New Dublin Voices was founded by conductor Bernie Sherlock in October 2005. The singers who make up New Dublin Voices come from many backgrounds but share in common high levels of experience and musicianship, a commitment to attracting new audiences, and above all a love of performing excellent choral music.
Composers and Collaborations
NDV, whose concerts range in style and period from the medieval to the contemporary, takes special pleasure in exploring the music of living composers and has given many Irish premières – including James Macmillan’s Cantos Sagrados and Penderecki’s Stabat Mater – as well as world premières of works by Irish composers including Linda Buckley, Enda Bates, Jonathan Nangle, Garrett Sholdice, Ian Wilson and Ben Hanlon.
The choir works regularly with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and performs at various special public events, including the Lord Mayor of Dublin's Christmas Concert (Dec 2012) and the official launch of the Irish Arts Council’s first ever policy document for choral music, Raising Your Voice (Oct 2008).
As well as concerts and competitions, NDV maintains a busy calendar of other activities including fund-raising and television and radio appearances – notably appearing on RTE's John Murray show and singing with The Priests in their debut Armagh concert broadcast nationwide in the USA and Canada, as well as on RTÉ’s Off the Rails, The Den, and others.
Awards and Accolades
As well as giving concerts, NDV is a regular participant in competitions, both internationally and at home in Ireland. Recent awards include:
• Ireland: Lyric FM 'Best Overall Choir' in the Choirs for Christmas Competition 2013, for NDV bass Alex Ryan's composition of "In the Bleak Mid-Winter".
• Italy: Two prizes at the 2013 Concorso Polifónico Guido d'Arezzo including the esteemed Grand Prix "Citta di Arezzo" which qualified the choir to compete in the European Grand Prix in Debrecen in March 2014.
• Ireland: Three prizes at the Cork International Choral Festival, including Choir of the Year and the Perpetual Trophy for the Performance of Irish Contemporary Choral Music.
• Spain: Third Prize in the Mixed Choir Category at the 2012 Certamen Coral de Tolosa Choral Competition.
• Ireland: 3 First Prizes, including the Oliver O'Brien Award, at the 2012 Electric Ireland Feis Ceoil, Dublin.
• Belgium: 6 prizes, including Choir of the Festival, at the 2011 International Choir Contest of Flanders-Maasmechelen.
• Italy: Three prizes at the 2010 Concorso Polifónico Guido d'Arezzo including First Prize in the Renaissance competition.
• Ireland: Second Prize overall, the Schuman/Europe Award, and the International Jury Award at the 2010 Fleischmann International Competition, Cork International Choral Festival.
• Hungary: Overall winner (The Grand Prix) and the Interkultur Special Prize for best conductor (Bernie Sherlock) at the 12th Budapest International Choir Competition 2009.
• Ireland: The inaugural ESB Choir of the Year Prize at the 2009 Dublin Feis Ceoil where it also took first prizes in the Mixed Choir and Adult Choir competitions.
• Germany: Third Prize at the 2009 International Chamber Choir Competition in Marktoberdorf.
• Finland: Special Prize for best interpretation of the set work and Third Prize overall at the 3rd Harald Andersen Chamber Choir Competition in Helsinki 2009.
New Dublin Voices and Charities
We believe strongly in supporting worthy causes. We have raised thousands of euro for charities since we were founded.
- December 2012: Lord Mayor's Fuel Fund (Dublin Simon Community & SVP)
- November 2012: Peter McVerry Trust
- May 2012: Children's Medical and Research Foundation (Our Lady's Children's Hospital) and Bantay Bata 163
- November 2011: SCOOP (Support Children Out Of Poverty / Stop Corruption On Our Planet)
- September 2011: Organ Restoration Fund, Unitarian Church
- May 2010: Pakistan Flood Relief
- January 2008: PREDA Foundation
- November 2006: Childline
