City of Derry International Choir Festival 2020 Programme Book

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Contents Foreword Festival Series

Pages

SATURDAY 24 OCTOBER

WEDNESDAY 21 OCTOBER Lucinda Geoghegan Workshop

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Virtual Choral Trail 7

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Sing Joyfully Symposium

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Nigel Short Workshop

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Virtual Choral Trail 1

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Podcast: Siobhan Heaney

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Amazing Grace

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Virtual Choral Trail 8

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Playback: Derry Welcomes the World 1

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Playback: City of Song

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Virtual Choral Trail 9

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Tenebrae, in concert

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THURSDAY 22 OCTOBER Podcast: Ragnar Rasmussen

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Playback: Guest Artists

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SUNDAY 25 OCTOBER

Virtual Choral Trail 2

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Virtual Sacred Trail 1

Podcast: Josep Vila i Casañas

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Virtual Sacred Trail 2

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A New Topography of Love

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Podcast: Sing Ireland

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Virtual Sacred Trail 3 Virtual Choral Trail 3

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Virtual Choral Trail 10

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Podcast: Contemporary Music Centre

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Bob Chilcott Workshop

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Virtual Choral Trail 4

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Danny Boy

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Playback: Young Voices

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Virtual Choral Trail 5

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Ardú, in concert

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Virtual Choral Trail 6

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Playback: Derry Welcomes the World 2

FRIDAY 23 OCTOBER

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Pages

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All events available to view on Facebook, YouTube and derrychoirfest.com.

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FOREWORD In the words of the great Irish poet, Derek Mahon, Everything is going to be all right. Although written in 1979, these encouraging words have found fresh resonance in the current pandemic.

We are living in difficult times, so the primary aim of this year’s festival is to provide some solace, hope and joy throughout a five-day celebration of song.

We’ve put together an exciting and varied programme of concerts by guest artists, interactive workshops, podcasts with friends of the festival, an exclusive mini-series of performances from previous festivals, a virtual choral trail featuring choirs from all over the world and a webinar discussion where we will examine the impact of Covid-19 on singing and choral groups. We’ve even managed to include a new work by the extraordinary creative team of Brian Irvine and John McIlduff.

None of this would be possible without the very generous support of our funders, sponsors and friends of the festival.

Our participating artists and contributors have been immensely supportive and encouraging throughout the challenging process of putting together such a unique festival offering.

We’ll miss the excitement, camaraderie and the immense joy of making music together in a shared space, but we look forward to sharing this precious gift of music with you, in a spirit of hope and joy, over the five days of Festival 2020 and for many years to come.

Dónal Doherty Artistic Director of the Festival 5

A NOTE FROM OUR FUNDERS This year has been a very difficult one for all of us to deal with but, as Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, I am delighted that the City of Derry International Choir Festival will go ahead this year – albeit in a different, digital format.

Since it first began in 2013, the festival has been a celebration of song and choral music that brings joy to the hearts of all that hear it. This year, more than ever, that joy through music is needed across Derry and Strabane, and across the world.

I would like to offer my warmest well wishes and congratulations to the festival organisers for adapting and pulling together a spectacular and exciting programme of concerts, performances, workshops and podcasts.

On behalf of everyone at Derry City and Strabane District Council, I wish you all the very best of success.

Councillor Brian Tierney Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council 6

As the long-term principal funder through our National Lottery funds, the Arts Council is delighted that this year’s Festival has risen magnificently to the challenge of redefining itself for the difficult times we live in. One of the very positive things to have emerged during this dreadful pandemic has been the response of artists and arts organisations, who have found new ways to reach out to audiences, old and new. They have embraced digital and online solutions, so that they can continue to entertain, delight, enrich and lift our spirits, just when we most need it. The music will go on!

The City of Derry International Choir Festival has established itself as one of Northern Ireland’s major annual music events. Now, with the move online, the amazing music and singing talent we all know and love will be shared with audiences around the world. This can only enhance Derry’s deserved reputation as a world-class centre of choral music.

Ciaran Scullion

Head of Music Arts Council of Northern Ireland 7

FESTIVAL SERIES 21 – 25 OCTOBER #DERRYCHOIRFEST PLAYBACK Five films of favourite moments and unseen footage from the choir festival archives through the years. The two-part Derry Welcomes the World presents highlights of gala performances from international choirs. Guest Artists features some of the world’s leading professional ensembles.

Young Voices shines the spotlight on the next generation of singers. City of Song shows how the festival is building upon Derry’s proud singing tradition through the Festival Chorus, community concerts and choral trails. Presented by Eoghan Doherty

VIRTUAL CHORAL TRAIL We’re going to miss all of our visiting choirs this October, but are thrilled to feature 40 choirs from across the globe in our Virtual Choral and Sacred Trails. This series of video performances features a wide range of musical styles from an eclectic mix of singing groups. Expect gospel,jazz, popular and sacred music throughout festival week.

#DERRYCHOIRFEST PODCASTS A five-part series of lively conversations on all things choral, featuring former festival adjudicators Ragnar Rasmussen and Josep Vila i Casañas, community choir director Siobhan Heaney, and podcasts from the Contemporary Music Centre and Sing Ireland.

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LUCINDA GEOGHEGAN WORKSHOP

WEDNESDAY 21 OCTOBER

10.30

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Lucinda Geoghegan is the Creative Learning Director for NYCOS (National Youth Choir of Scotland), a theory and musicianship lecturer at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and regular tutor for the British Kodály Academy. She has published a number of music education books, including the popular Singing Games and Rhymes series.

Lucinda joins us for a webinar workshop that looks at what activities we can be doing in the classroom during these challenging times. The workshop will explore fresh, new practical ideas that will act as a springboard to the essential building blocks of musical learning for early years.

Zoom workshop, pre-registration required via festival website

SYMPOSIUM

VIRTUAL CHORAL TRAIL 1

12.30

16.00

The first ever City of Derry International Choir Festival Symposium, in 2014, was a panel discussion with the title Sing Joyfully! We return to the same theme for this year’s festival symposium, where we’ll explore how singers and the choral world are coping with the current circumstances of Covid-19.

The Line-Up Choir, Dublin (Róisín Savage)

The panel, with participants drawn from a wide variety of backgrounds including education, singers, choral leaders, festival directors and medical practitioners, will discuss the implications of current guidelines in relation to Covid-19 and share their experiences of the many creative ways they have ensured that we can all continue to Sing Joyfully!

Big Belfast Choir (Aoife Cormacain)

You Gotta Be, Des’ree and Ashley Ingram NUIG Alumni Choir, Galway (Peter Mannion) I Will Walk with My Love, Trad. arr. Seóirse Bodley

A Little Respect, Erasure

Panel: Brian Irvine, Professor of Music, Ulster University Dermot O’Callaghan, CEO, Sing Ireland Louise Dubras, Dean of the School of Medicine, Ulster University Lucinda Geoghegan, Creative Learning Director, NYCoS Michael Dawson, Artistic Director, Fingal International Festival of Voices Neil Black, Assistant Director of Acute Services, Altnagelvin Hospital Róisín Blunnie, Assistant Professor in Music, Dublin City University Zoom webinar, pre-registration required via festival website

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AMAZING GRACE

PLAYBACK: DERRY WELCOMES THE WORLD – PART 1

19.00

20.00

The opening performance of the 2020 City of Derry International Choir Festival features Amazing Grace, a piece of music strongly associated with the Northwest part of Ireland, that has travelled the world over. The song has

appeared at iconic moments in history and this performance reflects its global connection and powerful message of hope by bringing together young singers from schools across the city and surrounding district.

Gala performances from visiting international choirs are a true celebration of singing, showcasing a colourful mix of musical styles, languages and costumes from around the world. Part one features choirs from Indonesia, Belarus, Slovenia, Poland, Hungary, Ireland, England, Germany and Italy who performed in the international competition from 2013 to 2016.

WEDNESDAY 21 OCTOBER

PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS

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FOYLE COLLEGE (Emma Moore)

HOLY CROSS COLLEGE (Jenny Stewart)

LORETO GRAMMAR SCHOOL (Gerard Bradley)

Andrea McGillian Carla Pollock Evan McCrea Kacey Laird Mark McLaughlin Mia Bradley Samuel Boggs Sophie Keown

Cahir O’Neill Eathan Harkin Ethan Bradley Liam Harte Matthew McLaughlin Renz Cardenas

Aideen Donnelly Aoife Duddy Caitlin McAnespy Caoimhe Loane Ella Duffy Keri Teague Niaomh Donnelly Sinead McGowan

LUMEN CHRISTI COLLEGE (Mark Bradley)

SCOIL MHUIRE BUNCRANA (Maeve Byrne)

ST. CECILIA’S COLLEGE (Ryan Quinn)

Aoibheann Armstrong Blaithin Doherty Emma White Rachel Harley Robert Henderson Sally Mae Comey Sarah Devlin

Aoibheann Doherty Aoife McGovern Ava Rijkers Connie Doherty Eabha Grant Eva Glenn Michael Lennon Rory Coleman

Caitlin Doherty Caitlin McVeigh Grace Flood Jeannie McLaughlin Lauren Doherty Rianne Doherty Shanna McCallion

ST. JOSEPH’S BOYS’ SCHOOL (Margaret Ross)

ST. MARY’S COLLEGE (Emma Jayne Kelly)

THORNHILL COLLEGE (Elizabeth Quigley)

Aaron Curran Gerard Meehan Joel Doherty Daimhin Parkhill

Abbie O’Neill Aimee Gallagher Ava Canney Cara McGuinness Emily Donaghey Grace McCaul Kyra Francis

Caitlin Curran Cara Wilson-Hegarty Hannah Roddy Kara Brennan Kymirin Downey Laura McElhinney Maria Hickey

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PODCAST: RAGNAR RASMUSSEN 12.00 Conductor and composer Ragnar Rasmussen chats to Artistic Director of the festival Dónal Doherty about growing up in an Arctic community, discovering the paradise of practice rooms, and retaining a child-like curiosity for all things musical throughout his life. Ragnar was Chair of the Festival’s Adjudication Panel from 2013 to 2015 and has twice brought the chamber choir Utopia & Reality to perform in Derry. He is Professor of conducting at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim.

THURSDAY 22 OCTOBER

PLAYBACK: GUEST ARTISTS

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VIRTUAL CHORAL TRAIL 2 16.00 Momentum Community Choir, Derry (Siobhan Heaney) Hallelujah, Leonard Cohen The Magnificent AKs, England (Chris Samuel) Alone in My Shed, Roger Jackson Belfast Philharmonic Youth Choir (Lynsey Callaghan) Hope, Laura Sheils

PODCAST: JOSEP VILA I CASAÑAS

14.00

18.00

Many of the world’s leading choirs and a cappella groups have performed at the festival through the years. From Palestrina to Prince, Arvo Pärt to Cole Porter, a look back at concert highlights from The Real Group, The Sixteen, The Swingles, VOCES8, Tenebrae, The Marian Consort, SLIXS, Utopia & Reality, Latvian Voices and The King’s Singers.

Choral conductor Josep Vila i Casañas first visited the festival in 2015 and immediately felt at home. In this podcast he describes his work as an educator, choir director and composer, including his recent experience conducting the World Youth Choir. Josep was Chair of the Festival’s Adjudication Panel from 2017 to 2019. He is currently conductor of the Cor Lieder Càmera and teaches choir conducting at the Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya in Barcelona.

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A NEW TOPOGRAPHY OF LOVE (WORLD PREMIERE) 19.00

What happens when the singing stops? It’s a question that will linger for a while.

A chance to turn back on ourselves and question how exactly we want to move forward and what should be left in the past.

A New Topography of Love is a new choral commission by composer Brian Irvine and librettist John McIlduff inspired by magic realism and fables of the past. The world has ground to a halt and the different species of animals who have suffered at the hands of humans for centuries are given voice to share some lessons for the future.

THURSDAY 22 OCTOBER

Commissioned with thanks to the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, A New Topography of Love will be performed by Derry chamber choir Codetta and the Beckmann Foundation Singers, Mexico.

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DUMBWORLD Dumbworld is an artist led creative production company, established in 2009 by composer/ conductor Brian Irvine and filmmaker/writer/director John McIlduff.

Dumbworld makes work that is to be found at the intersection of music, image and words including film, opera, documentary, animation and public art installation. Its artists create ambitious and exciting pieces that involve working closely with practicing professionals as well as people all ages, experiences and backgrounds.

A NEW TOPOGRAPHY OF LOVE The singing stopped The silence reigned The emperor flew off In his new jet plane.

The temples crumbled The people mumbled Words were lost In the last great tumble

Worms crawled in And filled the spaces Now free of meaning And grammatical cases Newly minted bank notes wilted All thats crispy crunchy faded Sparkles turned to soggy crusts The wind gave up And turned to dust

Remember this.

Write it down.

Sang the whales who had ran aground.

Kindness Matters.

In all its forms.

Collect it up before the storms.

Spread it out upon the fields Pick the blossoms.

Collect the seeds.

Listen carefully Think this through Squealed the bats that no longer flew There is no truth There are no lies.

Within this wisdom hides.

All there is Is joyous chaos I ride mine and you ride yours.

Forsaken once Forsaken twice Squeaked the squads of hungry mice You never learn You never listen Ever seen a dead sea glisten?

Lift your phones Ask the ancients Let your first lesson be patience.

Prick up your ears Hear and hearken Sang the birds as the skies darkened Words matter.

Each one a magic spell That create meaning in the world Choose them wisely.

Share them frankly Never take the gift of your voice lightly

Words: John McIlduff Music: Brian Irvine Visuals: Conan McIvor Recording: Aaron McGlinchey

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VIRTUAL CHORAL TRAIL 3

VIRTUAL CHORAL TRAIL 4

PLAYBACK: YOUNG VOICES

10.00

13.00

14.00

Classic Harmony, Wicklow (Frank Kelly) Nice ‘n’ Easy, Alan Bergman, Marilyn Keith & Lew Spence

Coro Arturo Beruti, Argentina (Maria Elina Mayorga) La vieja, Hermanos Díaz arr. Claudio Sanseverino

Young voices are at the heart of the City of Derry International Choir Festival. As well as the schools and youth competitions, they come together in their hundreds to sing in the festival’s biggest shows. There have been magical collaborations between local youth choirs and visiting professional vocal groups, while every year the Big Sing workshops inspire the next generation to nurture their talents and relish the joy of singing together.

The Phoenix Choir of Wales, Swansea (John Mills) There Is Nothing like a Dame, Rodgers & Hammerstein

FRIDAY 23 OCTOBER

The Moy Singers, Mayo (Jonathan Carter) You’ll Never Walk Alone, Rodgers & Hammerstein

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Colmcille Ladies Choir, Derry (Sheila Carlin) A Chuaichin Bhinn Dilis, Traditional

PODCAST: CONTEMPORARY MUSIC CENTRE 12.00

Strabane Chamber Choir (Gerard Bradley) Weeping, Dan Heymann

The Contemporary Music Centre’s Amplify podcast digitally decamps to Derry for a discussion on the fruitful relationship between the choir festival and contemporary choral writing in Ireland. Hosts Jonathan Grimes and Evonne Ferguson chat to two musicians who are no strangers to the festival, Orla Flanagan, director of the Mornington Singers and Assistant Professor of Music at Trinity College Dublin, and composer and Derryman Seán Doherty, Assistant Professor of Music at Dublin City University.

The Contemporary Music Centre is an allIreland, non-profit educational organisation, founded in 1985 by the Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon to support and encourage the composition and performance of new music

by Irish composers.

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ARDÚ VIRTUAL CHORAL TRAIL 5 16.00 University of Santo Tomas Singers, Philippines (Fidel Calalang Jr.) Surge Illuminare, Budi Susanto Yohanes Mornington Singers, Dublin (Orla Flanagan) A Nywe Werk, Seán Doherty Blagovest, Riga Orthodox Chamber Choir, Latvia (Aleksander Brandavs) Psalm No.150, Georgs Pelecis

19.00 Ireland’s premier a cappella vocal band, the award-winning Ardú, specialise in arranging well-known popular music for six singers, creating funky beats, rhythms, melody and harmony with only their voices.

As ambassadors of the contemporary a cappella genre in Ireland, Ardú founded the annual Irish International A Cappella Festival in 2017 and also operate a nationwide outreach programme for both children and adults.

Ciarán Kelly, Musical Director Adam Hannon Filip Klubicka Laura Shields Leanne Fitzgerald Victoria Warwick Nicholas Ryan, Sound Engineer

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Programme: Youth, Daughter arr. Ciarán Kelly (Almost) Sweet Music, Hozier arr. Lindsey Mattessich Homeward Bound, Trad. American arr. Ollie Lambert Madness, Muse arr. Ardú Jenny of Oldstones, Florence + the Machine arr.

Ciarán Kelly Hope, Chainsmokers arr. Ciarán Kelly Lippy Kids, Elbow arr. Ciarán Kelly Ain’t No Sunshine, Bill Withers arr. Ciarán Kelly Carrickfergus, Trad. arr. Ciarán Kelly Heroes, David Bowie arr. Jon Smith

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Our members fret about what to perform, trawl the internet for the latest best practice, struggle to understand music copyright and PRS, wish it was easier to run a leisure-time music group, and then get on with making music.

VIRTUAL CHORAL TRAIL 6 21.00 Royal Melbourne Hospital Scrub Choir, Australia (Emma O’Brien) I’ll Stand by You, Chrissie Hynde, Tom Kelly & Billy Steinberg New Dublin Voices (Bernie Sherlock) Snow Dance for the Dead, Seán Doherty Tinkuy Vocal Ensemble, Colombia (Yolmer Hurtado Ramírez) Te deum, Ruth Morris Gray

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NIGEL SHORT WORKSHOP

VIRTUAL CHORAL TRAIL 7

PODCAST: SIOBHAN HEANEY

10.00

10.00

12.00

Nigel Short is the award-winning director of Tenebrae and one of the world’s most respected choral conductors. A singer of great acclaim, Nigel was a member of the renowned vocal ensemble The King’s Singers from 1994–2000.

Upon leaving the group, he formed Tenebrae, a virtuosic choir that embraced his dedication to passion and precision. Under his direction, Tenebrae now enjoys a reputation as one of the world’s finest vocal ensembles.

ArteCanto – EMI Choir, Bolivia (Giovanna Montaño) 1. Ara Vale hava pehendu Ava, Anonymous 2. ¡Salga el Torillo hoquillo! Diego José de Salazar 3. Ymaynalla canqui tayta, Anonymous

A conversation with Siobhan Heaney, who came late to choral singing but has since been making up for lost time. Siobhan is the conductor of four choirs in her hometown of Derry and the founder of SingTonicity, a method of looking after your health and wellbeing through the use of your breath, voice and sound. A firm friend of the festival for many years, in 2019 Siobhan was awarded the Derry City and Strabane District Council Award for outstanding contribution to the choir festival.

SATURDAY 24 OCTOBER

Nigel has chosen two magnificent choral pieces for this online workshop. Singers will have the opportunity to work on My soul, there is a country from Songs of Farewell by Hubert Parry, and the exquisite Versa est in luctum, composed by the sixteenth century Spanish composer Alonso Lobo.

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This is sure to be a fascinating hour of singing, exploring some of the secrets that lie behind the magnificent and unique Tenebrae sound.

Zoom workshop, pre-registration required via festival website

Irish Doctors Choir (Brian MacKay) Foundling Hospital Anthem, Handel

VIRTUAL CHORAL TRAIL 8 13.00 Trinity Belles, Dublin (Aoibhín Powell and Áine Brennan) Queen Medley, Queen arr. Aoibhín Powell Donegal Youth Choir (Sara Laughlin) Fix You, Coldplay Hi Lo Singers, London (Geoff Walker) Smells Like Teen Spirit, Nirvana arr. Jonathan Rathbone Co-operation Ireland Schools (Dónal Doherty) Dreams, The Cranberries arr. Michael Doherty 25

PLAYBACK: CITY OF SONG 14.00 Derry has a proud history and tradition of singing, so much so that is known as The City of Song. Building on that heritage, choral trails, sacred trails and community concerts bring choirs out of the concert hall and into the city and district’s libraries, shopping centres, care homes and cafes. The festival chorus brings local singers together to perform large-scale works for choir and orchestra in the beautiful surroundings of the Guildhall.

VIRTUAL CHORAL TRAIL 9 16.00

SATURDAY 24 OCTOBER

Chantage, London (James Davey) That Lonesome Road, James Taylor & Don Grolnick arr. Simon Carrington

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Ceol le Chéile, Donegal (Veronica McCarron) Three Little Birds, Bob Marley Doire Calgach Singers, Derry (Trevor Burnside) Chattanooga Choo Choo, Harry Warren & Mack Gordon

TENEBRAE 19.00 Described as “phenomenal” (The Times) and “devastatingly beautiful” (Gramophone Magazine), award-winning choir Tenebrae, under the direction of Nigel Short, is one of the world’s leading vocal ensembles renowned for its passion and precision.

The choir is renowned for its highly-acclaimed interpretations of choral music with repertoire ranging from hauntingly passionate works of the Renaissance through to contemporary choral masterpieces.

Programme: Musica dei Donum, Orlande de Lassus Miserere, mei Deus, Gregorio Allegri Der Mensch lebt und bestehet, Max Reger Nachtlied, Max Reger Komm, Jesu komm, J. S. Bach Singet dem Herrn ein neues, J. S. Bach

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VIRTUAL SACRED TRAIL 1

VIRTUAL SACRED TRAIL 2

PODCAST: SING IRELAND

10.00

11.00

12.00

Octavoce, Edinburgh O Radiant Dawn, James MacMillan

Dungiven Parish Choir (Maeve McAteer) Mo Thiarna agus mo Dhia, Irish Hymn

Ossia Youth Choir, Dublin (Carmel Whelan) Morning Has Broken, Traditional Hymn arr.

Carmel Whelan and Bryan Mullen

Dublin Youth Choir (Lynsey Callaghan) Nader My God By U, James Stevens arr. André van der Merwe

Havilland Family Chorale, Nigeria (Michael Bakare) Oniruu’ru Iyin (Various Praise), Michael Bakare

The Lambay Singers, Dublin (Ciarán Kelly) Steal Away to Jesus, Spiritual

Sing Ireland explores the many health and well-being benefits of group singing, as well as the current research on group singing during the pandemic. Dermot O’Callaghan of Sing Ireland, is joined by Ailbhe Kenny of Mary Immaculate College, Limerick, Martin Ashley of the Association of British Choral Directors, and Sophie Lee, a music and health researcher and practitioner.

Sing Ireland (previously Association of Irish Choirs) was established in 1980 to promote and develop choral singing in Ireland. Based in the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at the University of Limerick, Sing Ireland’s mission is leading, enabling and connecting communities of singers in Ireland, enhancing life through singing.

VIRTUAL SACRED TRAIL 3 13.00

Etims Vocal Academy Chorale, Lagos, Nigeria (Salami Philip) I Can Tell the World, Spiritual arr. Moses Hogan Discovery Gospel Choir, Dublin (Aisling McCormick) This Little Light, Gospel arr. Roisin Judge and Lydia Monds 30

SUNDAY 25 OCTOBER

Open Arts Community Choir, Belfast (Beverley McGeown) A Little Bit of Love, Graham Kendrick arr. Craig McLeish

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PLAYBACK: DERRY WELCOMES THE WORLD – PART 2 14.00 Gala performances from visiting international choirs are a true celebration of singing, showcasing a colourful mix of musical styles, languages and costumes from around the world.

Part two features choirs from Colombia, Estonia, Norway, Finland, Wales, England, Portugal, Germany and Ireland who performed in the international competition from 2017 to 2019.

VIRTUAL CHORAL TRAIL 10

BOB CHILCOTT WORKSHOP 18.30

16.00

SUNDAY 25 OCTOBER

The Washington and Lee University Singers, USA (Shane Lynch) Ta Na Solbici, Samo Vovk

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Côrdydd, Wales (Huw Foulkes) Stars, Eriks Ešenvalds & Sara Teasdale Ireland Unlimited (Ciarán Kelly) The Parting Glass, Traditional

We were thrilled to welcome world-famous choral director and composer Bob Chilcott to the City of Derry International Choir Festival in September for a preparatory online workshop with our global virtual Festival Chorus.

As a composer, conductor, and singer, Bob Chilcott has enjoyed a lifelong association with choral music, first as a chorister and choral scholar in the choir of King’s College, Cambridge, and for 12 years as a member of the King’s Singers. He became a full-time composer in 1997 and has produced a large catalogue of music for all types of choirs, published by Oxford University Press.

On 19 September 2020, over 150 singers from across the world joined Bob for a rehearsal of

the iconic Danny Boy, which will be performed on the final night of this year’s Festival.

Participants enjoyed the experience of singing with Bob and hearing his thoughts on the much-loved song.

DANNY BOY 19.00 The closing performance of the 2020 City of Derry International Choir Festival will feature a virtual Festival Chorus performance of Derry’s Danny Boy by singers from across the globe, conducted by the internationally-renowned Bob Chilcott.

The emotional song is closely associated with the City of Derry and its surrounding district and the performance reflects a message of hope from us to the world to continue the song.

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FESTIVAL CHORUS SOPRANOS Abigail Alcorn Aideen Doherty Alison Herbert Angeline Zaghloul Anita Hanratty Ann Hamill Ann McCay Ann Enright Anne Butler Ariadna Yeraldine Rosales Lopez Betty Beattie Brittany Strelluf Caitriona Mullan Caroline Brennan Cathy Heaton Cindy Ellis Cristíona McGettigan Davinia Fitzgerald Debbie Browne Deborah Vincent

ALTOS Deirdre Browne Deirdre Geddes Denise O’Kane Denise Yarbrough Donna Kerlin Elle Coves Emer Dunne Emma Kelleher Emma Louise Bond Fidelma Legge Finn McMahon Geraldine Mooney Grainne Logue Grainne McAnaney Hayley McGivern Jackie Mehigan Jenny Huey Karen Guildea Kathryn O’Callaghan Kathy McMahon Laura Sheerin Rodriguez

Lauranne Kelly Leona Matthews Linda Baker Linda ten Bras Louise McDonnell Lyn Carroll Lyndsey Turner Maeve Byrne Maeve McAteer Margaret McCay Margaret McGahan Margaret Ross Marie Fitzpatrick Mary Brogan Mary Lynch Mary Pickering Maureen Doherty Minerva Hortencia Rosas Garcia Natalia de la Torre Robles

Noirin O’Connell Olwyn Branigan Patricia del Carmen Valle Marquez Philomena Kearne Poh Lin Lim Rachel Kelly Rachel Saunders Rebecca Kealy Rita Van Geem Roisin Healy Roisin Roche Ros Garrett Sally Bazzard Sinead Jones Sinead McCooey Susie Novella Una O’Reilly Una Whelan Wendy Geraghty

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Brenda Quinn Brid McGinley Caoimhe Armstrong Caoimhe McAnena Carole Leonard Cathy Moran Cecile Engel

Christine Diamond Claire McGirr Claire Sharkey Dotti Wynne Emma Moore Eve Judge Frances McGonnell

Kate Porter Kathy Elliot Liz Curran Maeve Chambers Maeve O’Connor Maire O’Leary Mairead Nic Bhloscaidh Margaret Kelly Maria Cutliffe Mary Coyle

Mary O’Malley Maryellen McGuirk Michelle Crawford Rachel Breen Rebecca O’Doherty Rhona Darcy Roisin Rice Sheelagh Greer Sheila Murphy Sinead Coyle

John Fallon Jonny McGeown Martin White Omar Lara Flores Rodarte Patrick McGinley

Ryan McCallion Sergio Darío Gonzalez Mercado

Eddie Murray Eoghan Doherty Feargal Logue Greg Doherty John Brady Kevin Healy Liam Peacock

Malachy McGlinchey Mark Kelly Matthew Murray Miguel Jacobo Guzman Ramirez Olaf Dawid Tom Griffiths

Siobhan Heaney Soo Hun Sophie Kelly Una Carthy Vivienne McBride Wendy Brocklehurst Wendy Keys Yvonne Motherway Zoe Fahy

TENORS Aaron Slattery Adrian Pollard Caoimhe McAnena Christopher Kerrigan Columb Duffy David Brocklehurst

BASSES

ALTOS Alesha Bryan Alexis Sabellano Angela Donovan Angie NG Anne-Marie Clarke Aoife Mullan Barbara Hurley

Helen O’Dea Itzeli Jauregui Valenzuela Jan Lyons Jennifer Beattie Jenny O’Donnell Joan Loftus Joanne Armstrong Joanne Gray Kaat Higham

Frieda Holober Gay Castles Grainne Donaghey Grainne Stevenson Heather Patterson Helen Haughey Helen McLaughlin

Aaron McGlinchey Brendan Doherty Bruce Heyen Colm Rainey Conor Ryan Dermot O’Donnell Don McGinley

Tom Lynch

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

FUNDERS

STAFF

Arts Council of Northern Ireland Derry City and Strabane District Council Inner City Trust, Derry Enkalon Foundation

Dónal Doherty, Artistic Director Matthew Greenall, Executive Director, Walled City Music Fiona Crosbie, Festival Manager Lorcan Doherty, Content Manager Johanne Jefferson, Social Media Coordinator Aoife Mullan, Social Media Assistant

SPONSORS Caldwell & Robinson Allstate FinTrU Bishop’s Gate Hotel Irish Institute of Music and Song

PARTNERS Ulster University Sing Ireland Contemporary Music Centre, Ireland Choral Festival Network

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Philip Gilliland, Chair Colm Rainey Grainne Stevenson Joy Tennis Martin White

SPECIAL THANKS TO: R&D Media Eoin O’Callaghan Wildkat PR Marian Norwood, NW School of Marketing Urban 3D, Graphic Design Peter Meenagh, Web Design 37

FRIENDS OF THE FESTIVAL

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Vivace Friends Rosemary and Michael Doherty

Allegro Friends James & Pat Crosbie Siobhan Tourish

Andante Friends BrĂ­d and Don McGinley Catherine & John McGonigle Catherine Napier Celine McDaid Charlie McDaid David Flanagan Donald Hill Eileen and Philip Morrison Gail Gilliland Joy Tennis Leo Kelly Martin White Paul McLaughlin

Largo Friends Anne Peoples Bernadette Kiely Caroline Connolly Christine McIvor Colin Laird Finn McMahon Joan and Ken Doherty Yvette Rainey

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Thank you to all involved, a truly happy experience.

So good to be singing again!

SINGER, BOB CHILCOTT VIRTUAL WORKSHOP, 2020 40

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www.derrychoirfest.com 42