AIMS Choral Festival New Ross

Margaret Rossiter
11, Ard Alainn
New Ross, Co. Wexford
Ireland
Phone: (353) 51-425582
Email: marrossiter@eircom.net

The Association of Irish Musical Societies (AIMS) holds its annual choral festival in the historic, bustling town of New Ross in Ireland’s south-east corner. St. Michael’s Theatre, The Court House and The Parish Church are the main venues for this weekend of choral singing. The festival caters for a range of different choir sizes and a broad variety of choral genres. The event has two parts—the Schools and Youth Competition on the Friday. This ever expanding day gives young singers an opportunity to perform and to listen to their peers. Following the School and Youth Competition is the Adult Competition on the Sunday. The festival program includes choral music with 12 competitions—Sacred, Gospel, Male Voice, Female Choirs, Irish Language, Plainchant, Madrigal and Barbershop.

The festival celebrates 25 years in New Ross in 2009 . As well as a busy schedule of competitions this year’s programme has the added attraction of a special commissioned piece “The Performer” composed by Br. Ben O’ Hanlon with lyrics by Robert Doherty which will be performed by Dublin Airport Singers prior to both Sunday adjudications. Carrick-on-Suir Musical Society present this year’s Saturday night Gala concert “That’s Entertainment!” in St. Michael’s Theatre at 8pm. Tickets are €15 and can be purchased online through http://www.stmichaelsnewross.com Nominations for this year’s musicals awards in the Gilbert and Sullivan categories will be announced at St. Michael’s theatre on Sunday at 1pm.

http://www.aims.ie/