Exciting times ahead for the
Mayo International Choral Festival
It is shaping up to be a bumper year for
the Mayo International Choral Festival. Apart from the exciting festival in May
of 2016, there are also a number of events that will bring much song, music,
colour and crowds to Mayo.
Canadian Orpheus Male Choir
Hosted by the Mayo International Choral
Festival, a 50-strong male voice choir from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, will
perform on Friday 25th September with the Mayo Male Voice Choir at
the Church of the Holy Rosary, Castlebar. This is one of Canada’s leading male voice
choirs and have toured extensively, including Canada, Europe, Britain and
Ireland and have performed more than 460 concerts in venues such as the Roy
Thomson Hall in Toronto, St Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey and the Royal
Albert Hall in London.
Known as ‘the men who love to sing’, the
choir has raised over $800,000 for a number of service groups and charitable
organisations.
The choir’s musical director is Simon
Irving and accompanist is Janet Stachow.
The concert will also feature the popular
Mayo Male Voice Choir, with musical director Deirdre Lee and accompanist
Rebecca Cresham.
One of only five performances in Ireland by
this Canadian choir, the Mayo concert date is not to be missed. Fri 25th
Sept. Church of the Holy Rosary, 8pm. Adm €12 on the door, or tickets from
Downtown Records, Castlebar and Westport. In support of the Western Care
Association. The choir will also lay a wreath and perform at the Mayo Memorial
Peace Park on Friday 25th, at 3pm.
Barbershop Convention Weekend
With only a few weeks to go, the excitement
is building for the Irish Barbershop Singers Association Convention being held
in Mayo this year – a weekend of non-stop Barbershop singing and fun!
With groups already confirmed from Sweden,
the USA and England, this is truly an International event and will bring over
1000 people to Castlebar, many who will take time to tour Mayo as part of their
holiday. The Convention consists of competitions and performances for Barbershop
quartets and choruses, and all events are open to the public. “Having attended
some of the Conventions over the years, the IABS Convention weekend is tops
when it comes to sheer fun and entertainment. We would encourage people to
support the event by going to at least one show or competition over the
weekend, all open to the public and with nominal admission fees – you will not
be disappointed” stated the Mayo Choral Festival Director, Declan Durcan, the
driving force in brining the convention to Mayo, along with the Mayo
International Choral Festival committee and several regional stakeholders. All
events take place in the Royal Theatre, Friday 2nd and Saturday 3rd
October – more details on www.iabsconvention.com
Press release
continued on next page
Choral Workshop by ‘Storm Front’, the 2010 world
champion Barbershop Quartet
For all local and
regional choir members, a vocal workshop will be given by Storm Front, USA and
Hot Note, England – the National Champions of the UK’s ‘Ladies Association of
British Barbershop Singers’ (LABBS).
The Irish Association
of Barbershop Singing (IABS) extends an invitation to all local and regional
choirs and choir members to explore a cappella singing skills with world-renowned
singing and presentation coaches. A great opportunity to: improve your breathing,
explore forward singing and to enhance your stage craft. All welcome but places
are limited so early booking is advisable. Saturday 3rd October,
10am to 12noon, Royal Theatre, Castlebar. €10 per person including
refreshments.
Entries
Now Being accepted for the May 2016, Mayo International Choral Festival
Now regarded as one of
the top four choral festivals in Ireland, the festival committee are looking
forward to presenting the winning formula of competitions, street performances
and quirky events including a dawn chorus – now known as the event ‘for those
rising early on Sunday morning, or for those going home from the celebrations
the night before’. The festival is now firmly a fixture in choir’s calendars,
not just from Ireland, but from all over the world. “Already a choir from the
USA and from Norway have confirmed that they will travel to the festival in
May, and have sent representatives to visit the performing and accommodation
facilities in Mayo, and to meet the team members of the festival committee”
stated Edward Horkan, Festival Chairman. To take part in the festival,
International choirs must forward their completed entry forms before 31st
December 2015, and choirs from Ireland before January 31st, 2016.
The choral festival is unique in Ireland in that it’s the only county-wide
festival in the country, and visiting choirs have performed in Ballina,
Ballinrobe, Ballintubber, Claremorris, Castlebar, Crossmolina, Killala, Knock,
Newport and Westport. Said Edward – “we look forward to next year’s festival
which will see many celebration events, as 2016 marks the festival’s fifth
year. It’s hard to believe we’ve achieved so much in only four years – to be
regarded as one of the top choral festivals in Ireland in such a short time is
a remarkable achievement by the committee and the many volunteers and choir
members around the county”
The festival is
supported by Mayo County Council / Castlebar Municipal District and Failte
Ireland.
Photo captions:
The Canadian Orpheus Male Choir who will perform together
with the Mayo Male Voice Choir on Saturday 25th September, 8pm, at
the Church of the Holy Rosary, Castlebar.
Storm Front, USA, 2010 World Champion Barbershop Quartet,
one of the guest performers and also presenters of a choral workshop for local
choir members, at the Irish Association of Barbershop Singers Convention
(IABS), in Castlebar, Fri 2nd and Sat 3rd October. All
events open to the public.
