Entries invited for the 2024 Seán Ó Riada Composition Competition

The Cork International Choral Festival are now accepting entries from Irish composers for the 2024 Seán Ó Riada Composition Competition.

Judged by a panel of experts, the prestigious Seán Ó Riada Composition Competition awards a cash prize donated by the Ó Ríada family and the Seán Ó Riada Trophy to the winning composer.

The winning piece will in turn be given its premiere performance by Chamber Choir Ireland at the Festival’s Gala Concert held in St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral on Friday 3rd May 2024 as part of the Cork International Choral Festival.

The Seán Ó Riada Competition was created in 1972 in recognition of the creative life and work of composer Seán Ó Riada

Seán Ó Riada holds the distinction of being the single most influential figure in the revival of Irish music in the 20th century, not only for his composition but also his arrangements of existing traditional Irish music.

The Seán Ó Riada Composition Competition was established in 1972, shortly after the musicians unexpected passing.

The focus of the competition is on bringing both traditional and new pieces of Irish music to life and to new audiences, as well as encouraging the composition of contemporary music in Irish.

This year's competition hopes to receive new works from Irish composers. The compositions will be entered under pseudonym to protect the identity of the composer, and allow for the judges unbiased evaluation.

The winning composition will be selected by a panel, comprising of composers and choral experts, and will be a featured work during the Festival’s Choral Symposium. The selected composition will receive its premiere performance during the Festival at a Gala Concert given by Chamber Choir Ireland. The composer of the work will be invited to attend the festival as its guest and play an active part in the Choral Symposium.

Previous winners of the competition include Solfa Carlile, Rhona Clarke, Patrick Connolly, Frank Corcoran, Séamas de Barra, Eoghan Desmond, Amanda Feery, Michael Holohan, Marian Ingoldsby, Donal Mac Erlaine, Simon MacHale, Michael McGlynn, Kevin O’Connell, Criostóir Ó Loingsigh, Donal Sarsfield, James May, Peter Leavy, Norah Constance Walsh, Daragh Black Hynes and last year’s winner Laura Heneghan. Several of these works have been published by international choral publishing houses.

The competition is open to composers born, or resident, in Ireland and applications are welcomed from both established and emerging composers. The score should be an original work, written for a cappella choir, and up to 5 minutes in duration. It should be in 4 parts, and the selected text may be original or existing, in the English, or Irish, language.

Applicants can apply for the 2024 Seán Ó Riada Composition Competition here.