio 4. Earlier this year he presented BBC Radio Ulster’s School Choir of the Year competition.

He has sung in choirs all his life, beginning with Newry Cathedral Choir, which performed for Pope John Paul II in his private chapel in the Vatican in December 1980 and in Aran sweaters (in July!) for the King and Queen of Belgium in 1982.

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Mark Patterson

Stephen McCauley

Marie-Louise Muir

Utopia & Reality | Codetta

International Competition

Friday 23rd October, St. Columb’s Hall, 7.30pm

Saturday 24th October, St. Columb’s Hall, 7.30pm

Closing Gala Concert & Awards Ceremony

Mark is a BBC presenter and the current Northern Ireland “Speech Broadcaster of the Year”. He joined the BBC after an early career as a YMCA Director and presents “Lunchtime with Mark Patterson” each weekday on BBC Radio Foyle. Mark is also often heard presenting or contributing on Radio Ulster, Radio 4 and RTÉ Radio.

Stephen McCauley was born and raised in Derry, and is a presenter and producer on BBC Northern Ireland.

He is the host of Electric Mainline and Stephen McCauley on BBC Radio Foyle and, most recently, Soundscapes with Stephen McCauley on BBC Radio Ulster. A passionate and devoted life-long music fan, Stephen thrives off the constant search for music.

An ageing surfer, bookworm and passionate gardener, Mark is currently working on a new commission for Radio 4 and a canoeing documentary for BBC Radio Ulster.

Electric Mainline 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, post-classical, electronica, indie and experimental acoustic, all delivered with the enthusiasm and joy of his discoveries.

“What an amazing year for music here.

We’ve all watched with interest as local artists including SOAK, Margaret Keys, Mairéad Carlin, Wood Burning Savages and Best Boy Grip rise to the very top of their game. More than often you’ll find that choral training of one sort or another had a significant bearing on these young stars when they were kids in Derry. Every year our Choral Festival seems to raise the bar a little higher, too. I’m delighted to be associated with it once again, and eagerly await the arrival and fraternal endeavour of so much regional and international choral talent.”

In March of this year, Stephen embarked on an ambitious new weekly programme for BBC Radio Ulster called Soundscapes with Stephen McCauley, in which he blends field recordings and spoken word with contemporary classical and electronic music. He also presents a daily two-hour afternoon request show on BBC Radio Foyle.

In 2013, Stephen made his debut on BBC Radio 6 Music with a week-long series of programmes.

Sunday 25th October, St. Columb’s Hall, 7.30pm

Marie-Louise Muir is the anchor arts presenter for BBC Northern Ireland radio and television.

She fronts the awardwinning “The Arts Show” on BBC Radio Ulster, for which she won the CIPR NI Media Awards Entertainment Presenter of the Year 2014 and Entertainment Programme of the Year 2015.

She also presents “The Arts Show” and “In Conversation” for BBC Northern Ireland television, a monthly look at the best in arts and culture in Northern Ireland and conversations with leading arts people.

She regularly writes and presents arts documentaries for BBC Radio 4, including the prestigious European broadcasting festival Prix Europanominated “Notes on a Northern Irish Childhood”, in which she returned to her cello playing and her time with the Western Youth Orchestra. She also recently wrote and presented a threepart TV series on the hymn, “Then Sings My Soul”, for BBC Northern Ireland.

She is a graduate of English Literature at Trinity College Dublin and is a trained arts administrator, having studied at University College Dublin.

She currently sits on the board of directors of the Tyrone Guthrie Centre, Annaghmakerrig.

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Thank You! The City of Derry International Choral Festival is produced in association with Walled City Music and wishes to thank…

Festival Funders Arts Council NI Derry City and Strabane District Council The Honourable The Irish Society Enkalon Foundation

Festival Sponsors City Hotel, Derry

Media Partner Derry Journal

Festival Partners Foyleside Shopping Centre City Cabs The Sandwich Co. McGonagle’s Coach Hire Matchetts Music McIvor Plastics

Festival Staff

Special thanks for the support from: Pádraig Ó’Duinnín, Lumiere Events Ltd. John Gallagher, Lumiere Events Ltd. John McCandless, Graphic Design Dale Blackwood, Graphic Design Peter Meenagh, Web Design Amy Forbes, Northwest Volunteer Centre Frank Lyons, Ulster University Magee

Volunteers Ann Barr Emma Barr Edwin Brown Isobelle Browne Keisha Callaghan Helen Cassidy Una Carlin Joan Clancy Bryna Clarke John Cleghorn Raymond Courtney Kathryn Crosbie Pat Crosbie Tom Curran Maria Cutliffe Bronagh Deeny

Cillian Doherty Colm Doherty Eoghan Doherty Nicky Fallon Jill Flanagan Martin Flanagan Olivia Goodman Rachel Harkin Kevin Healy Ann Heatley Bernadette Kelly Margaret Kelly Maurice Kelly Chris Kerrigan Fidelma Legge Margaret McCay

Marion McClintock Laura McFall Niamh McGowan Julia McIvor Denise Murphy Rachel Newhouse Andrea O’Donnell Eimear O’Gorman Rebecca O’Doherty Helen O’Hare Paddy Quinn Maureen Rainey Roisin Rice Chris Rodgers Mary Scally Rachel Tennis Kam Zhi Yan

Dónal Doherty, Artistic Director Matthew Greenall, Executive Director, Walled City Music Fiona Crosbie, Festival Manager Alice Lewis, Community and Outreach Officer, Walled City Music Grainne Logue, Festival Assistant

Management Committee Anthony McGurk, Chair Colm Rainey Gráinne Stevenson Joy Tennis Martin White

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choral trail map

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sacred trail map

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Festival Schedule Wednesday 21st October Sing Joyfully!

International Choral Symposium Great Hall (UU Magee) 9.30am – 4.30pm An Evening with The King’s Singers St. Columb’s Hall 7.30pm – 9.30pm Festival Club Cinema Bar 9.30pm

Thursday 22nd October Big Sing Workshop with The King’s Singers (primary schools) St. Columb’s Hall 10am – 10.30am Primary School Unison Competition St. Columb’s Hall 10.30am – 11.15am Primary School Partsong Competition St. Columb’s Hall 11.15am – 12pm Adjudication of primary competitions St. Columb’s Hall 12pm – 12.30pm Bluebottle with Ulster Orchestra St. Columb’s Hall 5pm – 6pm Bluebottle with Ulster Orchestra St. Columb’s Hall 7.30pm – 8.30pm Festival Club Cinema Bar 8.30pm

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Festival Schedule Friday 24th October Big Sing Workshop (post-primary schools) St. Columb’s Hall 10am – 10.45am Post-primary Unison/2Part Competition St. Columb’s Hall 11am – 12pm Post-primary 3/4-Part Competition St. Columb’s Hall 12pm – 1.30pm Adjudication of postprimary competitions St. Columb’s Hall 1.30pm – 2pm Choral Trail in city centre and community locations throughout the day 9.30am – 9pm Utopia & Reality Codetta St. Columb’s Hall 7.30pm – 10pm Festival Club Cinema Bar 10pm

Saturday 25th October

Sunday 26th October

National Equal Voice Competitions St. Columb’s Hall 11am – 11.45am

Sacred Trail City Churches 10.30am – 1.30pm

Adjudication of Equal Voice Competitions St. Columb’s Hall 12pm – 12.30pm

Community Concert St. Columb’s Park House 1pm – 2pm

Choral Trail in city centre and community locations throughout the day 11am – 6.30pm Community Concert The Gasyard Centre 1pm – 2pm National Mixed Voice Competition St. Columb’s Hall 1.30pm – 3pm National Gospel Music Competition St. Columb’s Hall 3.15pm – 4pm Big Sing Workshop (open to all) and adjudication of Mixed Voice and Gospel Music Competitions St. Columb’s Hall 4pm – 5pm International Competition St. Columb’s Hall 7.30pm – 10.30pm Festival Club Cinema Bar 10.30pm

Choral Trail in city centre and community locations throughout the day 1pm – 5pm National Sacred Music Competition St. Columb’s Hall 1pm – 2pm National Vocal Ensemble Competition St. Columb’s Hall 2pm – 2.30pm National Youth Choir Competition St. Columb’s Hall 2.30pm – 4pm Adjudication of Sacred, Vocal Ensemble and Youth Competitions St. Columb’s Hall 4pm – 4.30pm

Closing Gala Concert and Awards St. Columb’s Hall 7.30pm – 10pm Festival Club City Hotel 10pm

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