Feis choirs ‘amongst best in the world’ – Dr Sean Doherty

A thronged St Mary’s College assembly hall paid witness to the most widely and fiercely contested Feis Dhoire Cholmcille Choral Section in recent years on Tuesday past. 

Fifteen choirs from across the primary and post-primary sectors contested a total of nine competitions which included Unison, Two-Part Choir, Sacred Music, Gregorian Choir, Irish Language and Three-Part Choir contests. 

IN PICTURES: Local schools participate in Feis Dhoire Cholmcille Choral Section

The Choral Section also saw the introduction of a new post-primary competition which saw competitors asked to perform one piece by a Contemporary Irish Composer born after 1925. The winners, St Mary’s College received the new Patrick Carlin Cup and Bursary for their victory. 

The theme of Contemporary Irish composers born after 1925 will continue at the feis during Easter week with a £1,000 prize for the solo singing competition within the topic and the winner of the piano competition under that same competition banner will pick up £300 as well as the brand new Clement and Eva Haan Cup. 

Adjudicator for the Choral section was Derry native, Dr Sean Doherty, a composer and musicologist at Dublin City University.

Commenting on the overall standard of the primary school choirs, Dr Doherty said: “It takes an army of people to organise the quality of choirs that I saw here today. As a composer I go to choral festivals and competitions all around the world. And I specialise in writing choral music for children’s choirs and youth singers. What I saw on stage this morning easily competes with the best children's choirs in the world”.

And speaking about the post-primary section, Dr Doherty added: “The standard I’ve seen here is as good as anything across this island. In fact, choirs from around Ireland should be coming to Derry to compete”.

Choir Secretary of Feis Dhoire Cholmcille Pat MacCafferty added: “To see so many choirs performing was fantastic and is a tribute to the commitment of the teachers and of course pupils of all the schools who took part.

“The standard of the singing was excellent and shows that the exceptional talent and love of choral music is still totally alive and well in our schools and across our city and district. I want to thank not only those who competed so graciously, but every single one of the hundreds of people who came to watch. I also want to sincerely thank St Mary’s College for again hosting our choir competitions and for the welcome they showed the feis yet again”.

“I look forward to seeing them all again at St Columb’s Hall and The Playhouse during Easter week”.

Choral Section results in order they were competed for:

Competition 443 – Primary School Unison Choir - 1st – St John’s Primary School; 2nd – St Eithne’s Primary School; 3rd- Hollybush Primary School

Competition 444 – Primary School Two-Part Choir - 1st – Nazareth House Primary School

Competition 446 – Primary School Scared Music or Gregorian Choir (Bishop Daly Cup and Bursary) - 1st – St Anne’s Primary School; 2nd- St Eithne’s Primary School; 3rd – Nazareth House Primary School

Competition 447 – Primary School Irish Language Choir (Knights of Columbanus Cup and Bursary) - 1st – Sacred Heart Primary School Irish Language Choir

Competition 448 – Post Primary Unison Choir - 1st – St Mary’s College

Competition 451 – Post Primary Scared Music or Gregorian Choir (Bishop McGuinness Cup and Bursary) - 1st – Thornhill College

Competition 450 – Post Primary Three-Part Choir - 1st – Thornhill College

Competition 453 – One piece from a Contemporary Irish Composer Born after 1925 (Patrick Carlin Cup and Bursary) - 1st – St Mary’s College

Competition 449 – Post-Primary Two-Part Choir - 1st – St Mary’s College

Most Promising Choir – Primary School - Steelstown Primary School

Michael Mason Cup for Choral Excellence - Thornhill College