The Trophy’s for our School Classes were generously sponsored by” Signature Schools, Bangor”
Special School (MLD)
Winner: Harberton School, Belfast
Special School (SLD)
Winner: Parkview Song Birds, Lisburn
Runner up: Clifton School, Bangor and Lisanally School, Co, Armagh
Makaton Choir Project
Kilcooley Primary School. Bangor and Clifton School, Bangor
Post Primary School Choir (15 years and under)
Winner: Regent House Junior Choir, Newtownards
Grammar School Choir (19 years and under)
Winner: Glenlola Collegiate Chamber Choir, Bangor
Secondary/High School Choir (19 years and under)
Winner: Holy Cross College Senior Choir, Strabane
Primary School Choir (under 30 singers)
Winner: Castle Gardens Chamber Choir, Newtownards
Runner up: Millisle Primary School
Primary School Choir Sacred Music: Margaret Green Salver
Winner: St. Comgall’s Primary School, Bangor
Runner up: Castle Gardens Primary School Choir, Newtownards
Primary School Choir (over 30 singers)
Winner: Castle Gardens Primary School Choir, Newtownards
Runner up: Bloomfield Primary School Choir, Bangor
Highly Commended: Ballinderry Primary School Co. Antrim
Barbershop Chorus: Festival Trophy
Winner: Athlone a Cappella Co. West Meath & Co Roscommon
Runner up: Affinity Show Choir, Stockport Cheshire
Barbershop Ensemble: Festival Trophy
Winner: Beechwood Chordiality, Stockport Cheshire
Runner up: Synergy Howlers, Abergavenny, Wales
Newcomer’s Class: The Da Capo Trophy
Winner: Synergy Howler’s, Abergavenny, Wales
Runner up: Lagan Seahorses, Belfast
Youth Choir: Festival Trophy
Winner: Glenlola Collegiate Chamber Choir, Bangor
Female Voice: Joan Houston Female Choir Award
Winner: Harmony Too, Lisburn
Runner up: Miskelly Chorale, Comber
Male Voice Choir: The Bolsterstone MVC Trophy
Winner: Donaghadee Male Voice Choir, Co. Down
Runner up: Lagan Seahorses, Belfast
Mixed Voice Choir: Roberta Dunlop Shield
Winner: Amici, Co. Down
Sacred Music: Marion McLarnon Trophy
Winner: Miskelly Chorale, Comber
Runner up: Harmony Too, Lisburn
Light Entertainment: Festival Trophy
Winner: City of Belfast School of Music
Runner up: Open Art’s Community Choir, Belfast
Open Choral: Festival Trophy
Winner: Miskelly Chorale, Comber
Runner up: Regent House Senior Chamber Choir, Newtownards
Other Awards
The Marine Court Shield for the Best performance of a single piece: Harmony Too, Lisburn
Best Visiting Choir: Festival Trophy
Affinity Show Choir, Stockport Cheshire
Best Northern Ireland Choir: Festival Trophy
Miskelly Chorale, Comber
Margaret McDowell Festival Trophy presented for Best Musical Direction
Heather McIvor, Regent House Senior Chamber Choir, Newtownards
Please add the following as Festival 2023 comments:
From: India Chapman Webb - City of Belfast Music School:
Thank you so much for such a great experience for the children! They absolutely loved it and have already asked if we will be coming back next year… we will indeed! Such a friendly yet organised festival to take part in. I have been doing Eisteddfods since I was 4, my first being quite a large one in Bath — don’t tell anyone, but this one was much more fun whilst still being professional. So thank you and your team.
From: Mary Goss - Northern Ireland Festival Federation:
Congratulations to all of you. This has been a wonderful and very fitting celebration of your thirty years of dedication and hard work. The BBC coverage is so well deserved - your work is very special.
Very best wishes for 2024 and the exciting years ahead - I hope that this publicity boost will attract a number of new helpers and committee members who can support your ongoing work.
From Stephen Farry - MP North Down:
Thanks for the invitation to the Festival and well done to everyone involved
From Rob Elliott, Adjudicator
I just wanted to pass on my sincere thanks to you and all your team for producing yet another magnificent Festival! (no surprise there, though!). The standard of the choirs was as high as ever, as was all the organisational and logistical features- a shining example to all on how to run a festival!
Naturally, the MLD and SLD classes, along with all the school and youth classes in particular helped provide an experience which will enrich their lives and something they will never forget.
Congratulations ???? on your 30 years’, and here’s looking forward to the next 30…and beyond!
From Judith Watson, Assistant Adjudicator (Saturday competitions)
Congratulations to the Festival committee members, choir members and supporters on another truly memorable Bangor International Choral Festival. It's hard to believe that it is 30 years since this fabulous competition started. You have created so many precious memories over three decades for choristers and conductors, myself included. Please convey my heartfelt thanks to all involved for the huge amount of work that goes into planning, running - and no doubt clearing up after - the festival. You do an amazing job and I hope you all know how much it is appreciated. Thank-you so much for inviting me to be part of this year's event and for looking after me so well.. it was a thoroughly enjoyable experience and a privilege to hear so many great performances. I hope that the committee can take a well earned break now before starting to plan Bangor 2024. I'm sure many of the choirs who took part will be making the journey up Brunswick Road again next year!
Athlone A Cappella
Just a quick note to thank you for such a great weekend.
You were so helpful and pleasant from the very beginning - during the application process when our bank wouldn't co-operate - information on where to eat in Bangor - requests for a second warmup time. No question was too silly to answer.
As a first timer in the role of MD I was quite apprehensive, but your warm and friendly welcome on Saturday morning made the nerves disappear immediately. I felt like I was meeting old friends! Again, on Saturday no question was too silly and every request was fulfilled.
I don't know how ye do it - the whole day ran so smoothly - and as for the afternoon tea boxes! And as for the fact that you recognise the need for a barbershop section in a choral festival. We're usually overlooked or at least looked down on as a genre as we're not "proper" choral music, but singing is singing!
So, on behalf of Athlone A Cappella, (whether that's in Co Roscommon or Co Westmeath!????) can I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your warm and friendly welcome to your superbly run festival. We will definitely be back! We might even have a quartet or two the next time you see us.
I hope you are resting up now after what must have been an extremely fulfilling, but extremely tiring weekend for you all.
Audrey Stewart, NI Regional Representative for British and International Federation of Festivals
What a super evening Saturday night was --the culmination of a very successful week and the result of all the planning and preparations that go into running a festival. On behalf of BIFF please thank your team of volunteers without whom festivals just could not happen. Just lovely to see the enthusiasm from your team as well as the performers.
Michael Pritchard, Donaghadee Male Voice Choir
I write on behalf of all at Donaghadee Male Voice Choir to express our congratulations and appreciation to everyone associated with yet another excellent Choral Festival. The organisation of the weekend was exemplary, and the smooth running was a credit to you and a true reflection of the many hours of preparation which had obviously been undertaken. There were so many varying roles involving a vast range of “helpers” and all the tasks were carried out in such a pleasant, friendly and efficient yet relaxed manner that participation in competition was both painless and enjoyable despite the serious nature of actually competing! Again a sincere “Well Done and Thanks” to all who were involved - the refreshments; the door keepers; the rehearsal team at the Primary School; the announcers; the Festival officers; and the timekeepers to name but a few. It ran like clockwork and you should all take a bow! - and a well-earned rest! With every best wish.
Pauline Brown, Principal, Kilcooley Primary School, Bangor
Thank you for inviting the children to enjoy this wonderful experience.
Nicola Percy, Dunmurry Primary School, Belfast
We had a great time taking part in the festival and the children really enjoyed it. It was lovely to get back to being able to take part in choral festivals.
Chrissie Corbett, Clifton Special School, Bangor
The Choral Festival was wonderful and it was great to see it on the news.
Thanks again for a lovely day!
Julie Dugdale, Beechwood Chordiality, England
I'm sure we will be back we thoroughly enjoy the festival.
Claire McSorley, St Patrick’s Primary School, Holywood
Looking forward to getting back again next year!
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