May 2016 NUI Galway Choirs Shine at Cork International Choral Festival

Three NUI Galway choirs excelled at the recent 62^nd Cork International Choral Festival, taking home three prizes. The choirs consist of NUI Galway students, staff and graduates.

Sing‘n’Tonics were presented with the first prize for the National Competition for Chamber Choirs, receiving a massive score of 89.25%. It is the first victory by a university choir at the Cork Choral Festival since the 1980s. Pieces performed were ‘Baby Shark’ by Gordon Hamilton and ‘Fáilte don Éan’ by Derry composer Kevin O'Connell.

The Sing‘n’Tonics also won the John Mannion Perpetual Trophy for the best piece at the festival for their performance of Fáilte don Éan. The award was particularly fitting as John Mannion used to sing with Galway-based choirs Cois Cladaigh Chamber Choir and Galway Baroque Singers. The nine member chamber choir won by 5% and the membership of the group includes four visiting American students and two German Erasmus students. 

The NUI Galway Testostertones, which recently won ChoirFactor in Galway city, were placed a very close second in the National Male Voice Category finishing 0.25% behind the Portadown Singers. The group sang an ABBA medley and ‘Daemon’ by the Hungarian composer Orban.

The NUI Galway Alumni Ensemble competed in the National Light Music section and finished in fifth place out of thirteen choirs.

Peter Mannion, Director of each choir and NUI Galway graduate, said: “It’s been the accumulation of a year’s hard work for these amateur singers. They are great ambassadors for themselves and the University and it is wonderful to see groups made up of students, staff and alumni working so well together. It is the true community spirit of the University.” 

Nearly 5,000 singers from all around the world participated in the 62nd Cork International Choral Festival. The Festival, which is the oldest in Cork and one of Europe’s most prestigious Choral Festivals, included gala concerts, schools concerts, national and international competitions, workshops and free outdoor performances.

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