The festival features public recitals and events, including three concerts in partnership with and broadcast by BBC Radio 3 and culminates in a vocal competition hosted by Northern Ireland Opera Patron and broadcaster Sean Rafferty.
The 15th Glenarm Festival of Voice took place from 22-24 August 2025 – find out more here
BBC Radio 3 Recitals
The BBC Radio 3 recitals are free to attend (tickets available by applying via a ticket draw at BBC Shows and Tours) . These three recitals are recorded live by BBC Radio 3 and subsequently edited into four lunchtime concerts which are broadcast nationally on BBC Radio 3 a few weeks after the festival.
The BBC Radio 3 Recitals for 2025 were on a theme of ‘Landscapes’ and featured mezzo soprano Carolyn Dobbin with BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists baritone James Atkinson and tenor Santiago Sanchez, with pianist Simon Lepper who curated the recital series. These recitals will be broadcast as the Lunchtime Concerts on BBC Radio 3 in Autumn 2025.
Vocal Competition
Singers are chosen from applications from across the island of Ireland after submitting a recording and they spend four days working with top opera and song professionals who in 2025 will be Dr Ingrid Surgenor and Professor Mark Wildman.
The singers and pianists involved with the Glenarm Festival of Voice competition benefit from a highly focused experience and the opportunity to perform and make contacts with opera professionals. The winner of the competition is awarded the Deborah Voigt Opera Prize, and becomes the NI Opera Young Opera Voice for that year. The judges also choose the winner of the Song Prize, and the audience vote for the winner of the Kathryn Harries Audience Prize.
The winner of the Deborah Voigt Opera Prize for 2025 was Éadaoin Hassett (soprano), Aimee Kearney (soprano) was winner of the Kathryn Harries Audience Prize, Clare Quinn (soprano) winner of the Chair of the Jury’s Special Prize and Jacq Herbots (tenor) winner of the Song Prize. The Peter Rankin Piano Intern was Orlaith Sharkey.
You can read the finalists’ biographies by clicking here.
Review of the Competition Finale in ‘Seen and Heard International’
Afternoon Concert
The Afternoon Concert takes place on the Saturday of the festival and features a Northern Irish opera singer performing a relaxed recital between 3 and 4pm. For the 15th Glenarm Festival of Voice this event was performed by mezzo soprano Carolyn Dobbin with pianist Tristan Russcher. Carolyn explored how Ulster Scots song has changed over time: from folk song evolving into classical art song to folk song influences in contemporary song.
Morning Craft and Drama Activities for Children
As part of our commitment to outreach and education, we provide free workshops and activities for local children on the Saturday of the festival, as well as visiting Seaview Integrated Primary School in term time to deliver a workshop around the skills used in opera, from singing, to drama, to costume design.
Children’s Drama and Craft Workshop at The Coach House event tickets from TicketSource
Patrons of The Glenarm Festival of Voice
Patrons: The Earl and Countess of Antrim
Vice-Patrons: Richard Hamilton and Ben McAteer.
We are grateful to Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, our donors, supporters and friends and our principal funder, The Arts Council of Northern Ireland for supporting the 15th Glenarm Festival of Voice.
Click through our gallery below to see some images from previous Festivals over the last fifteen years.
