TWELVE choirs from across the British Isles have been confirmed for this year’s Isle of Man festival of Choirs in October.
There are 12 choirs competing in the main event with a total of 16 class entries, giving performances in the Royal Hall, Villa Marina at the bi-ennial competition which has become one of the top choir festivals in Britain.
The fifth Isle of Man Festival of Choirs takes place over the weekend October 20th - 22nd and this year has the additional support of Island-based Welsh actor John Rhys-Davies, star of Lord of The Rings, Indiana Jones, and Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, who is the Festival’s new patron.
Geoff Corkish MBE, MLC, Festival Director, said, “We have another wonderful line-up of choirs for the festival, which continues to grow in popularity. It’s fair to say the Isle of Man Festival of Choirs is now one of the “must do” festivals for choirs across Britain. I thank all the choirs for their support”.
“I am also delighted that John Rhys-Davies has accepted our invitation to be the new patron of the festival. With his Welsh background, I know he will thoroughly enjoy the festival, especially the Male Voice Choirs category.”
The 2017 Festival also features a new category - the Ensemble class - which has attracted four local and visiting groups.
This year’s adjudicator is Stanley Roocroft MBE who has been the Musical Director of the Wensleydale Chorus for all of its 28 years.
He also conducts the Aysgarth Singers and is very active in all aspects of Wensleydale musical life, including its festival. Stanley is an adjudicator for The British and International Federation of Festivals.
The choirs competing are as follows:
Male Voice Choirs: Clwyd Clippers; Flint MVC; Lon Dhoo MVC; Rivertones Harmony Chorus; Haydock MVC.
Ladies Choirs: Roc Vannin; Chanteuse Ladies; Manx Voices; Knutsford Star.
Mixed Voice Choirs: Glenfaba Chorale; Poringland Singers; Friday Voices.
Ensemble competition: Chanteuse Ladies; Glenfaba Mixed ensemble; Glenfaba Ladies ensemble; Poringland Singers.
The festival begins on Friday with a friendly and informal ‘Welcome Evening’ for all the choirs and culminates on Sunday afternoon when the ‘Choir of the Festival’ is announced with trophies and a top prize of ?2,000 being awarded.
Weekend audience tickets at ?10 are currently available from the Villa Marina box office.
