It's two months to go until Derry is greeted by Grammy award-winning musicians, as churches and homes are filled with world class, choral entertainment.
It comes as the City of Derry International Choir Festival makes a return from October 20 - 24.
The special festival will feature both live and virtual performances from a range of acts, with headliners including the internationally acclaimed all-male chorus Chanticleer, and award-winning vocal ensemble Tenebrae.
Celebrating its ninth year, the immersive programme boasts live and digital concerts, performances, workshops, podcasts, and other events.
Over five days, audiences will have a chance to experience live music once again with a variety of performances in iconic buildings across the city, including the historic St Columb’s Cathedral, and the inspiring surroundings of the centuries-old St Columba’s Church, Long Tower.
It will kick off with the Opening Gala Concert on October 20, featuring members of the Ulster Orchestra with local choirs and singers performing The Voyage.
The gala concert also introduces a brand-new festival commission for chorus and orchestra by Northern Ireland creative production company, Dumbworld.
October 21 marks the return of award-winning Derry chamber choir Codetta, which promises to be a major highlight for the 2021 programme.
The concert includes a world premiere of newly commissioned work by Irish composer Eoghan Desmond chosen in partnership with The Contemporary Music Centre, Ireland, as part of the year-long Colmcille 1500 celebratory programme, coordinated by Derry City and Strabane District Council and Donegal County Council.
School performances will be back with a non-competitive format for primary years encouraging children and teachers to take part in the fun and community-spirited Primary Big Sing event in Millennium Forum on October 21, and a day of competitions for post-primary schools a day later.
The Festival’s online programme features this year’s headline virtual act, the Grammy award-winning all-male a cappella ensemble Chanticleer from San Francisco.
They will be making their virtual debut at the Festival on October 21 with a live Zoom workshop and a bespoke recorded concert.
Renowned internationally as "the orchestra of voices", Chanticleer was founded in 1978 and remain as the "world’s reigning male chorus" performing stunning concerts to every corner of the world.
Online audiences will also enjoy the sounds of previous international winners of the Festival in a special virtual concert, as well as a series of podcasts with guest artists and a virtual symposium on the theme of words, music and composition.
Welcoming this year’s programme of events, the festival’s Artistic Director Dónal Doherty said there is a "real sense of hope" among singers that regular performances will be making a return.
He continued: “Singing together is our life-blood and this shared experience has been sorely missed over the past 18 months. We cannot wait to perform together again, or to enjoy the performance of other groups, whether outdoors or in one of the beautiful indoor venues that we'll be using for this year's festival.”
Dónal added that in-person and virtual events will create a new dynamic to the festival's programme this year.
He said: “Derry is a very welcoming city and we look forward to an even bigger global audience, either in person or online, being able to share in and enjoy this year's five-day celebration of song.”
For more details on this year’s programme and events visit www.derrychoirfest.com
For more Derry news, visit our new site MyDerry.
