30-04-2025
Cork city to come alive as Choral Festival set to begin
One of the country's oldest festivals celebrates 70 years this May bank holiday weekend as Cork city comes alive to the sound of choral music.
Organisers say more than 5,000 rooms will be filled in hotels and accommodation across the city with choristers and visitors to the International Choral Festival.
Established in 1954 to nurture and develop choral music in Ireland, it has since evolved into one of Europe's top choral festivals, attracting thousands of choristers to the city with more than 90 events taking place over five days.
The festival runs from 30 April to 4 May and will include grand gala concerts, school concerts, pop-up performances, and fringe events including the Cobh Fringe Festival.
The festival opens tonight at Cork City Hall with Elgar's The Dream of Gerontius, performed by the Cork Fleischmann Symphony Orchestra, the East Cork Choral Society, Madrigal '75 and the Guinness Choir (Dublin).
The centrepiece of the festival will once again be the Fleischmann International Trophy Competition which will see top amateur choirs from home and abroad compete.
The festival's artistic director, Peter Stobart, said this year's programme will honour "our roots while also looking to the future, with bold performances, unique collaborations and extraordinary voices".
