Several Mayo primary schools to take part in National Children’s Choir

ONE of the largest choral competitions in the land will return to Mayo’s county town when the National Children’s Choir celebrates its Ruby anniversary.

The competition for Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Class primary school students will take place on April 10 in the TF Royal Hotel & Theatre in Castlebar, where 15 Mayo schools will be taking part in the Mayo Regional Concert, which last came to the venue in 2023. 

Founded in 1985, the competition aims to foster a love of choral singing among primary school students and enhance their music education by learning a broad repertoire of songs, ranging from Verdi to Coldplay.

Almost 100,000 children have enjoyed the experience of singing with the National Children’s Choir at local level since its inception.

This year, approximately 600 children from Mayo will perform in a Regional Concert in  Castlebar to celebrate the competition’s 40-year anniversary.

The Mayo schools taking part are: Castlebar Primary School; Breaffy National School; Ballyvary National School; Newport National School; Ballintubber National School; Knockrooskey National School; Louisburgh National School; Brackloon PNational School; Lecanvy National School; Carrakennedy National School; Lankill National School; Carrowholly National School; Quay National School; Murrisk National School and Quignamanger National School, Ballina.

“The National Children’s Choir is much more than large groups of children singing wonderful music to adoring parents, families and friends on local stages and in the National Concert Hall. It is a philosophy, a way of thinking about and celebrating the children’s musicality. As a movement, it absorbs their energy and gives it back in multiples,” said Kathy Quinn, Deputy Principal of Brackloon National School.

Tickets for the National Children’s Choir’s Mayo Regional Concert are available through the participating schools.