RTÉ lyric fm launch “Choirs for Christmas” 2024
Celebrating 25 years of the hugely popular festive competition
Join us on RTÉ lyric fm for our annual celebration of community, amateur choral music making from all around the island of Ireland – RTÉ lyric fm Choirs for Christmas 2024
We know that choirs all over the country are busy rehearsing again and preparing for special Christmas celebrations. RTÉ lyric fm would love you to join in our choral celebration and send in a recording to the RTÉ lyric fm Choirs for Christmas Competition. We are looking forward to hearing your performances and sharing your music making with the nation this festive season!
A selection of submissions will be chosen for airplay on Weekend Classics with Claudia Boyle from December 7th.
We all need that festive soundtrack to get us in the seasonal mood so your entries will be posted and available to listen to on the RTÉ lyric fm Choirs for Christmas webpage. In the meantime check out our main RTÉ lyric fm webpage for details on how to enter.
RTÉ lyric fm Choirs for Christmas 2024
RTÉ lyric fm producer Gail Henry said “It’s hard to believe the competition is in its 25th year! Choral singing is at the heart of Irish community life and we really enjoy hearing choirs from all corners of the country. From choirs large and small to singers young and old. It’s such a highlight when the entries start coming in – we all get that special Christmas feeling in the office. We already know many choirs are planning to enter, so come on and join the thousands of performers who are singing their hearts out and preparing to send in an MP3 before Friday 29th November 2024, 12 noon. We can’t wait to hear from you and we so look forward to sharing your recordings with RTÉ lyric fm listeners and giving your choir what could be your first big national broadcast! Whether your song is winter seasonal or Christmassy it’s your chance to shine on national radio and help our listeners experience the true magic of Christmas this year on RTE lyric fm.”
Closing date for the receipt of entries is Friday 29th November 2024, 12 noon.
-ENDS-
Date: Tuesday October 8th 2024
RTÉ Press Officer: Tara O’Leary
Editor’s Notes:
Competition Terms and Conditions of Entry
- All choirs – school, college, amateur and semi-professional – choral societies and chamber choirs are welcome to enter
- All music entries must be in MP3 format only and submitted by e-mail only – No other format will be accepted
- Please listen back to your recording and ensure that it is suitable for airplay, requires no editing and shows the choir at their best!
- Please note by submitting your entry you are agreeing to RTÉ lyric fm publishing all details submitted
- Entries must be sent to choirs.lyricfm@rte.ie and must include the following:
- A correctly labelled MP3 recording (Please save the MP3 with the full name of the choir, town and county i.e. St Brigid’s National School Choir, Castlebar, Co.Mayo)
- A high-res jpeg picture of the choir (labelled correctly as above)
- A short choir biography (maximum 350 characters)
- Details of the piece performed including title and composer and / or arranger
- Please submit details of any additional instrumentalists in the recording i.e. accompanist
- Full contact details for the choir director
- Mobile phone number
- Postal address
- E-mail address
- Where applicable, please provide your social media account names/handles on Facebook, Instagram,X or TikTok.
- Optional – send in a video of your choir to be featured on the RTÉ lyric fm social media pages! (preferably made in portrait with a 9:16 aspect ratio and the ideal dimensions being 1080×1920 pixels.)
- Please do check this list twice: Ensure you attach all the above details in one email – incomplete entries or multiple emails with incomplete details will be deemed invalid
Closing date for the receipt of entries is Friday 29th November 2024, 12 noon
Prizes:
BEST OVERALL CHOIR : €750
BEST OVERALL RUNNERS UP: €200
BEST YOUTH CHOIR: €200
BEST COMMUNITY / CHORAL SOCIETY CHOIR: €200
BEST PRIMARY SCHOOL CHOIR: €200
BEST SECONDARY SCHOOL CHOIR: €200
BEST PERFORMANCE OF A CONTEMPORARY IRISH CHORAL WORK*: €200 *Composed within the last 10 years – may include one of the RTÉ lyric fm Christmas Carols Commissions.
Below is a list of our 2023 Choirs for Christmas winners.
SING IRELAND CHORAL SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT: Jilly Powell, teacher at St. Mary’s CBS School Choir, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary
BEST PERFORMANCE OF A CONTEMPORARY IRISH CHORAL WORK: Belfast Philharmonic Youth Choir conducted by Lynsey Callaghan for a performance ofCome and Sing by Seán Doherty
BEST PRIMARY SCHOOL CHOIR: Our Lady Queen of Peace Choir, Janesboro, Limerick with teachers James Malone, Úna Ryan Carmody, and Orla Bourke Maguire
SPECIAL COMMENDATION AWARD: Saint Brigid’s National School, Castleknock, Dublin 15 conducted by Niamh Williams
BEST SECONDARY SCHOOL CHOIR: CBS Loreto Kilkenny Senior Choir conducted by Mandy Dowling and Lorraine Maher
BEST YOUTH CHOIR: Limerick Youth Choir, conducted by Maire Keary-Scanlon
BEST COMMUNITY CHOIR: The Dublin Gay Men’s Chorus, choral director David O’Shea
BEST CHORAL SOCIETY CHOIR: Grosvenor Chorale, Belfast, conducted by Edward Craig
BEST OVERALL RUNNERS UP: Dublin Youth Choir Singers conducted by Lynsey Callaghan
BEST OVERALL CHOIR : Lux Brumalis, Dublin conducted by David Yau