Brought to you by Cork International Choral Festival.

Prepare to have your eardrums serenaded.

The Cork International Choral Festival makes its glorious return this May bank holiday weekend.

Running from April 30th to May 4th, this year marks a whopping 70 years of incredible voices filling our streets, and the organisers are pulling out all the stops for a truly spectacular five-day celebration.

Festival artistic director Peter Stobart with members of The Wilcollane Singers at the launch of Cork International Choral Festival’s 70th anniversary programme. Picture: Clare Keogh

Whether you’re a seasoned chorister or a first-time festival goer, the 2025 edition promises something for every music lover, with a rich mix of international and Irish choirs, premiere performances, and free public concerts in unique venues.

Here are seven of the events we’ll be catching this year: 

• Opening Night Spectacle: Get ready for a powerful start at Cork City Hall on Wednesday, April 30th! They’re kicking things off with Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius, performed by the Cork Fleischmann Symphony Orchestra, the East Cork Choral Society, and even the Guinness Choir from Dublin.
• International Choir Champs: The prestigious Fleischmann International Trophy Competition is back as a big highlight. Expect some seriously talented amateur choirs from all over the world competing for a top European prize.
• Danish A Cappella Vibes: Thursday night at City Hall, a Danish group called Syng Selected is bringing their contemporary a cappella thing. They’ve got 31 young, amazing singers (ages 18–30) and are a big deal in the Nordic vocal scene.
• New Music in a Stunning Setting: There’s going to be a really special moment during Festival weekend with the premiere of the winning piece from the Seán Ó Riada Composition Competition. Chamber Choir Ireland will be performing it in the beautiful St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral.
• The Best of Irish Choirs: The festival wraps up with a bang with Ireland’s Choir of the Year competition. This is where you’ll see the cream of the crop of Irish choral talent, ending the week on a high note and proving Cork’s a real city of song.
• Familiar Favourites Return: Good news! Afternoons in the Atrium at the Clayton Hotel are back on May 3rd and 4th for some relaxed listening. Plus, the always popular Cobh Fringe Festival will be bringing choirs to gorgeous spots like St. Colman’s Cathedral and the promenade. Lovely.
• Marina Market Debut! Something new for 2025 – the festival is heading to the lively Marina Market on Saturday, May 3rd. Expect choirs performing in a fun, family-friendly atmosphere.

Festival tickets and further details on all the performances can be found on corkchoral.ie.