The award-winning Neil Cowley Trio return to Derry this month as part of the second City of Derry International Choral Festival
The critically-acclaimed jazz trio will take to the stage of St. Columb’s Hall on Thursday, 23 October, along with local chamber choir Codetta and international chamber choir Utopia & Reality as part of the Festival’s evening concert series.
As last year’s City of Culture Musician-in-Residence, Neil Cowley has gained a dedicated following of jazz enthusiasts in the city and will return to perform the recently-composed Eighth Gate, a new suite of music inspired by his time in Derry.
Described by Cowley as a “celebration of Derry life” and his “small gift” to the city in return for his inspirational time here, the suite features specially arranged music for internationally acclaimed Derry-based chamber choir, Codetta.
Following the Choral Festival performance, the trio will perform a late-night jazz gig at the Festival Club in the Ballroom, St. Columb’s Hall at 10.30pm featuring tracks from their new album Touch and Flee.
Admission £5 on the door and all are welcome.
To date, the Neil Cowley Trio has released five studio albums and won many awards, including the 2007 BBC Jazz Award for Best Album and the 2013 Jazz FM award for Best UK Jazz Act.
Their fifth studio release, Touch and Flee, was released in June of this year and will also feature at the festival concert.
A recent review stated, “In a jazz world full of introverts, Cowley is a rare musical extrovert, someone who can actually communicate with a broader audience. It’s something to cherish”. (The Guardian)
The performance is one leg of a Northern Ireland tour in association with Walled City Music and Moving on Music, sponsored by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. Other performances will take place in the Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast (25th), Down Arts Centre, Downpatrick (26th), Ardhowen Theatre, Enniskillen (28th), Strule Arts Centre, Omagh (29th) and Flowerfield Arts Centre, Portstewart (30th).
Tickets for all festival events are on sale at the Millennium Forum Box Office on 02871 264 455 or online at www.millenniumforum.co.uk.
Over 70 choirs will take part in the second edition of the City of Derry International Choral Festival this autumn from 22 – 26 October.
School, local, national and international choirs will compete in a range of categories, perform in public spaces throughout the city, participate in choral workshops and take part in exciting concerts over the five-day event.
The main venue for concerts, competitions and workshops will be St. Columb’s Hall and the festival’s Choral Trail will bring visiting choirs to city centre locations and wider community venues and parishes for pop-up performances and Sunday services.
Festival Timetable
Wednesday 22nd October
International Choral Symposium
Opening Gala Concert with The Sixteen and Harry Christophers
Thursday 23rd October
Primary school competitions and workshops
Evening Concert with Neil Cowley Trio and Utopia & Reality Chamber Choir, Norway
Late-night jazz gig with the Neil Cowley Trio
Friday 24th October
Post-primary school competitions and workshops
Evening concert with The Swingle Singers
Saturday 25th October
National competitions for female voice, male voice, mixed voice and gospel music (morning and afternoon)
International Competition (evening)
Sunday 26th October
Sacred Trail (morning)
National competitions for youth choirs and sacred music (afternoon)
Closing Gala Concert with awards ceremony (evening)
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