Chamber Choir Ireland – a ‘national cultural treasure’ turns 30

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Gabriel Crouch, the newly appointed Artistic Director of Chamber Choir Ireland, writes for RTÉ Culture about the choir’s 30th anniversary programme and the newly established Colin Mawby Composition Prize.

Welcome to a special season of concerts celebrating the 30th anniversary of Chamber Choir Ireland. It is an enormous honour to have been handed the reins of this national cultural treasure in such an auspicious year, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the ensemble’s unique place in the choral landscape of Europe, building on the legacy of my esteemed predecessor, Paul Hillier. As in years past, we’ve assembled a distinctive and adventurous set of programmes that give voice to the present and future of Irish choral music – programmes we hope will nourish and enthral audiences around the country.

Our season opens with a touch of romance at Dublin’s Pepper Canister Church on 7th February: Love Blooms, led by guest director Ellie Slorach, is a Valentine’s celebration of choral music centred on themes of love.

After that, I greatly look forward to making my official debut as Artistic Director of Chamber Choir Ireland with To Star the Dark. Highlighting 21st‑century women composers and featuring the world premiere of a new commission by Irish composer Amanda Feery, we will perform at Pepper Canister Church, Dublin, on 7th March, and at Clonmel’s Finding a Voice festival on 8th March.

Watch: Chamber Choir Ireland perform Hvalite imia Ghospodne from Rachmaninov’s All Night Vigil

In April, the choir returns to the New Music Dublin festival with Come to the Edge, a feast of contemporary choral music for curious ears under guest director David Young.

Established as part of Chamber Choir Ireland’s 30th anniversary celebrations, the Colin Mawby Composition Prize – named in honour of the group’s late founder and first Artistic Director – aims to inspire the next generation of young composers. The winner will be selected from participants in this year’s Composers in the Classroom initiative, an annual outreach and education programme we run in partnership with the Contemporary Music Centre, giving secondary school students across Ireland the opportunity to compose their own choral music and hear it brought to life. More than 30 schoolchildren are taking part in this year’s competition, and the winning composition will be performed at the New Music Dublin festival by the choir – an incredible opportunity for the young people involved.

In May, I will rejoin the choir to tour Servant of Servants, Patron of the Arts, blending Palestrina’s masterful Pope Marcellus Mass with contemporary works by Gavin Bryars and Ayanna Woods. The tour begins at the Cork International Choral Festival on 1st May, with further dates in Limerick on 7th May, Belfast on 8th May, and Dublin on 12th June.

We’re keeping our Autumn–Winter season under our hats for now, but I’m sure no one will mind if I share that it will include a return to the Kilkenny Arts Festival; a programme exploring themes of homelessness, migration, and belonging; a coastal tour of choral works capturing the adventure, excitement, and danger of life at sea; and a seasonal selection of winter songs to close the year.

For more about Chamber Choir Ireland’s Spring–Summer 2026 season, go here