Irish Youth Choir Summer Residential Course

For ten days, from the 11-20 July 2023, the Irish Youth Choir will immerse you in simply wonderful music under the direction of the internationally acclaimed conductor and artistic director Bernie Sherlock.

Once accepted into the choir, you'll be part of a group of young, enthusiastic and talented singers who will be taught and trained and conducted every day by Bernie and a team of brilliant vocal tutors, one for each SATB line: Sarah Keating, Christina Whyte, Rory Lynch, and Daniel Beuster.

Musical Programme

Singers will be challenged, delighted and rewarded by the music on this year's course. At the heart of the programme is Cloudburst by the American composer Eric Whitacre - his exciting, personal response to a cloudburst he experienced in the desert - and Rautavaara’s dramatic Suite de Lorca. This year’s whole programme is infused with human responses to the natural world in beautiful music by Brahms, Morley, Reger, Eric Esenvalds, Rosephayne Powel, and Eleanor Daley.

The programme includes a new work for choir specially commissioned from Ireland's Eoghan Desmond. The Last Bird, inspired by the last song of the kaua‘i ‘ō’ō bird in 1967, will be given its world premiere. In addition to intensive choral singing every day, the IYC summer course also provides individual singing lessons, musicianship workshops (including sight-singing), and excellent vocal warm-ups – all hugely beneficial for any choral singer, as well as enjoyable.

There’s good craic as well which includes the always spectacular open mic and a brilliant trad night.

As the course unfolds, you and all the other members transform into a choir: Ireland's national youth choir, ready to perform in this year's Irish Youth Choir summer concerts inLimerick and Dublin at the end of the course.

Where:

The Univsersity of Limerick Campus

Concerts

St Mary’s Cathedral Limerick 18 July 2023

Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin 20 July 2023

How do I apply?

- For further audition information and for the application form, click here.

- Returning members can complete registration here.

Cost:

The Irish Youth Choir Course costs €600 which includes accommodation, meals, all course activites and transport to the concerts. The fee can be paid in instalments. Sing Ireland Is committed to evey talented young singer having the opportunity to be part of the Irish Youth Choir, so if you would like further information about financial assistance, please contact jenny@singireland.ie.

About the Irish Youth Choir

The Irish Youth Choir is led by artistic director Bernie Sherlock and is made up of Ireland's finest young singers between the ages of 18-28. It has been an important part of Irish cultural life since it was found in 1982. Following audition, successful singers attend the annual residential summer course and at workshop weekends at various points throughout the year. The choir benefits from the highest standards in conducting and training and from encounters with eclectic and advanced repertoire. The IYC is administered by Sing Ireland, Ireland's national body for the support and promotion of choirs and group singing.