Taking part in the adult choir competition at Feis Maitiu Corcaigh this year for the first time since 2019, Monkstown choir Cantate, successfully reclaimed the Lynch Memorial Perpetual Cup. This is the fifth time that Cantate have won the competition since their formation in 2006.
Other choirs taking part in the competition this year included the Sonatinas, an all-female choir based in Glanmire, who achieved second place while Scrubs, the CUH workplace choir, placed third.
Regaining their title after a three year gap shows that Cantate have lost none of their edge during the pandemic. Damien Nagle, Cantate's chairperson, summed it up when he said "A really great way to start 2023! There is a serious competitive spirit in Cantate and we continue to show that we bring our "A" game when the heat is on."
Charlotte O'Connor, long-time soprano with Cantate, praised musical director Daniel Beuster, "Daniel is really great to work with, he provides such positive and inspirational direction and knows how to get the best out of the choir."
Choral singing was one activity that suffered a severe blow during Covid owing to a ban on in-person group singing for nearly two years. Cantate is now back to full strength after recently recruiting some new members and is looking forward to a full program of competitive and non-competitive events for 2023.