Derry Feis winner to feature in evening of Les Foyer des Artiste ‘baroque brilliance’

PICTURED ABOVE: Rising singing star Clíodhna Regan pictured receiving her cup from John Harkin founder of Alchemy Technology Solutions and sponsor of the Contemporary Irish Composer born after 1925 singing competition at Feis Dhoire Cholmcille. John is also chair of the board of Les Foyer des Artistes and a sponsor of the upcoming Midwinter Gala at St Columb’s Hall. Pictured far right is Darren Hargan, founder of Les Foyer des Artistes and who adjudicated the competition won by Clíodhna this year.

The winner of a prestigious competition at this year’s Feis Dhoire Cholmcille will return to the city early next month to perform at a concert in Derry's St Columb’s Hall featuring the music of Bach and Handel.

The musical programme will be played on authentic historic instruments from the baroque period and will also witness the launch of the Les Foyer des Artistes singers.

The fourth season presented by Les Foyer des Artistes, founded by Derry man Darren Hargan and based at St Columb’s Hall, begins with the Midwinter Gala concert at the renowned city centre venue on Thursday, December 4.

Tara Erraught, the internationally acclaimed Irish Mezzo-Soprano will feature prominently during the performance, and the evening will also feature rising singing star Clíodhna Regan from Co Meath who won the £1,000 Contemporary Irish Composer born after 1925 senior singing competition at Derry Feis this Easter.

Clíodhna said: “This is Les Foyer des Artistes Mid-Winter Gala, and I think it’s very exciting that this will be the first time they will use their choir. There are quite a few opera singers from the south, including myself taking part. It’s the first time they will use this type of chorus – it’s a bigger project than they have done before. And I am very excited to be a part of it”.

The concert will be the first time Clíodhna will return to St Columb’s Hall since her inaugural victory at Feis Dhoire Cholmcille.

“It’s a beautiful hall that you’d almost walk past with the buzz that is going on in Derry.

“Even from a tourist perspective, it’s just worth a walk inside it to see such a beautiful place. From a singer’s perspective, the acoustics are incredible, whether you are on the stage itself or in the body of the hall, there’s a wonderful acoustic that you are surrounded by. It’s definitely somewhere I am really looking forward to singing in again”.

Darren Hargan, Founder of Les Foyer des Artistes added: “Earlier this year, I was delighted to award Clíodhna Regan first prize in the Contemporary Irish Composers competition of Feis Dhoire Colmcille.

“She will now join the newly formed Le Foyer des Artistes Singers for the Midwinter Gala Concert which opens season four at St Columb’s Hall and will also sing a special solo. Le Foyer des Artistes is dedicated not only to championing established artists, but to nurturing the next generation of emerging star talent by creating professional development opportunities through our programmes and projects”.

The evening is sponsored by Alchemy Technology Services (part of NTT data) and the Dutch Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in London.

Founder of Alchemy Technology Services John Harkin is chair of the board of Les Foyer des Artistes. John also sponsored the prize fund for the Contemporary Irish Composers competition of Feis Dhoire Colmcille this year – a fund he has already agreed to replicate in 2026.

He said: “I have been involved with Les Foyer des Artistes for a couple of years, but we’re now taking it to the next level. We are building up to a summer festival in 2027. So, we will cover our normal programme this year, kicking off with the mid-winter concert.

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“The lady who is going to be singing, Tara Erraught, from Dundalk is outstanding. She hasn’t performed in Northern Ireland yet, although she has performed globally. And of course, Clíodhna Regan, the winner of the Contemporary Irish Composers competition of Feis Dhoire Colmcille will be playing a key role by performing a solo within the new chorus. That’s another great connection to the city through the feis.

“I think the whole point of Les Foyer des Artistes is to introduce new stars within the mix of existing superstars. Through this we provide role models, enhance their experience and help drive their future careers”.

Les Foyer des Artistes Midwinter Gala begins at 7.30pm on Thursday, December 4 at St Columb’s Hall, with the doors opening at 6.30pm. A limited number of tickets remain for the event and can they can be purchased from the Les Foyer des Artistes website at: lefoyerdesartistes.com/wintergala. Full details of the full musical programme for the evening can also be viewed there.