The City of Derry International Choir Festival has announced its international adjudicating panel for 2026, bringing five leading figures from the world of choral music to Derry, Northern Ireland, this October.
Taking place from 22–25 October 2026, the fourteenth edition of the City of Derry International Choir Festival will bring choirs, singers and audiences from across Ireland, the UK, Europe and beyond to the city for four days of choral competitions, concerts, workshops, community performances and music-making.
At the heart of the Festival’s competition programme is its international panel of adjudicators. For 2026, the panel brings together renowned conductors, composers, educators and choral specialists from Norway, Slovenia, the United Kingdom, Finland and Ireland, with Norwegian conductor Ragnar Rasmussen serving as Chair.
The panel will adjudicate choirs taking part across the Festival’s extensive competition programme, including national competitions and the prestigious Oak Tree of Derry International Competition at the historic Guildhall on Saturday 24 October.
Ragnar Rasmussen – Chair | Norway
Returning to Derry as Chair of the 2026 adjudicating panel is acclaimed Norwegian conductor, composer and educator Ragnar Rasmussen.
Based at NTNU Music in Trondheim, Ragnar is Artistic Director of the professional ensemble Nidaros Vokal and the international Utopia & Reality Chamber Choir. His extensive career has taken him around the world as a conductor, lecturer and adjudicator, working with ensembles including the BBC Singers, State Choir Latvija, the Estonian National Male Choir and the Ulster Orchestra.
Urša Lah | Slovenia
Slovenian conductor Urša Lah brings extensive international experience as a conductor, educator and adjudicator.
Having studied choral conducting in Ljubljana and Tromsø, Urša has led award-winning choirs and worked extensively in both Slovenia and Norway. She currently conducts the Choir of Trondheim Symphony Orchestra & Opera and its children’s choir, alongside her work as a choirmaster, lecturer, mentor and guest conductor.
Alexander L’Estrange | United Kingdom
Award-winning British composer, arranger, jazz musician and choral animateur Alexander L’Estrange joins the City of Derry International Choir Festival adjudicating panel for 2026.
Known for bringing together the English choral tradition with influences from jazz and beyond, Alexander’s music is performed by choirs and singers around the world. He has a particular passion for music education and young voices, with tens of thousands of children having performed his large-scale choral works. He is also a prolific arranger whose work has been performed by ensembles including The King’s Singers and Tenebrae.
Mia Makaroff | Finland
From Finland, the Festival is delighted to welcome composer, arranger, music educator and conductor Mia Makaroff.
A graduate of the Sibelius Academy, Mia’s career spans composition, teaching, conducting and the creation of music projects for children and young people. Her music has been performed internationally by renowned vocal ensembles including Rajaton, The King’s Singers and Amarcord.
An experienced international adjudicator and lecturer, she has a particular passion for inclusive singing and encouraging young people to find their voice through music.
Dervilla Conlon | Ireland
Completing the 2026 panel is Irish choral specialist Dervilla Conlon, whose career encompasses performance, conducting, education and adjudication.
Dervilla is a Choral Conducting Tutor at St Patrick’s Pontifical University, Maynooth and Assistant Conductor of Maynooth University Choral Society. She also directs the Cathedral Choristers and Cathedral Girls’ Choir at the Cathedral of Christ the King, Mullingar, and is founder and director of the award-winning female ensemble, the Lynn Singers.
A former member of Chamber Choir Ireland, Dervilla has a particular focus on nurturing young musicians and developing choral excellence.
An international celebration of choral music in Derry
First held in 2013, the City of Derry International Choir Festival has grown into one of the major annual choral events in Northern Ireland, welcoming choirs and vocal ensembles from around the world to perform alongside local, school, community and national choirs.
The 2026 Festival runs from Thursday 22 to Sunday 25 October, with events taking place at venues across Derry and the surrounding region.
Alongside its national and international choir competitions, audiences can experience a programme of headline concerts, workshops, community concerts, Choral Trail performances and opportunities to hear choirs singing throughout the city.
Highlights for 2026 include the Opening Gala with the Ulster Orchestra and Festival Chorus, Grammy-nominated vocal ensemble Tenebrae at the Guildhall, a late-night concert from The Apex Singers at St Columb’s Cathedral, the Oak Tree of Derry International Competition, and the Festival’s Closing Gala & Awards Ceremony.
Whether you are a singer, conductor, choir, music enthusiast or simply looking for a unique cultural experience in Northern Ireland this autumn, the City of Derry International Choir Festival offers four days of world-class choral music in the heart of the Walled City.
We look forward to welcoming Ragnar Rasmussen, Urša Lah, Alexander L’Estrange, Mia Makaroff and Dervilla Conlon to Derry this October.
Explore the full 2026 Festival programme, discover this year’s international competing choirs and find out more about our adjudicators at derrychoirfest.com.
