Classical Music
"Where words fail, music speaks." - Hans Christian Anderson.
15th April – 19th April 2024
1. The official accompanist will be available for competitions that have a set piece. If transpositions of Second Level set pieces are required, the accompaniment (in the required key) must be submitted for the official accompanist by 8th March 2024.
2. If competitors wish to avail of the services of the official accompanist for ‘Own Choice’ events, the music secretary must be informed at the time of entry.
3. Two copies of each piece of music, clearly marked with the event number and name of the competitor, must be submitted to the music secretary by 8th March 2024.
4. One copy is required for the adjudicator and one for the accompanist. Please ensure that the accompanist’s copy is in a format that can be easily read (single sheets stapled in one corner will not be accepted).
5. If the official accompanist is not required for ‘Own Choice’ events, one copy of music with the event number and name of the competitor should be submitted to the music secretary by 8th March 2024.
6. NO LATE ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED.
7. Entries will not be accepted by telephone.
8. The adjudicator’s decision is final.
PRIMARY SCHOOLS – CHORAL
COMPETITORS MUST PROVIDE THEIR OWN MUSIC STAND
Choral Directors should note that Unison pieces should contain NO harmony.
Event 500 Choral Singing in Irish Language
Competitors will perform two pieces of own choice.
Event 501 Unison Choir Small Primary Schools
Two contrasting pieces of own choice.
Event 502 Unison Choir KS1 Primary School Choir
Two contrasting pieces of own choice.
Event 503 Unison Choir KS2 Primary School Choir
Two contrasting pieces of own choice.
Event 504 Sacred Music
Two contrasting pieces of own choice.
Event 505 Harmonised Choir
Two contrasting pieces of own choice.
Event 506 Junior Song Scena
A performance, not exceeding 15 minutes of music, song, dance, action and a little dialogue if desired. Costumes and a small number of props may be used.
PRIMARY SCHOOLS–SOLO VOCAL
Songs must be sung in the original key, as in the specified publication.
Event 507 Nursery & Reception Girls and Boys
Come Home Now (Helen Hensehel) - 100 Songs for Unison Singing
Event 508 Year 1 Girls and Boys Solo
The Animals went in Two by Two (verse 1 only)
Event 509 Year 2 Girls and Boys Solo
The Penguin Dance (Clifford Crawley) (chorus, verse 1 & chorus only)
Event 510 Year 3 Girls and Boys Solo
Over the Hills and Far Away (Dorothy Parke) (verse 1 only)
Event 511 Year 4 Girls and Boys Solo
Grandfather's Clock
Event 512 Year 5 Girls Solo
Rabbits (Helen Deacon)
Event 513 Year 5 Boys Solo
Rabbits (Helen Deacon)
Event 514 Year 6 Girls Solo
My Father's Garden (Frederick Fowler) (verses 1&2 only)
Event 515 Year 6 Boys Solo
Early One Morning (verse 1&2 only)
Event 516 Year 7 Girls Solo
The Little Spanish Town (Peter Jenkins)
Event 517 Year 7 Boys Solo
The Little Spanish Town (Peter Jenkins)
SECOND LEVEL – CHORAL
COMPETITORS MUST PROVIDE THEIR OWN MUSIC STAND
Choirs may choose to give a competitive or non-competitive performance. In either case, an adjudication will be offered.
Event 518 KS3 Junior Choir
Two contrasting pieces of own choice (Unison or Parts)
Please bring a copy of your chosen pieces for the Adjudicator.
Event 519 KS3 and Upwards Second Level Choir
Two contrasting pieces of own choice (Unison or Parts)
Please bring a copy of your chosen pieces for the Adjudicator.
SECOND LEVEL – SOLO VOCAL
Event 520 Year 8 Girls Solo
A Pirate Song (R. Smith/Cuthbert Robb)
Event 521 Year 8 Boys Solo
A Pirate Song (R. Smith/Cuthbert Robb)
Event 522 Year 9 & 10 Girls Solo
Peter Pan (Leonard Bernstein)
Event 523 Year 9 & 10 Boys Solo
Shenandoah (verses 1&2)
Event 524 Year 11 & 12 Girls Solo
Kitty of Coleraine (Herbert Hughes)
Event 525 Year 11 & 12 Boys Solo
Oh Waly, Waly
Event 526 Year 13 & 14 Girls and Boys Solo
The Sally Gardens (Benjamin Britten/W.B. Yeats)
Event 527 Year 8– 14 Sacred Solo
A piece of own choice from the Sacred repertoire (e.g., Mass, Cantata, Oratorio).
May be sung in the original language or in translation.
Event 528 Year 8– 14 Operatic Solo
An aria or arietta from an Opera or Operetta. A recitative may be included. May be sung in the original language or in translation.
Competitors must introduce their performance, stating the title of the work, the name of their character, the piece that they will sing, and its dramatic context. Costume and props are optional.
Event 529 Year 8, 9 & 10 Art Song
Event 530 Year 11 & 12 Art Song
Event 531 Year 13 & 14 Art Song
One piece from the Classical Music concert repertoire (lied, chanson, etc.) May be sung in the original language or in translation. Folk song arrangements such as those by Herbert Hughes or Benjamin Britten will be accepted.
Please indicate at time of entry if the official accompanist is required for Art Song.
SONGS FROM THE SHOWS
Event 532 Up to Year 7 Songs From The Shows
Event 533 Years 8-10 Songs From The Shows
Event 534 Years 11 & 12 Songs From The Shows
Event 535 Years 13 & 14 Songs From The Shows
Event 569 Over 18 years Songs From The Shows (NEW COMPETITION)
Competitors perform one song from a Stage Musical (NOT FILM). They must introduce their performance, stating the title of the musical, the name of their character, and the title of the song they will sing. Costume and props are optional.
Please indicate at time of entry if the official accompanist is required for these events.
THOMAS MOORE'S MELODY
Event 536 Up to Year 7 Thomas Moore’s Melody
Event 537 Year 8 & Over Thomas Moore’s Melody
Competitors should perform at least two verses from one of Thomas Moore’s Melodies.
POPULAR SONG
Event 570 Popular Song Up to Year 7 (NEW COMPETITION)
Event 538 Popular Song Year 8 - 10 Popular Song
Event 539 Popular Song Year 11 & over Popular Song
Any genre, pop, rock, jazz, etc. All pieces must be by an original, recognised artist. No self-compositions accepted. Own accompaniment must be provided for Popular Song. This can be a digital backing track, use of instruments such as piano or guitar or acapella.
VOCAL ENSEMBLE
Event 540 Year 8-10 Vocal Ensemble Classical
Event 541 Year 11 & upwards Vocal Ensemble Classical
A vocal duet, trio, quartet, etc. Classical piece of music (own choice).
Event 542 Year 8 & upwards Vocal Ensemble Non-Classical
A vocal duet, trio, quartet, etc. Non Classical piece of music (own choice).
Event 543 Open to all. A Gilbert & Sullivan Competition
Competitors, solo or ensemble, will perform a piece from a G&S operetta.
SPECIAL AWARDS
Event 544 The Dolores McBrien Cup and Bursary
Competitors, aged 16 and over, must have been 1st, 2nd or 3rd solo prize winners in two of the past five gatherings of West Tyrone Feis, and will perform two contrasting songs or instrumental pieces of own choice which have not been performed by them at the current Feis or included in the current syllabus. The adjudicator may wish to interview the competitors. A bursary of £200 will be awarded to the winner for expenditure on further musical tuition as agreed with the Feis committee. The cup is presented by Mr Kieran McBrien in memory of his wife and the bursary is presented by the Feis committee.
Event 545 The Nora Torney Cup
The solo cup winners from Events 527 – 539 and 543 will be invited to compete for this cup by singing their winning song. Where a competitor has won more than one cup, he/she will choose one song only for this event.
INSTRUMENTAL SOLO
COMPETITORS MUST PROVIDE THEIR OWN MUSIC STAND AND ACCOMPANIMENT
Competitors should play music from any recognised Examination Board’s current syllabus.
Beginners to Grade 3 should perform one piece and Grade 4 to Grade 8 should perform two pieces.
Please bring a copy of your chosen piece/s for the Adjudicator.
KEYBOARD
Event 546 Level 1a - Beginners/Grade 1
Event 547 Level 1b - Grades 2 & 3
Event 548 Level 2 - Grades 4 & 5
Event 549 Level 3 & Diploma - Grade 6 upwards
STRINGS
Event 550 Level 1a - Beginners/Grade 1
Event 551 Level 1b - Grades 2 & 3
Event 552 Level 2 - Grades 4 & 5
Event 553 Level 3 & Diploma - Grade 6 upwards
WOODWIND
Event 554 Level 1a - Beginners/Grade 1
Event 555 Level 1b - Grades 2 & 3
Event 556 Level 2 - Grades 4 & 5
Event 557 Level 3 & Diploma - Grade 6 upwards
BRASS
Event 558 Level 1a-Beginners/Grade 1
Event 559 Level 1b - Grades 2 & 3
Event 560 Level 2 - Grades 4 & 5
Event 561 Level 3 & Diploma - Grade 6 upwards
GUITAR
Event 562 Level 1a-Beginners/Grade 1
Event 563 Level 1b - Grades 2 & 3
Event 564 Level 2 - Grades 4 & 5
Event 565 Level 3 & Diploma - Grade 6 upwards
INSTRUMENTAL ENSEMBLE
Two pieces of music (own choice). Any combination of instruments.
Please bring a copy of chosen pieces for the Adjudicator.
Event566 Primary
Event567 Second Level KS3
Event568 Second Level KS4
2023 TROPHY WINNERS
Event 502 Unison Choir KS1- Holy Family Primary School
Event 503 Unison Choir KS2- Omagh County Primary School and Holy Family Primary School
Event 504 Sacred Music Primary School- Holy Family Primary School
Event 505 Harmonised Choir- St. Conor's Primary School and Nursery Unit
Event 518 KS3 Junior Choir- Loreto Convent Grammar School
Event 519 KS3 and Upwards, Second Level Choir- Christian Brothers Grammar School
Event 527 (Yr 8-14) Sacred Solo- Cara McCance
Event 530 (Yr11-12) Art Song- Cara McCance
Event 532 (Y1-Yr7) Songs from the Shows- Nevaeh Devenney
Event 533 (Yr 8-10) Songs from the Shows- Aoibheann Breen
Event 534 (Yr 11-12) Songs from the Shows- Clodagh Lynch
Event 535 (Yr 13+) Songs from the Shows- Esther Rutledge
Event 536 (Y1-Yr 7) Thomas Moore Melody- Meabh McMahon
Event 537 (Y8+) Thomas Moore Melody- Dillan McGirr
Event 538 (Y8-10) Popular Song- Ava McBride
Event 539 (Y11+) Popular Song- Cara Coyle
Event 542 Vocal Ensemble (Y8+)-Dean Maguirc College
Event 566 Instrumental Ensemble- St. Conor's Primary School and Nursery Unit
Event 544 The Dolores McBrien Cup and Bursery- Cara Coyle
Event 545 The Nora Torney Cup- Nevaeh Devenney
Adjudicator's Cup, Most Potential- Ben Gillespie
Adjudicator's Cup, Best Performance- Christian Brothers Grammar School Senior Choir
Moltóir/Adjudicator: Donal McCrisken
Adjudicator: Donal McCrisken
Donal McCrisken is a Belfast-based musician with many years experience as a pianist, accompanist, conductor, examiner and adjudicator. He holds a BMus degree from Queen's University, Belfast and a Masters in Music Theory and Analysis from University of Ulster.
From 1999 - 2021 Donal was conductor of Cappella Caeciliana, one of Ireland's most exciting chamber choirs. Under his direction Cappella gave concerts and sung liturgies all over Northern Ireland, in Dublin, Germany, Austria and Italy. The choir recorded five highly successful CDs and has broadcast frequently on BBC Radio 3, Radio 4, Radio Ulster and RTE. In April 2011 Cappella toured the USA giving highly successful concerts in Philadelphia and singing a choral evensong at the National Cathedral in Washington DC.
Donal has studied singing with Russell Smythe and Kathryn Harries, two of Britain’s leading vocal teachers. He has organised and delivered vocal workshops in Belfast and elsewhere, working with children, adults in the workplace and, most recently in conjunction with his wife Helena, coaching adult language students in France. He has worked with Northern Ireland Opera as repetiteur, accompanist and workshop facilitator and teaches classes in performance in the music department of Queen’s University Belfast. Donal was for six years, 2005 – 2011, head of music in St Malachy's College, Belfast - Northern Ireland's first specialist music school, whose students he led in concert tours to Washington DC, Philadelphia, England and Rome.
A qualified British and International Federation of Festivals adjudicator, Donal has adjudicated festivals throughout Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and the UK. In 2004 he visited Hungary to study at the renowned Kodaly School in Nyiregyaza under the tutelage of Denes Szabo. He founded the Cavehill Community Choir in February 2013, a non-audition choir which currently numbers 150. CCC is in great demand locally to sing at concerts and featured in the 2013 Belfast Festival at Queens and has broadcast on Radio Ulster. Donal was the choral director and repetiteur for the exciting Belfast Opera project which culminated in performances in June 2016. For his work with this project he was awarded the Classic FM/ Musicians Union Inspiration Award and the whole project was nominated for the best Classical Music Education Initiative Award. He was awarded an MBE for services to music, education and community relations in the Queens Birthday Honours, 2020.
Accompanist: Stephen Bradley
Stephen Bradley is an Irish American pianist and composer living in Northern Ireland. Born in New York, Stephen moved to Strabane when he was quite young and there discovered a deep passion for music and art. He would go on to study music in London graduating with a bachelors in 2023. Pursuing music in different facets, Stephen is active as a performer, accompanist, teacher and composer.
Accompanist: Gerard Bradley
Gerard Bradley from Strabane, Co Tyrone leads a full and diverse life in Music making. His day time job was until 18 months ago, Head of Music at Loreto Girls Grammar School, Omagh.
It was there, over 31 years, that he has fostered a deep love of all things Choral, training all 3 choirs including the ‘Senior’ which has won top awards both Nationally and twice internationally at Prague ‘Young Bohemia’ festival. During his time here Gerard has regularly collaborated in large scale Choral ventures including various concert Requiems! From 2005 Gerard did a 10 year stint as music director for LMS.
In 2014 Gerard formed the award winning Strabane Camber Choir.
This choir are now competing at National level having had wins in both Derry and Sligo National sections in 2018 and Navan 2019/ 22/23
Gérard also has continued to play piano in multiple productions and also continues with his role as pianist in Jazz Gazette, a quartet he formed way back in 1985.
Gerard for most of his life also played Tuba in Strabane Concert Brass reaching and competing in, the European Championship on 5 occasions.
He is currently engaged professionally as official piano accompanist for Grade exam students; Omagh and Fermanagh.