Charles Wood Festival 2026 – Centenary Alumni Invitation FINAL CALL 2026 marks the 100th anniversary of Charles Wood’s death, and we have a number of exciting plans and developments for this landmark festival year in August. Alongside our main festival programme, one of our priorities is reconnecting with those who have been part of the Charles Wood Festival and Summer School over the years. On 20–21 August 2026 in Armagh, we are planning a special centenary gathering with a Gala Dinner on Thursday evening; rehearsals with David Hill and the Charles Wood Singers on Friday, and the opportunity for alumni to sing in our Gala Concert....just like old times! If you have ever been involved in the festival, whether recently or many years ago, we would love to welcome you back. For now, we are simply gathering expressions of interest at charleswoodsummerschool.org/… 2026 promises to be a very special year.

FINAL CALL – CHARLES WOOD SINGERS 2026 16–23 August 2026 | Armagh, Northern Ireland Applications are now closing soon for the Charles Wood Singers 2026, our flagship choral course as part of the Charles Wood Festival of Music & Summer School. 2026 marks the 100th anniversary of the death of Charles Wood, and we are planning a huge week of music-making, celebration and ambitious repertoire under the direction of David Hill and Philip Scriven. If you are thinking about applying, please just get in touch. Even if you are worried about the deadline, travel costs, auditions or anything else, we would much rather hear from you than have you miss out. A reminder that this year we are offering 10 travel bursaries of £100 for singers travelling from outside Northern Ireland or Ireland. The course fee is £500 and includes: • Accommodation • Food • Music • Tuition and coaching throughout the week Applications are welcome from singers who: • are aged 18 on 16 August 2026 • are Grade 8 standard or equivalent • have previous choral experience • are enthusiastic musicians with strong sight-reading and ensemble skills New applicants should submit: • one art song • one oratorio aria These can be simple mobile phone recordings with backing tracks if needed. Former CW Singers do not need to re-audition. Shortlisted applicants will then be invited to a short remote audition after the 22 May deadline, including a brief sight-singing exercise. This is going to be a very special year for the Festival, with major celebrations planned throughout the week, and we would love to welcome singers from across Ireland, the UK and beyond. Apply now via the website or contact: charleswoodsingers@gmail.com

We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of the world-renowned soprano Dame Felicity Lott. It was a privilege to welcome Dame Felicity to the Charles Wood International Song Competition in 2022, and we are honoured that our annual Dame Felicity Lott Song Prize continues in her name. Her contribution to the world of music and song was immense, and she will be remembered with enormous affection and admiration. Our thoughts are with her family, friends and all those whose lives she touched through her music.

CHARLES WOOD FESTIVAL COMPOSERS’ COMPETITION 2026 The Charles Wood Festival is delighted to announce the return of its Composers’ Competition for 2026, a special year marking the centenary of Charles Wood’s death. We invite composers to create a new choral setting of 'Great King of Gods', a historic text by Henry Ramsden Bramley, famously set by Charles Wood in 1912. This is a fantastic opportunity for composers of all ages to have their work heard, performed, and recorded as part of one of Ireland’s leading choral festivals. • Write a new unaccompanied choral work (SATB, approx. 3 minutes) • Accessible for amateur choirs, yet musically engaging and effective for professionals • A cappella (piano reduction optional for rehearsal only) Finalists & Prize: • Three finalists will be invited to Armagh on Thursday 20 August 2026 • Their works will be performed by members of the Charles Wood Singers before a distinguished jury in the Archbishop's Palace • The winning work will be performed at the Gala Concert (Friday 21 August) • A professional recording will be made Deadline: Wednesday 1 July 2026 at 12 noon Full details, terms and entry form available here: charleswoodsummerschool.org/… Be part of a landmark festival year and have your music brought to life in Armagh.

DEADLINE EXTENDED – Apply Now! The application deadline for both the Charles Wood Singers and the Charles Wood Girls’ Choir has been extended! This year between 15th-23rd August, we mark the 100th anniversary of the death of Charles Wood, and we would love you to be part of it. Both courses include full accommodation and meals, expert training, and the opportunity to perform outstanding repertoire with the Girls' Choir performing a world premier by Bob Chilcott and the Charles Wood Singers singing on BBC Radio 3, Radio 4 and Radio Ulster. Charles Wood Singers – £500 Charles Wood Girls’ Choir – £350 Places are limited, so please submit your application as soon as possible. Apply online at charleswoodsummerschool.org

Charles Wood Singers 2026! If you’re thinking about joining the Charles Wood Singers this summer, now’s the time – applications close in soon! Whether you're a returning member or new to the family, we can't wait to welcome you to a week of exceptional music-making, fun, and friendship at the Charles Wood Festival & Summer School. Take a moment to watch this short video, introduced by our Artistic Director and leader of the Charles Wood Singers, David Hill, as he shares what makes this experience so special. For more details and to apply, visit charleswoodsummerschool.org/…

What a day. What a sound. What a room full of music! A huge thank you to the Dean and staff of St Anne's Cathedral, Belfast, for hosting us so generously, and to the Cathedral Choir and organist Jack Wilson for their fantastic support throughout the day. We’re so grateful to Richard Owens of @owensopticians for capturing the occasion so beautifully and to Malcolm Monteith (MAVRX) for his outstanding audio and visual work. Thank you to @DavidEllio6336 for sponsoring the event and producing the booklets which were a vital part of making the day run so smoothly. And of course, a very special thank you to our Patron, Sir @johnmrutter, for joining us and supporting the Festival this year. Finally, thank you to every single one of the 800 singers who filled the Cathedral with such incredible energy and sound! We’re already looking ahead to the 2026 Festival this August… stay tuned!

What a day. What a sound. What a room full of music! A huge thank you to the Dean and staff of St Anne's Cathedral, Belfast, for hosting us so generously, and to the Cathedral Choir and organist Jack Wilson for their fantastic support throughout the day. We’re so grateful to Richard Owens of @owensopticians for capturing the occasion so beautifully and to Malcolm Monteith (MAVRX) for his outstanding audio and visual work. Thank you to @DavidEllio6336 for sponsoring the event and producing the booklets which were a vital part of making the day run so smoothly. And of course, a very special thank you to our Patron, Sir @johnmrutter, for joining us and supporting the Festival this year. Finally, thank you to every single one of the 800 singers who filled the Cathedral with such incredible energy and sound! We’re already looking ahead to the 2026 Festival this August… stay tuned!

A New Look for a Landmark Year As we mark the 100th anniversary of Charles Wood’s death, it felt like the right time for something new… We’re delighted to unveil our refreshed Charles Wood Festival branding and logo, beautifully designed by Ash Bingham at @DogtagCreative. You may have already spotted it appearing here and there but now it’s official! And this is just the start...our website will also be getting a full makeover very soon, making it easier than ever to explore everything the Festival has to offer. This is going to be a huge year for us, and we can’t wait to share everything we’ve been working on behind the scenes. There’s still plenty to get involved in: - Applications are open for the Charles Wood Singers and Girls’ Choir - You can sign up for updates about our Alumni Event - Our Composer Competition will be launching soon While our John Rutter Come & Sing is now completely sold out, there will be lots of opportunities this August to take part in concerts, workshops, lessons, and more. Stay tuned… this is just the beginning.

Just a gentle reminder that applications are still open for The Charles Wood Singers 2026! Join us from 16–23 August 2026 in Armagh for a fantastic week of choral singing as part of a very special festival year, marking the 100th anniversary of Charles Wood’s death. This year’s course will be led by David Hill, with an exciting programme of rehearsals, workshops, masterclasses and performances across the week. Alongside the music, we’re planning some really special moments for the festival so it is a great year to be involved! Application deadline: Friday 24th April 2026 Course fee: £500 Fully residential in Armagh If you’re aged 18 with strong choral experience (Grade 8 standard or above), we’d love to hear from you. Apply now: charleswoodsummerschool.org/…

Due to overwhelming demand, we’re delighted to share that we have secured an additional 50 seats for our Come & Sing with Sir John Rutter at St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast. A huge thank you to St Anne’s Cathedral for making this possible. Tickets are now back on sale for a very limited time only – and they will go quickly. (No, this is not an April Fool’s joke.) Book now: charleswoodsummerschool.org/…

We’re delighted to share that our Come & Sing with Sir John Rutter at St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast is now completely sold out. Thank you to everyone who booked a place – we are looking forward to welcoming you for what promises to be a very special afternoon of music-making. For those who missed out, we hope to share more opportunities like this in the future as part of the Charles Wood Festival & Summer School.

That’s a wrap for the 8th Charles Wood International Song Competition. The winner of the Senior Final is Aimee Banks, who also won the Irish Prize. The runner-up is Julian Wakley and winner of the Dame Felicity-Lott Song Prize is Cliodhna Regan. A special mention to Aimee Banks who was the winner of the 2023 Junior Charles Wood Song Competition and who has now added the Senior Category to her titles! Thank you to our accompanist Ruth McGinley, as well as our amazing jury - Paul Farrington, Sara Fulgoni and Dame Fionnuala Jay-O’Boyle. It has been a fabulous final and an amazing day of music!

Another brilliant session of music awaits us this evening with our Senior Finalists: Natalka Pasicznyk, Ciara Smith, Julian Wakley, Cliodhna Regan and Aimee Banks. Do come along at 7pm to St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral and share in the drama and excitement. Tickets are £5 for each session and can be purchased at the door or online: charleswoodsummerschool.org/…

It was a fantastic Junior Class final this afternoon with incredibly talented young singers. For the first time in the competition's history, the winner is shared between two of the competitors with Cassia Moore and Sophie Bainbridge sharing first place! Congratulations to them as joint winners. Cassia Moore also wins the Charles Wood Song Prize for best performance of a Charles Wood song. Congratulations to all of our five finalists and a massive thank you to our accompanist, Gail Evans.

Just one more sleep until the 2026 Charles Wood International Song Competition. Both the Junior Class at 2pm and the Senior Class at 7pm are open to the public in St. Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral, Armagh, on Saturday 7th March. Tickets are £5 for each session and can be purchased at the door or online: charleswoodsummerschool.org/… It promises to be a superb day of music-making.

Congratulations to all of our Finalists who will be arriving in Armagh this weekend. Do come along to St Patrick's Church of Ireland Cathedral on Saturday 7th March for what is sure to be an absolute treat. The Junior Class is at 2pm, and the Senior Class is at 7pm. Tickets are £5 for each session and can be purchased at the door or online: charleswoodsummerschool.org/… Here is reminder of our Jury this year. Our distinguished jury this year includes British-Italian mezzo-soprano Sara Fulgoni. Sara is internationally acclaimed for her commanding stage presence and extraordinary dramatic intensity, hailed by critics as “the Carmen of the decade.” She has appeared at leading opera houses worldwide in repertoire ranging from Mozart and Verdi to Wagner and Britten, with recent highlights including Fricka, Erda, Brangäne and Mistress Quickly for companies such as Welsh National Opera, English National Opera and Grange Park Opera. A distinguished concert artist, she has worked with major conductors and orchestras including Riccardo Muti and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, recorded extensively for major labels, and created the title role in Tobias Picker’s Thérèse Raquin. A graduate of the Royal Northern College of Music and prize-winner of the Kathleen Ferrier Awards, she remains a regular guest with Welsh National Opera and Grange Park Opera. Paul Farrington (Chair) trained as a classical tenor before dedicating his career to vocal teaching and rehabilitation. A former NHS Clinical Vocal Consultant, he has worked with The Royal Opera House, New National Theatre Tokyo, Göteborgsoperan, and serves as a professor at the Opera Academy in Oslo. His expertise extends to West End productions such as Phantom of the Opera and Les Misérables, as well as films including Quartet and The Theory of Everything. Dame Fionnuala Jay-O’Boyle DBE, Lord Lieutenant of Belfast and Vice Chair of Northern Ireland Opera, joins us as the new Patron of the International Song Competition. Founder of the Glenarm Festival of Voice, she has a deep passion for nurturing emerging artists and is a respected voice in cultural and musical circles. We look forward to seeing you there for what promises to be an inspiring day of music!

The Senior Final begins at 7:00pm, showcasing the exceptional talents of Natalka Pasicznyk, Ciara Smith, Julian Wakley, Cliodhna Regan and Aimee Banks. Representing prestigious institutions such as the Royal Irish Academy of Music, Royal College of Music, and Royal Academy of Music, these accomplished singers will be accompanied by pianist Ruth McGinley, ensuring a captivating evening of music. Ruth McGinley has made her own space as one of Ireland’s most intriguing and exciting musicians. Her career has been wide-ranging and daring, collaborating with some of the most acclaimed musicians working today, and straying from the typical classical-pianist journey. Derry-born Ruth McGinley had already gained widespread recognition as one of Ireland’s leading pianists by the age of 16, winning the piano final of the BBC Young Musician of the Year award. She studied at The Royal Academy of Music in London and has performed as soloist with orchestras including the BBC Philharmonic, London Mozart Players, National Symphony Orchestra and RTE Concert Orchestra. After a long hiatus from performance, Ruth released her debut solo album ‘Reconnection’ to high acclaim in 2016. She was invited to perform as soloist at the BBC Proms in the Park to mark her return to the stage. Her most recent album, ‘Aura’, a collaboration with Belfast composer Neil Martin, is a Classical Reimagining of Irish Airs. Ruth broadcasts regularly for BBC Radio 3, Classic FM, BBC Radio Ulster and Scala Radio. In the last year Ruth has performed as soloist at the Southbank Centre, London in the prestigious Queen Elizabeth, Hall, National Concert Hall in Dublin and at the Kennedy Centre in Washington DC on St. Patricks Day. Both the Junior Class at 2pm and the Senior Class at 7pm are open to the public in St. Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral, Armagh, on Saturday 7th March. Tickets are £5 for each session and can be purchased at the door or online: charleswoodsummerschool.org/…

Our fifth and final finalist for the Senior Competition is Ciara Smith. Ciara is a soprano and recent graduate of TU Dublin Conservatoire, where she completed a BMus in Vocal Performance. She is currently undertaking a Master’s degree in Performance. Ciara was selected as one of University Concert Hall’s Rising Stars for 2026 and will perform in the Rising Stars concert this April. Most recently, Ciara performed the role of Fiordiligi in TU Dublin’s opera scenes production, Within These Walls. She was also a soloist in the National Concert Hall’s Another Lunchtime at the Operaseries in August. Over the summer, she performed the role of Mercedes in Bizet’s Carmen with Dublin City Council’s Opera in the Open and Loughcrew Opera. Ciara will be performing the roles of Marie Curie, Othea, and Aurelie in TU Dublin’s BRAVO project, premiering these roles in both Dublin and Eger, Hungary in October and December of this year. Both the Junior Class at 2pm and the Senior Class at 7pm are open to the public in St. Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral, Armagh, on Saturday 7th March. Tickets are £5 for each session and can be purchased at the door or online: charleswoodsummerschool.org/…