Brought to you by the Cork International Choral Festival.

You could be in for a musical surprise at some stage this week.

More than 5,000 incredible singers from all over the world are in town this week for the 65th Cork International Choral Festival (May 1st – 5th, 2019)… and they’ll be staging pop-up performances all over the city in various spots.

Cork’s longest running festival and one of Europe’s most prestigious competitive choral events, the Festival will attract 50,000 visitors to Cork for five days of music and song.

The programme opens on Wednesday May 1st, 2019 in Cork City Hall with an exquisite Gala Concert celebrating the work of the Finnish composer, Jean Sibelius and Danish composer, Carl Nielsen.

The hotly contested annual Aloys Fleischmann International Trophy competition takes place on Saturday, May 4th, giving audiences the opportunity to hear some of the world’s top amateur choirs competing for one of Europe’s most prestigious choral prizes.

Selected Irish and international choirs will also participate in a wide range of competitions and festival events with fringe concerts and informal public performances in new and unexpected locations, including Blarney Castle and Gardens, St. Colman’s Cathedral, Cobh and the Methodist Church, Kinsale.

A food market in Emmet Place on Saturday from 10am to 6pm will feature choirs on the hour (the line-up for that one is here).

The French Choir Azimuts will perform at On the Pig’s Back in Douglas at 6pm on Thursday, while the Danish group øre-sound will fill the Crawford Art Gallery with song on Friday at 1pm.

The Shelbourne Bar, Cork University Hospital, the GPO, Nano Nagle Place and The Imperial Hotel will also host impromptu concerts.

Check out the pop-up schedule here.

Every year Cork welcomes choirs from across the world for a programme of choral concerts, national and international competition, and internationally renowned performers as thousands of participants bring the city to life for five days. To view the full programme for Cork Choral Festival 2019 and book tickets, visit the website here.