We’re back! New Dublin Voices has won the overall Grand Prix at this year’s International Baltic Sea Choir Competition in Jūrmala, Latvia, and we are ecstatic! What a weekend!
Already the post-trip withdrawals have set in. We have very fond memories of Jūrmala; the competition was organised extremely well, the Dzintari Concert Hall was a gorgeous venue for our performances, and our guide Davids was so helpful. A few of us were sprightly 
enough in the morning to go for a swim in the Baltic Sea. Everyone else experienced the calm and panoramic views of the beach after the announcement of the results on Sunday – we had a few drinks, a sing-song and an overall a great time at a beachfront bar.
Across the weekend we were up against competitors from Russia, Sweden, Finland, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, and Latvia, all competing through two preliminary rounds for one of five coveted places in the Grand Prix. Performing works by Georg Grün, Vytautas Miškinis, and Derry-born composer Seán Doherty, we came first overall and were awarded the Grand Prix by an international five-person jury made up of leading choral figures. Our Grand Prix performance finished with Seán Doherty’s Snow Dance for the Dead which was an extremely powerful emotional experience for us all, possibly even more so than in Barcelona. Our audience consisted of people primarily from a former soviet state, which meant that singing about childhood innocence and cold murder combined with Seán’s emotionally pertinent music was simply harrowing, bringing tears to many.
If you didn’t have a chance to hear us over the weekend, feel free to check out the Grand Prix and the preceding competitions here, where you can find links to live recordings.
We’re still over the moon, but are already delving into new repertoire, so here’s some dates to stick in your diary:
October 12th – we’ll be joining The Orchestra of Ireland, conducted by David Brophy, to present You Raise Me Up: The Songs and Stories of Brendan Graham. Tickets here.
November 21st – we’ll be performing Patrick Cassidy’s The Mass in Newman University Church.
On December 11th – in association with Aiken Promotions & Jason Michael Paul Entertainment, Inc., we will will present The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre. Tickets here.
Now for the most exciting part…
In November, and just in time for Christmas, New Dublin Voices will launch its fourth CD(!!!), a disc of Christmas pieces written solely by Irish composers. We could not be more excited to share it with you all! Launch date to be announced soon!
While we are on the topic of Christmas (only 86 days away!), the annual Carols for Christmas series kicks off in the John Field Room on December 8th, with further performances in Newman University Church (December 9th) and Draíocht Arts Centre, Blanchardstown (December 16th), before returning to the JFR on December 18th. Draíocht tickets here, JFR tickets here (8th) and here (18th).
We will hopefully see you at some of the above!
New Dublin Voices
