imported>Aoifecuthbert: Added the announcement of CCI's new Artistic Director, added most recent recordings and commissioned composers, reformatted into lists for easier reading.

2025-06-19T15:21:08Z

Added the announcement of CCI's new Artistic Director, added most recent recordings and commissioned composers, reformatted into lists for easier reading.

New page

{{EngvarB|date=December 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2017}}
{{more citations needed|date=November 2017}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Chamber Choir Ireland
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| formerly = National Chamber Choir of Ireland
| established = 1996
| location = [[Dublin]], Ireland
| founders = {{Plainlist|
*Karina Lundstrom
*[[Colin Mawby]]
}}
| leader_title = Artistic Director
| leader_name = [[Gabriel Crouch]]
| purpose = {{nowrap|Professional [[Choir|choral ensemble]]}}
| website = {{url|chamberchoirireland.com}}
}}

[[File:CCI .jpg|thumb|right|250px|Chamber Choir Ireland in 2016]]
'''Chamber Choir Ireland''', formerly known as the '''National Chamber Choir of Ireland''', is the [[Republic of Ireland]]'s national choral ensemble and national chamber choir, and the only regularly funded professional choir in the country. Primarily funded by the [[Arts Council of Ireland]], the choir is a resident ensemble at the [[National Concert Hall]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Resident Organisations |url=https://www.nch.ie/about-us/resident-organisations/ |url-status=live |access-date=June 18, 2025 |website=nch.ie}}</ref> and Associate Artists to [[Dublin City University]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chamber Choir Ireland strengthens partnership with Dublin City University |url=https://www.dcu.ie/commsteam/news/2022/jun/chamber-choir-ireland-strengthens-partnership-dublin-city-university |url-status=live |access-date=June 18, 2025 |website=DCU.ie}}</ref>. In June 2025, Chamber Choir Ireland announced the appointment of [[Gabriel Crouch]] as its Artistic Director, commencing in January 2026<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chamber Choir Ireland announces new Artistic Director and Principal Conductor |url=https://www.chamberchoirireland.com/new-artistic-director/ |url-status=live |access-date=June 18, 2025 |website=chamberchoirireland.com}}</ref>.

The choir's repertoire spans from early [[Renaissance music]] to the present day. It commissions new works by contemporary composers. In addition to its performances in Ireland and international tours, the choir has released recordings on the [[Naxos (company)|Naxos]], [[Harmonia Mundi]], [http://www.orchidclassics.com Orchid Classics], [[RTÉ Lyric FM]], and Louth Contemporary Music Society labels.

Chamber Choir Ireland is a member of the European network of professional chamber choirs, [https://www.tensonetwork.eu TENSO].

==Artistic directors==

*[[Gabriel Crouch]] (2026–present)
*[[Paul Hillier]] (2008–2024)
*[[Celso Antunes]] (2002–2007)
*[[Colin Mawby]], founding Artistic Director (1991–2001)

The Choir also regularly invites international guest conductors to work with the group, and since 2016 has worked with [[Sofi Jeannin]], Eamonn Dougan, Benjamin Goodson, Krista Audere, [[Grete Pedersen]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.hoertnagel.com/en/artists/artist-portrait/detail/grete-pedersen.html |title=Grete Pedersen |website=Konzertdirektion Hörtnagel Berlin}}</ref> [[Andrew Synnott]], Zoltán Pad, [[Bernie Sherlock]], [http://www.schweckendiek.org Nils Schweckendiek] and [[Jörg Widmann]].

==Commissions==

Since its inception, Chamber Choir Ireland has regularly commissioned choral work by both Irish and international composers including:

* [[Gerald Barry (composer)|Gerald Barry]]
* [[Linda Catlin Smith]]
* [[Siobhán Cleary]]
* Francisco del Pino
* Eoghan Desmond
* Amanda Feery
* [https://www.universaledition.com/david-fennessy-4082 David Fennessy]
* [https://andyfhamilton.com Andrew Hamilton]
* [[Gabriel Jackson (composer)|Gabriel Jackson]]
* Áine Mallon
* [[Deirdre McKay]]
* [[Stephen McNeff]]
* [[Cassandra Miller]]
* Emma O'Halloran
* [[Tarik O'Regan]]
* [[Caroline Shaw]]
* [[Jennifer Walshe]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/paul-hillier-s-weird-and-wonderful-blueprint-for-chamber-choir-ireland-1.1756103|title=Paul Hillier's 'weird and wonderful' blueprint for Chamber Choir Ireland|newspaper=[[The Irish Times]]|date=10 April 2014|first=Michael|last=Dervan}}</ref>
* [[Ian Wilson (composer)|Ian Wilson]]

==Touring==

Chamber Choir Ireland regularly tours throughout the island of Ireland, presenting choral concerts to audiences all around the country. Internationally, the Choir has toured extensively in Europe, Asia and North and South America including performances at the White House for President Barack Obama on St Patrick's Day 2011.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/choir-wings-it-for-rehearsals-to-perfect-new-song-for-obama-26715836.html|title=Choir wings it for rehearsals to perfect new song for Obama - Independent.ie|work=Independent.ie|access-date=2018-06-23|language=en}}</ref>

==Learning & Participation==
Chamber Choir Ireland has developed learning and participation programmes across the choral art form:

* Composers in the Classroom—a youth arts programme which supports secondary school students in Ireland and Northern Ireland to compose their own pieces of choral music
* Axis SING—a from-scratch community choir project in Ballymun, North County Dublin
* Choral Music in Ireland: History and Evolution—a series of lectures on the history of choral music in Ireland
* Choral Sketches—a professional development programme which equips composers with the skills to write for choir
* Choral Clinics—bespoke workshops for amateur and community choirs across Ireland
* The [https://www.chamberchoirireland.com/learning-participation/cci-studio/ CCI Studio]—a professional development programme designed to provide training and professional experience to emerging choral singers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CCI Studio |url=https://www.chamberchoirireland.com/learning-participation/cci-studio/ |access-date=2023-09-20 |website=Chamber Choir Ireland |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Funding==

Principal funding for Chamber Choir Ireland comes from the [[Arts Council]] /an Chomhairle Ealaíon, with additional support from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland National Lottery Fund, and Dublin City Council.

==Recordings==
The choir's releases include:
*[[Gerard Victory]]: ''Ultima Rerum'' – [[Virginia Kerr]] (soprano), [[Bernadette Greevy]] (mezzo-soprano), Adrian Thompson (tenor), [[Alan Opie]] (baritone), [[RTÉ Philharmonic Choir]], National Chamber Choir of Ireland, [[Cór na nÓg]] (children's choir), [[National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland]], [[Colman Pearce]] (conductor). CD, 1994. Label: [[Naxos Records|Naxos/Marco Polo]].<ref>''[[Gramophone (magazine)|Gramophone]]'' (June 1995). [https://www.gramophone.co.uk/review/gvictory-ultima-rerum Review: G.Victory, ''Ultima Rerum''"]. Retrieved 7 November 2017.</ref>
*''[[White Stones]]'' – [[Secret Garden (duo)|Secret Garden]] (ensemble), National Chamber Choir of Ireland, [[RTÉ Concert Orchestra]], [[Fiachra Trench]] (conductor). CD, 1997. Label: [[Philips Records|Philips]]<ref>''[[AllMusic]]'' (1997). [https://www.allmusic.com/album/white-stones-mw0000019574 "Review: Secret Garden, ''White Stones''"]. Retrieved 7 November 2017.</ref>
*''One day fine'' (Irish choral music from the 14th to 21st centuries) – National Chamber Choir of Ireland, Paul Hillier (conductor). CD, 2011. Label: [[RTÉ Lyric FM]]<ref>Rochester, Marc (July 2011). [https://www.gramophone.co.uk/review/one-day-fine "''One Day Fine'', Paul Hillier's Irish choir demonstrates its class"]. ''[[Gramophone (magazine)|Gramophone]]''. Retrieved 7 November 2017.</ref>
*[[Tarik O'Regan]]: ''Acallam na senórach: an Irish colloquy'' – National Chamber Choir of Ireland, Stewart French (guitar), Paul Hillier (conductor). CD, 2011. Label: [[Harmonia Mundi]]<ref>Rochester, Marc (May 2013). [https://www.gramophone.co.uk/review/oregan-acallam-na-senorach-tales-of-the-elders "Review: ''Acallam na senórach''"]. ''[[Gramophone (magazine)|Gramophone]]''. Retrieved 7 November 2017.</ref>
*[https://www.chamberchoirireland.com/recordings/carols-old-new-worlds/ ''Carols from the Old and New Worlds'', Vol. 3] – Chamber Choir Ireland, Fergal Caulfield (chamber organ), Paul Hillier (conductor). CD, 2014. Label: Harmonia Mundi.<ref>Manheim, James (2014). [https://www.allmusic.com/album/carols-from-the-old-new-worlds-vol-3-mw0002736518 "Review: ''Carols from the Old & New Worlds'', Vol. 3"]. [[AllMusic]]. Retrieved 7 November 2017.</ref>
*''[https://www.chamberchoirireland.com/recordings/choirland/ Choirland: an anthology of Irish choral music]'' (scores for 15 pieces by Irish composers for unaccompanied mixed choir with accompanying CD) – National Chamber Choir of Ireland, Paul Hillier (conductor). CD, 2014. Publisher: Contemporary Music Centre (Dublin)<ref>{{OCLC|827785889}}</ref>
*''[http://www.orchidclassics.com/releases/barry-meets-beethoven-gerald-barry-stephen-richardson-chamber-choir-ireland-crash-ensemble-paul-hillier/ Barry Meets Beethoven]'' (works by [[Gerald Barry (composer)|Gerald Barry]]) – Stephen Richardson (bass), Chamber Choir Ireland, [[Crash Ensemble]], Paul Hillier (conductor). CD, 2016. Label: Orchid Classics<ref>''[[Gramophone (magazine)|Gramophone]]'' (September 2016). [https://www.gramophone.co.uk/review/barry-meets-beethoven "Review: ''Barry Meets Beethoven''"]. Retrieved 7 November 2017.</ref>
*''[https://www.chamberchoirireland.com/recordings/letters/ Letters]'' (featuring ''A Letter of Rights'' by [[Tarik O'Regan]] and [[Alice Goodman]]; and David Fennessy's ''Triptych'', a set of three pieces commissioned by Chamber Choir Ireland) — Chamber Choir Ireland, Irish Chamber Orchestra, Paul Hillier (conductor). CD, 2020. Label: Naxos Denmark.<ref>{{Cite web |title=O'REGAN, T.: Letter of Rights (A) / FENNESSY, D.: .. - 8.574287 {{!}} Discover more releases from Naxos |url=https://www.naxos.com/CatalogueDetail/?id=8.574287 |access-date=2023-09-20 |website=www.naxos.com}}</ref>
*''[https://www.chamberchoirireland.com/recordings/folks-music/?swcfpc=1 Folks' Music]'' (featuring ''Folio'' by [[Linda Catlin Smith]] and ''The City, Full of People'' by [[Cassandra Miller]]) — Chamber Choir Ireland, Paul Hillier (conductor), Esposito Quartet. Digital Release, 2023. Label: Louth Contemporary Music Society, Ireland.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Woolfe |first=Zachary |date=28 December 2023 |title=5 Classical Music Albums You Can Listen to Right Now |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/28/arts/music/classical-music-albums-december.html |website=The New York Times}}</ref>
*Gabriel Fauré: ''Prométhée'' (excerpts) — Rosique, Erraught, Dran, Ireland National Symphony, Chamber Choir Ireland, Tingaud. CD, 2025. Label: Naxos.
*Gabriel Fauré: ''Caligula'' — Rosique, Chamber Choir Ireland, Ireland National Symphony, Tingaud. CD, 2025. Label: Naxos.

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{Official|http://www.chamberchoirireland.com}}
*Dervan, Michael (23 February 2007). [https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/national-chamber-choir-must-be-championed-1.1196839 "National Chamber Choir must be championed"]. ''[[The Irish Times]]''
*[http://worldcat.org/identities/lccn-n95005986/ Chamber Choir Ireland] on [[WorldCat]]

{{Authority control}}


[[Category:Irish choirs]]
[[Category:National choirs]]
[[Category:1991 establishments in Ireland]]
[[Category:Dublin City University]]
[[Category:Culture of Ireland]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1991]]

Chamber Choir Ireland - Revision history

imported>Aoifecuthbert: Added the announcement of CCI's new Artistic Director, added most recent recordings and commissioned composers, reformatted into lists for easier reading.