22 - 25 October 2026
Wednesday 22 October, Millennium Forum, 7.30pm
Raising the curtain on this year’s City of Derry International Choir Festival was a spectacular evening of drama, beauty and vocal power. A Night at the Opera brought together the majestic forces of our Festival Chorus, the world-class Ulster Orchestra, and acclaimed soloists from Irish National Opera for a rousing performance of operatic favourites, under the baton of Conductor, Ryan McAdams.
We heard the passion and pathos of Verdi’s Nabucco, the fiery spirit of Bizet’s Carmen, the tender tragedy of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, and the glorious sweep of Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana.
Ulster’s premier orchestra teamed up with 90 voices from across the North West of Ireland, the Festival Chorus, uniting community and artistry in a breathtaking choral experience.
This stirring gala set the tone for a week of unforgettable music-making in Derry.
FEATURING:
Festival Chorus, Ulster Orchestra, Ryan McAdams (conductor), Rachel Croash (soprano), Aebh Kelly (mezzo) and Trevor Eliot Bowes (bass)
Thursday 23 October, Guildhall, 7.30pm
We enjoyed an evening of pure vocal brilliance with The Marian Consort, the award-winning British vocal ensemble renowned for their bold, emotionally rich performances spanning music from the 12th century to the present day.
Led by founder and director Rory McCleery, The Marian Consort brought a uniquely intimate approach to early and contemporary music alike — praised for their clarity, soulfulness, and stunning one-to-a-part singing. Recent appearances of the ensemble included the BBC Proms, Wigmore Hall, and concert halls across the US, Europe, and Japan.
The audience enjoyed a programme that was both thought-provoking and captivating, championing hidden Baroque gems alongside powerful new works by composer David Fennessy, who was also in attendance. Whether reviving overlooked voices of the past or giving life to fresh compositions, The Marian Consort presented a luminous and unforgettable musical experience in the gorgeous acoustics of the Guildhall.
Friday 24 October, Millennium Forum, 7.30pm
The Humanophones didn’t need instruments. They were the instruments.
Using their voices and every other conceivable part of the body that can be used as a sound space, this electrifying seven-member French troupe delivered a genre-defying blend of jazz, pop, funk, soul and world music, all performed through rhythm, movement, and vocal energy alone.
They call it “Body Pop Music”, an extraordinary, high-octane performance style that is as visually captivating as it is musically inventive. Fast-paced, funny, and endlessly surprising, their shows have wowed audiences across the globe.
In a special Festival collaboration, the Humanophones were joined on stage by the Festival Youth Chorus, a group of talented young singers from schools from Derry and Belfast for an exhilarating evening of sound that celebrated the universal power of the human body and voice.
Friday 24 October, St. Eugene's Cathedral, 10pm
The audience basked in the serenity of a late-night choral experience as two of Ireland’s finest choirs, Codetta and New Dublin Voices, came together in the transcendent setting of St Eugene’s Cathedral.
Celebrating their 25th anniversary in 2025, Codetta is a cornerstone of the choral scene in Northern Ireland and beyond, with an impressive international touring record, collaborations with the Ulster Orchestra, and standout performances at the BBC Proms and Washington’s Kennedy Center. Under the direction of Dónal Doherty, Codetta brings a powerful blend of choral richness and artistic vision to every performance.
They were joined by the exceptional New Dublin Voices, an internationally decorated chamber choir led by Bernie Sherlock, who were also celebrating a key milestone, their 20th anniversary in 2025. Winning top honours at prestigious competitions across Europe, including 1st place winners of our very own Oak Tree of Derry International Competition in 2019, New Dublin Voices are known for their daring, imaginative programming and commitment to new music.
Together, these choirs presented a radiant programme of sacred and contemporary music, ensuring a wonderfully luminous end to Friday at the Festival.
Saturday 25 October, Guildhall, 8.00pm
Always a fan favourite, the Oak Tree of Derry International Competition is the jewel in the crown for the City of Derry International Choir Festival.
We witnessed the pinnacle of global choral artistry as choirs from across the world competed for the coveted Oak Tree of Derry Trophy, the Festival’s top international prize. Held in the iconic Guildhall, this thrilling contest brougth together diverse voices, cultures, and musical traditions in a dazzling showcase of choral talent.
Since the Festival’s inception in 2013, the competition has become a major draw for world-class choirs, with previous winners hailing from Ireland, Slovenia, Indonesia, Estonia, Wales, and Latvia. An international panel of adjudicators evaluated performances that push artistic boundaries and celebrated choral excellence.
Sunday 26 October, Millennium Forum, 8.00pm
“And the winner is…”
The grand finale of the 2025 Festival. A joyful, celebratory evening that brought together voices from around the world in a glittering Closing Gala Concert & Awards Show, sponsored by FinTrU.
We heard the incredible international competitors one final time before they departed AND witnessed the dramatic announcement of the 2025 winner of the Oak Tree of Derry Trophy amongst other awards.
It was a night of celebration, reflection, and unity through song, rounded off by a stunning performance by winning choir, the University of Santo Tomas Singers from the Philippines.
