2013 Festival Programme

The Kenmare Choral Festival Committee cordially invites all choirs to come to Kenmare, Co. Kerry in the beautiful Southwest of Ireland for the 2013 Kenmare Choral Festival to be held from the 29th November to the 1st December to celebrate the beginning of the Holiday Season with beautiful music, great entertainment and festive events.

We are honoured and delighted that our Festival Patron is Dr. Geoffrey Spratt, Director of the Cork School of Music.

Festival Opening & Gathering Concert

Our programme of events launches on Friday, the 29th November with special events being planned including a Master Class to be held by Niall Kelly on the Alexander Technique, which we understand will be of great benefit to all participants.

In keeping with the year of the Gathering, later Friday evening we will have our opening Gathering Concert featuring Niamh, Soprano. We will be welcoming our last year's competition winners to participate in the concert as well as our local school and festival choirs.  Tickets €10 Adult / €5 Child / €25 Family - available at the door or at the Carnegie Arts Centre (064 66 48701).

Choral Competitions 

We have developed the following categories to encourage as many different choirs as possible to participate in the competitions which will be held on Saturday:

	Large Choirs Competition Held Saturday at Pobalscoil Inbhear Sceine.  Tickets €5 - available at the door
	Light Entertainment Competition Held Saturday at Pobalscoil Inbhear Sceine.  Tickets €5 - available at the door
	Chamber Choirs Competition Held Saturday at St. Patrick's Church.  Tickets €5 - available at the door
	Church Music Competition Held Saturday at Holy Cross Church.  Tickets €5 - available at the door

Click here to read more about the competition programme.

Non-Competition Choral Performances

On Sunday morning, the choirs have been invited to participate in church services at local Catholic, Church of Ireland and Methodist churches.

Throughout the weekend choirs will be encouraged to perform for the public in the town Square, shops, hotels, restaurants, pubs and the Carnegie Arts Centre. All choir entrants will receive with their entrance tickets a list of discounts available from participating Kenmare shops – a great way to start your Christmas shopping! Based on the concept “Sing for Your Supper”, discounts will be offered at various restaurants and pubs to choir members who perform at the establishment - see individual restaurants for details.

To add to the festivities, various trophies will be awarded to choirs who perform in locations throughout town, including one for “Most Appropriate Seasonal Presentation”.

Festive Closing Concert

The Festival finishes Sunday afternoon with a Closing Concert by the massed choirs singing various Christmas and seasonal music pieces at Holy Cross Church.  Tickets €5 Adult / €2 Child - available at the door.

The Festival Committee looks forward to welcoming you to Kenmare to enjoy what promises to be a most entertaining and fun weekend!