A Bit About US
Established 40 years ago in 1982, Dún Laoghaire Choral Society is an amateur choir of over 70 singers that aims to share with our audiences a rich variety of choral music from medieval to classical and contemporary pieces, including newly commissioned works.
DLCS has performed in all the major Irish music venues, including the National Concert Hall, the O2 Dublin, The Waterfront, Belfast and the Bord Gais Energy Theatre. We also enjoy performing in the beautiful acoustics of some of Dublin's loveliest churches, such as St Ann's Church, Dawson St and Monkstown Parish Church, Co Dublin.
We have broadcast on RTE Radio One and Lyric FM and we performed with many of Ireland's leading soloists and orchestras, such as the RTE Concert Orchestra, the RTE National Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra and the Ulster Orchestra. We have the added experience of collaborating with international recording artists Katherine Jenkins and Andre Bocelli at the Three Arena Dublin and Odyssey Arena, Belfast.
Repertoire
In 2018 we commissioned Tom Lane to write a piece for the choir and in 2012 Shaun Davey was commissioned to write a suite entitled Songs from the High Seas to celebrate the choir’s 30th anniversary. This was performed in the National Concert Hall together with Shaun Davey, Rita Connolly and Liam O’Flynn.
Over the years we have sung many iconic choral works by Mozart, Handel, Faure, Elgar, Britten Rossini, Rutter etc. Our repertoire also includes smaller, lesser-known works by contemporary composers. We have embarked on special series of concerts, such as the Complete Mozart Masses, performing all 17 of his masses over a cycle of 5 concerts. We also performed a series of music for double choir, together with the Galway Baroque Singers.
Another highlight in recent years was an amazing Concert for Peace, Commemorating the 1916 Easter Rising & World War One, together with Cor Mhaigh Eo, the Ballina Chamber Choir and the RTE Concert Orchestra. This concert was held in Knock Basilica, Co Mayo and was part of the Mayo International Choral Festival programme. The programme included music by Irish composer Patrick Cassidy and Karl Jenkins' The Armed Man. The concert was attended by over 2400 guests, including President Michael D. Higgins.
We are also a choir who likes travelling - whether it is abroad or just across Ireland. The social aspect of the choir is very important to us! Recent trips include Lisbon in 2018 and Turin in 2015 with the Waldensian Choir of Turin, performing a programme of Mozart, Bach and Stanford.