The third Mayo International Choral Festival, which saw six days of choral competition throughout the county and welcomed 33 visiting choirs last month, was another huge success, according to organisers.
The Morehead State University Chamber Singers from the US out-sang the competition from seven other choirs at the festival final gala concert in the Royal Theatre, Castlebar, to scoop the top trophy as the festival’s premier choir.
Other winners over the course of the festival were: Four Part Choirs, 1st Park Singers, Dublin; Runners-up Enchiriaidis; Choirs from Ireland, 1st Enchiriadis; Runners-up Cantóirí; Female Voice, 1st Park Singers; Runners-up Bangor Ladies; Male Voice, 1st Mayo Male Voice Choir; Runners-up Huntingdon Male Voice Choir, UK; Sacred Music, 1st Morehead State University Concert Choir; Runners-up Enchiriadis; Gospel Music, 1st Castlebar Gospel Choir; Runners-up North Dublin Community Gospel Choir; Gaelic/Celtic Language, 1st Rudsambee Company of Singers, Scotland; Runners-up Ballina Chamber Choir; Barbershop Chorus, 1st Athlone A Capella; Runners-up No Half Measures; First Time Competitors, 1st Marine Institute Singers; Runners-up Cór Meibion Talgarth.
The festival brought an estimated 1,056 bednights to the local hospitality sector and generated more than €250,000 in the local economy.
The date for the fourth Mayo International Choral Festival has already been set for May 20 to 24, 2015.
