2023 FESTIVAL
Top row l-r: The King’s Singers in Concert, University Concert Hall (UCH); Members of Háskólakórinn (Iceland) in UCH; Members of Kingswood Community Choir (Dublin) in UCH; Outdoor Chorus, Cliffs of Moher
Middle row l-r: SanvikaKoret (Norway) performing in Bunratty Folk Park; Voices of the Boyne (Louth) performing in Bunratty Folk Park; Voices of Limerick performing in the Redemptorist Church; Singers Marin (California, USA) performing in the Redemptorist Church
Bottom row l-r: Kingswood Community Choir and Háskólakórinn after their performance in International Rugby Experience; VoiceOver (Waterford) performing in Holy Trinity Abbey Church in Adare; Aoide Voices (Limerick) performing in Holy Trinity Abbey Church in Adare; Vocation (Virginia, USA) in Adare
The KING’S SINGERS Workshop
FRIDAY 9TH JUNE, 4PM - UNIVERSITY CONCERT HALL
We were delighted to be joined by The King’s Singers for an afternoon exploring the joys of choral music, and singing together a capella! Through varied songs they worked with singers on everything from fundamental skills like breathing, balance, and blend, right through to high-level performing.
OPENING GALA CONCERT - THE KING’S SINGERS
FRIDAY 9TH JUNE, 7.30PM - UNIVERSITY CONCERT HALL
The Limerick Sings International Choral Festival was delighted to welcome Tenebrae as the 2022 guest choral group.
Described as “phenomenal” (The Times) and “devastatingly beautiful” (Gramophone Magazine), award-winning choir Tenebrae is one of the world’s leading vocal ensembles, renowned for its passion and precision.
Under the direction of Nigel Short, Tenebrae has twice secured the award for Best Choral Performance in the BBC Music Magazine Awards (2012 and 2016), and its recording of Fauré’s Requiem with the London Symphony Orchestra was nominated for the Gramophone Awards (2013). In 2018 Music of the Spheres, Tenebrae’s album of part songs from the British Isles, received a Grammy nomination. Tenebrae is renowned for its highly-acclaimed interpretations of choral music ranging from the Renaissance through to contemporary choral masterpieces, and has appeared at major festivals and venues including the BBC Proms, Edinburgh International Festival, Leipzig Gewandhaus (Germany) and Melbourne Festival (Australia).
Programme Details:
Bruremarsj fra Valsoyfjord (Wedding March from Valsoyfjord) - Traditional Norwegian
Northern Lights - Ola Gjeilo
Ave maris stella - Edvard Grieg
A Dream within a Dream - Ola Gjeilo
Uti var hage (In our meadow) - Hugo Alfven
Aftonen (Evening) - Hugo Alfven
Och jungfrun hon gar i ringen (And the maiden joins the ring) - Hugo Alfven
Words - Anders Edenroth
Sa skimrande var aldri havet (The sea was never so shimmering) - Evert Taube, arr. Anders Edenroth
Sommarspsalm (Summer Hymn) - Waldemar Ahlen
Pass me the jazz - Anders Edenroth
Pseudo-Yoik - Jaakko Mantyjarvi
Legenda - Einojuhani Rautavaara
Finlandia - Jean Sibelius
Presented by Lorcan Murray, RTÉ lyric FM
Outdoor Chorus
with RUAIDHRÍ Ó DÁLAIGH
SATURDAY 10TH JUNE, 9.15AM - UNIVERSITY CONCERT HALL & CLIFFS OF MOHER
Over 260 singers enjoyed a fun rehearsal/workshop in University Concert Hall, before performing
together, conducted by Ruaidhrí Ó Dálaigh, at the stunning Cliffs of Moher.
In 2023, the Outdoor Chorus choir performed the classic What a Wonderful World, specially arranged
by Ruaidhrí for the occasion.
This was a unique opportunity for choirs and individual singers to work with one of Ireland's most renowned choral conductors, as well as to perform against the beautiful backdrop of the Cliffs!
CHORAL TRAIL
SATURDAY 10TH JUNE, 2.00PM - BUNRATTY CASTLE & FOLK PARK
The Limerick Sings Choral Trail brings choirs out to venues around the community for fun, pop-up performances.
2023 marked the Festival’s first visit to the popular destination Bunratty Castle & Folk Park, for two showstopping performances by visiting choirs.
Performing Choirs
SandvikaKoret (Norway)
Voices of the Boyne (Co. Louth)
AN EVENING OF CHOIRS IN CONCERT
SATURDAY 10TH JUNE, 8.30PM - REDEMPTORIST CHURCH, CITY CENTRE
This Saturday evening concert of the 2023 Limerick Sings Festival featured local and visiting choirs performing a diverse programme of sacred, traditional and folk songs including The Lily and the Rose by Bob Chilcott, classic spiritual favourite Down in the River to Pray, and a beautiful selection of Icelandic folk songs, to name but a few. All presented in the beautiful surrounds of Limerick City’s Redemptorist Church.
Performing Choirs
Háskólakórinn (Iceland)
Limerick Chamber Choir
Singers Marin (California, USA)
Vocation (Virginia, USA)
Voices of Limerick
Presented by Shirley Keane, RTÉ lyric FM
CHORAL TRAILS
SUNDAY 10TH JUNE
11.00AM - INTERNATIONAL RUGBY EXPERIENCE
Kingswood Community Choir (Dublin)
Háskólakórinn (Iceland)
11.30AM - THE HUNT MUSEUM
Singers Marin (California, USA)
Vocation (Virginia, USA)
1.30PM - MILFORD CARE CENTRE
Cantette (Limerick)
Silvertones (Co. Wexford)
The Limerick Sings Choral Trail brings choirs out to venues around the community for fun, pop-up performances.
Our visit to Milford Care Centre in Castletroy has become an annual favourite for choirs and residents. International Rugby Experience and The Hunt Museum were both new venues for the Festival, and a great opportunity to showcase two impressive local attractions to our visiting choirs from Ireland and abroad.
AFTERNOON PROMS CONCERT
SUNDAY 11TH JUNE, 3.30PM - HOLY TRINITY ABBEY CHURCH, ADARE
This delightful Afternoon Proms concert took place in the picturesque village of Adare and featured a light choral programme performed by local and visiting choirs. Audiences were treated to everything from pop and folk to traditional and classical, such as Mozart’s Ave verum corpus, The Rhythm of Life, and beautiful arrangements of classics from U2 and Fleetwood Mac – the perfect Sunday afternoon of song to round off the 2022 Limerick Sings Festival!
Performing Choirs
Aoide Voices (Limerick)
Kingswood Community Choir (Dublin)
Silvertones (Co. Wexford)
VoiceOver (Co. Waterford)
Voices of the Boyne (Co. Louth)
Presented by Shirley Keane, RTÉ lyric FM
