The 14th Glenarm Festival of Voice returns to the beautiful Co Antrim village of Glenarm from 23-25 August 2024.
Now in its fourteenth year, the festival includes three free BBC Radio 3 recitals to experience, recorded live at the festival for national broadcast in September as four ‘Lunchtime Concerts’, an afternoon recital in The Londonderry Arms in Carnlough, and the weekend culminates in a thrilling vocal competition featuring five young opera singers selected from across the island of Ireland.
Our Competition Finale, hosted by our Patron, BBC Radio 3 broadcaster Sean Rafferty, showcases five singers selected from entrants from across the island of Ireland who compete in front of a live jury panel to win the Deborah Voigt Opera Prize and become the NI Opera Young Opera Voice of 2024. There is also a Song Prize award and the Kathryn Harries Audience Prize, voted for by the audience during a short interval on the night.
The 2024 Finalists are sopranos Zoë Jackson and Hannah McKay, tenor Peter Thomas O’Reilly and baritones Seamus Brady and John Johnston, with Orlaith Sharkey joining them as the Peter Rankin Piano Intern for this year’s competition. Find out all about the finalists by clicking here.
The afternoon recital in The Londonderry Arms on 24 August at 3pm will be performed by the winner of the 13th Glenarm Festival of Voice, soprano Anna Gregg, with pianist Tristan Russcher. Tickets are available to book now by clicking here.
The BBC Radio 3 Recitalists this year are mezzo Niamh O’Sullivan (a BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist), tenor Liam Bonthrone (currently a member of the Bavarian State Opera Studio), and Northern Irish baritone Ben McAteer (Vice Patron of NI Opera’s Festival of Voice). Each of the singers will be accompanied by Michael Pandya: a BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist and award-winning collaborative pianist. Michael has curated this series for BBC Radio 3.
The programmes will reflect local colour, from Joan Trimble to Herbert Hughes; the centenary of the death of Charles Villiers Stanford; and a breadth of classical and contemporary song. These recitals will be recorded live by BBC Radio 3 and broadcast nationally in September as part of their ‘Lunchtime Concerts’ series.
- Friday 23 August, 8pm: BBC Radio 3 Recital in St Patrick’s Church, Glenarm: Liam Bonthrone (tenor) & Michael Pandya (piano)– Free but booking essential – Free ticket draw now closed.
- Saturday 24 August, 3pm: Afternoon Recital in The Londonderry Arms, Carnlough with soprano Anna Gregg – winner of last year’s Glenarm Festival of Voice Competition and pianist Tristan Russcher.
- Saturday 24 August, 8pm: BBC Radio 3 Recital in St Patrick’s Church, Glenarm: Ben McAteer (baritone) & Michael Pandya (piano) – Free but booking essential – free ticket draw now closed
- Sunday 25 August, 3pm: BBC Radio 3 Recital in St Patrick’s Church, Glenarm: Niamh O’Sullivan (mezzo-soprano) & Michael Pandya (piano) – Free but booking essential – ticket draw now closed.
- Sunday 25 August, 6.30pm: The Glenarm Festival of Voice Competition Finale in the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Glenarm
We are grateful for the support of The Fidelio Charitable Trust, who have generously provided a grant towards the coaching of the young artists taking part in 2024.
Festival Patrons: The Earl and Countess of Antrim
Vice Patron: Ben McAteer
Find out more about what to expect at the Competition Finale in this short video.
Local Accommodation
- The Londonderry Arms
- The Ballygally Castle Hotel
- Barbican Gate
- Ocean View Pods
- Twilight Antrim Coast – Coffee & Bunkhouse
Local Restaurants and Cafés
Local Area
Images of Glenarm and from past Glenarm Festival of Voice performances
Image Gallery
