Hey, this is Cheryl Sawyer, librettist and choral lyricist posting--I've never been so happy to carry a showbag around! Cork City in May 2026 was completely taken over by choirs and choir enthusiasts and I was there to discover how passionate and committed today's ensembles may be to the words they sing.

Answer--those at the cutting edge believe as much in the poetry they're singing as the music, and with their conductors they achieve moments of sublimity wherever they happen to be: on stage in the great City Hall, in churches and cathedrals, in pubs and even in the streets. I was blown away by 30 choirs on my recent trip around the UK. During my three days in Cork I suppose the most illuminating performances for me were those of the Dublin Youth Choir under Lynsey Callaghan, but all were impressive in their way. Hats off!