The BYU Singers wow at St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral as part of the Cork International Choral Festival.
The BYU Singers had an inspiring academic tour to Ireland. Full of collaboration, performances, sightseeing, and competition, their week-long journey ended with them winning the first-place award at the Cork International Choral Festival.
A significant highlight of the tour was their first concert, held at St. Andrew’s Church in Dublin. When the BYU Singers arrived, they were welcomed by the local parish and the New Dublin Voices, a leading Irish chamber choir, making the group immediately feel welcome and at home. The Mt. San Antonio Chamber Singers, from Mt. San Antonio College in California, also arrived, and together these three choral groups prepared for a joint charity concert. The concert was held to support Focus Ireland, a nonprofit organization that works with people across Ireland who are homeless or at risk of losing their homes. It was a touching concert full of music spanning from the 1600s to the present day.
The rest of the tour featured a series of concerts held in stunning venues, including St. Patrick’s Cathedral and the Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin. At these historic sites, the BYU Singers shared how awe-inspiring it was to be in buildings that were centuries older than the United States. Many students also noted the deep appreciation of culture and music that people in Ireland have. A student favorite was going to the Irish House Party, where they learned traditional Irish reels, jigs, and other dances. The BYU Singers also visited the Cliffs of Moher and explored Blarney Castle, where many students kissed the famous Blarney Stone.
The group’s many months of preparation were celebrated when the BYU Singers received first prize in the Fleischmann International Trophy Competition at the Cork International Choral Festival, where they competed against choirs from across the world. This recognition not only honored their hard work and dedication but also served as a testament to the quality of their performances. One judge spoke about how they expected good tone, good intonation, and good diction, but beyond those basic requirements they were looking for “musical intelligence.” Winning this award reinforced the BYU choir’s reputation for excellence and provided a proud moment for the group and the university.
Madison Paez, a soprano in the choir, opened up about how their director, Dr. Andrew Crane, encourages the students to make meaning with the music they sing. She shares, “We were constantly reminded that although we were there to compete, we were there first to share God’s love and message with the audience, and it was each of our jobs to do that.”
Looking Ahead
The BYU Singers now prepare for a performance as a featured artist at the 2025 American Choral Directors Association Convention in March and have been asked to premiere a prize-winning new choral composition. Additionally, they look forward to touring across Italy, Greece, Switzerland, and Belgium, including participating in the 14th World Choir Festival on Music and Competition in Greece in May 2025.
Listen to the song that secured BYU Singers their win in Cork!
