The Mayo International Choral Festival – 22nd – 26th May 2019
The festival takes the form of several international male/female adult choirs travelling to Mayo at the end of May each year, to partake on a competitive and non-competitive basis. Their visits include a number of evening and daily performances county-wide, tours of Mayo and a gala concert on Saturday night.
The theme of the festival is to allow choirs to meet with other choirs, relax and enjoy a great weekend in the beautiful West of Ireland.
The festival has the support of many Mayo choral groups and local organisations in the different towns, to coordinate concerts by the visiting choirs, and to act as their hosts. The festival committee have also welcomed and facilitated concerts with visiting choirs outside of the festival dates, from England, Canada, Netherlands, USA and Wales.
The festival is supported by Mayo County Council, Castlebar Municipal District Council, Ashford Castle and numerous other sponsors.
What’s it all about?
The brainchild of Edward (Eamonn) Horkan, was inspired by a concert for the Mayo Memorial Peace Park whereby several choirs performed in unison in the Royal Theatre. Edward, a member of the Mayo Male Voice Choir, attended many choral festivals worldwide and with this experience set about organising the festival.
The festival takes the form of several competing and non-competing choirs participating in a series of concerts, mini-performances and events that take place over four to five days, all over the county of Mayo, in the west of Ireland.
All events are open to a public audience. There are many beautiful and exciting scenic locations and interesting attractions in Mayo and choirs are encouraged to visit some of these during their visit and to experience the friendliness of people from Mayo.
Premier Competition
The first-prize-winners of all competitions below (with the exception of First Time Competitors Competition), automatically qualify for entry to the Premier Competition. Programme should consist of two contrasting part songs. One of the pieces must be chosen from the repertoire already performed in the qualifying competition.
The second piece must not have been previously sung by your choir, in any of the other 2019 competitions as below. Please note, a choir can qualify to enter the Premier Competition in one competition category only, in each year of the festival.
Should a particular choir win in two or more competitions in 2019, the competition in which that choir receives the highest mark, is the competition that the choir will represent at the Premier.
Should a choir receive the same winning result in two categories, they may chose which category they wish to represent. The competition(s) that the winners do not represent, will be represented by the runners up of that competition(s) instead.
Choirs taking part in the Premier Competition (which takes place at the Gala Concert), and any guest choir at the Gala Concert, in addition to those attending the Gala Concert, will join together as one large group to sing Handel’s ‘Hallelujah Chorus’. Choirs are encouraged to rehearse this piece in the weeks prior to the festival. Please feel free to bring your scores as scores will not be provided. PRIzES Winner: Trophy and €1,000. Runner-up: €200.
Four Part Choirs
Any combination of voices. (Four Part or more). Programme should consist of two contrasting part songs, and be chosen as follows: (i) A piece composed before 1800 (ii) Any part song contrasting with (i). Prizes Winner: Trophy and €300. Runner-up: €150.
Choirs from Ireland
4-part. S.A.T.B. Programme should consist of two contrasting, 4 part songs. Prizes Winner: Trophy and €300. Runner-up: €150.
Female Voices Margaret Bourke Sheridan
Programme should consist of two contrasting 3 or 4 part songs. Prizes Winner: Trophy and €300. Runner-up: €150.
Male Voices Jack Feeney
Programme should consist of two contrasting 3 or 4 part songs. Prizes Winner: Trophy and €300. Runner-up: €150.
Sacred Music
Programme should consist of two contrasting part songs. Prizes Winner: Trophy and €300. Runner-up: €150.
Gospel Choirs
Programme should consist of two contrasting part pieces from The Gospel Choral Music Repertoire. Prizes Winner: Trophy and €300. Runner-up: €150.
Gaelic or Celtic Language Delia Murphy Amhrán is Fearr i nGaeilge nó i dTeanga Cheilteach.
Programme should consist of two contrasting 3 or 4 part songs in Irish or any Celtic Language. Prizes Winner: Trophy and €300. Runner-up: €150.
Barbershop Chorus
Programme should consist of two contrasting pieces from the Barbershop repertoire Prizes Winner: Trophy and €300. Runner-up: €150.
Barbershop Quartet
Programme should consist of two contrasting pieces from the Barbershop repertoire Prizes Winner: Trophy and €300. Runner-up: €150.
First Time Competitors For choirs who have never entered into competition before and would love to do so with choirs of a similar standard.
Programme should consist of two contrasting 3 or 4 part songs. Winning choir of this competition is not eligible to enter the Premier Competition. Prizes Winner: Trophy and €200. Runner-up: €100.
Songs from a Musical, Light Opera, or a Pop / Chart song.
This is also open to musical societies and associations as well as choirs – all must be formed for at least a full year or academic year (Sept to May). Programme should consist of two contrasting 3 or 4 part songs. Prizes Winner: Trophy and €300. Runner-up: €150.
A Cappella Groups Open to groups of a minimum of four to a maximum of eight members.
Programme should consist of two contrasting 3 or 4 part songs/pieces, in any genre, sung without accompaniment. Prizes Winner: Trophy and €300. Runner-up: €150.
Smaller Choral Groups Open to groups of a minimum of four to a maximum of eight members.
Programme should consist of two contrasting 3 or 4 part songs. Prizes Winner: Trophy and €300. Runner-up: €150.
Festival Timetable:
Wednesday, 22nd May • Concert / Presentation to honour one of Mayo’s Musical Maestros.
Thursday, 23rd May • Evening concerts with local and visiting choirs in various venues throughout Mayo.
Friday, 24th May • Evening concerts with local and visiting choirs in various venues throughout Mayo • Mini-performances on the Songway Choral Trail during the day.
Saturday, 25th May • Competitions and Adjudications • Mini-performances on the Songway Choral Trail during the day • Gala Concert and afterwards the afterglow party at the Festival Club
Sunday, 26th May • Choirs perform at church services • Closing Event, details to be confirmed
All details subject to change
More information/ Updates
Festival Office: C/o Declan Durcan, Festival Producer, Cloontubrid, Ross, Castlebar, Co Mayo.
Tel. +353 (0)86 2658038
Web. www.mayochoral.com
Facebook :Mayo International Choral Festival. Córfhéile Idirnáisiúnta Mhaigh Eo
