Preparations are underway at the City of Derry International Choir Festival for an extra special edition to mark its tenth anniversary, taking place on 18-22 October 2023. The Festival is now accepting entries for its full selection of events, so get your applications in as soon as possible in order to avoid any disappointment – you won’t want to miss this year’s very exciting programme.

In 2023, Derry Choir Festival will bring together singing groups of all sorts, from across the UK and Ireland, including local community singers from the region’s thriving choral scene, as well as a new crop of international choirs who will compete for the Oak Tree of Derry trophy. 

School, local, national and international choirs are invited to join us for a 5-day feast of singing, which will include concerts, pop-up performances and educational workshops, all taking place in the Millenium Forum, the Guildhall and in a varied selection of venues across Derry, Strabane and Donegal.

Participating groups and local audiences will also be treated to a programme of concerts by world class guest artists. The long list of outstanding groups who have appeared at previous festivals includes The Sixteen, Tenebrae, Voces8, The King’s Singers and The Real Group, as well as a series of truly memorable gala concerts from the Festival Chorus and the Ulster Orchestra. Full details of the programme will be announced over the course of the coming months, so keep an eye on the Festival’s website and the usual social media channels.

Artistic Director, Dónal Doherty, commented, “I am already very excited about the plans we are putting in place for our 10th anniversary festival. 2013 was a transformative cultural experience for everyone in the city and region and our aim is to relive that excitement and to recapture that energy in our most ambitious programme to date.”