FINAL preparations are underway for the third City of Derry International Choral Festival, kicking off next Wednesday, October 21, when organisers will welcome over 60 choirs to the city.
The five-day festival, now in its third year, has seen a growth in participation in each consecutive year and looks forward to its best year yet in terms of the spread of participating countries and the quality of the participating choirs.
The International Competition, the focal point of the festival, will see ten top-quality choirs from Belarus, Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Sweden, England and Ireland battle it out for the top prize of the Oak Tree of Derry Trophy and £2,000.
Thirty national choirs and 20 school choirs will take part in competitions, choral trail performances around the city, workshops, community concerts and a sacred trail across the five days.
The festival kicks off with two very special guest artists on Wednesday 21st October, when Bob Chilcott leads the Sing Joyfully! choral symposium and The King’s Singers perform a concert of Great American Songbookfavourites in the Opening Gala Concert.
A total of 26 primary schools will participate in the magical spectacle that is Bluebottle on Thursday 22nd October.
The primary schools will join together to form a choir of 300 singers and the children and family event also features narrator, the Ulster Orchestra and live projected shadow animation.
The 50-minute whirlwind of music will be performed twice on Thursday 22nd October at 5pm and 7.30pm.
Fiona Crosbie, Festival Manager, says, “Our third edition is going to be the best yet. We are very excited to welcome so many choirs of different styles and genres and excited to hear the music of so many different countries.
“On top of competing choirs we have a brilliant series of guest artist concerts and I am particularly looking forward to The King’s Singers, Bluebottle and the world premiere of three new choral pieces on Friday 23rd October, as part of the Singing Shakespeare project.
“With such a varied line-up of events there is truly something for everyone with an interest in music!”
The festival runs from Wednesday 21st to Sunday 25th October and tickets are now on sale at the Millennium Forum Box Office.
For more information visit www.codichoral.com.
