Choirs from throughout the world will be in Derry next month for a prestigious competition.
The City of Derry International Choral Festival began as a City of Culture 2013 project but has continued ever since..
Choirs from around the world have agreed to take part in the annual five-day event.
This year’s festival will see over 60 school, local, national and international choirs compete in a range of categories, alongside several guest artists.
The festival’s focal point, the International Competition, will feature 10 top-quality competitors from Belarus, the Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Sweden, England and Ireland.
In addition to these events, the festival will host 40 free Choral Trail performances in venues throughout the city from Friday, October 23, to Sunday, October 25.
There will also be a Sacred Trail in ten churches on the morning of Sunday, October 25.
Two community concerts will be held in the Gasyard Centre on October 24 and at St. Columb’s Park House on October 25.
Dónal Doherty, Artistic Director of the festival, said there was a ‘real buzz’ in the run-up to the event.
“The first two years exceeded all expectations, but I am really excited by the variety and quality of the participating choirs and the many new elements in this year’s programme.
“The festival is deeply rooted in the local community, but we’re now beginning to reach out beyond the Derry and Strabane District Council area with concerts in other parts of Northern Ireland.
“We’re indebted to our funders for supporting the ambition and extraordinary growth of the festival and we look forward to the city and district providing yet another special welcome to the many visitors to the City of Song.”