Sestina Music

24/08/2026

📣 AUDITION ANNOUNCEMENT! 📣

Applications are now open for our Next Generation Artists programme for 2026/27.

Auditions will be held on Wednesday 30th September in Belfast.

Deadline for applications is Friday 11th September, 5pm

More information on how to apply and auditions requirements can be found at

www.sestinamusic.com/next-generation

Arts Council Northern Ireland Flynn Performing Arts SARC QUB Queens University Queen’s Singers | Belfast University of Galway Choral Society MTU Cork School of Music RIAMDublin UCD School of Music Choral Scholars of University College Dublin Sing Ireland Belfast Philharmonic Choir Belfast Phil Youth Choirs National Youth Choir NI Ca****la Caeciliana derrychoirfest TheSixteen Gabrieli Malachy Frame Chamber Choir Ireland Sligo Baroque Music Festival 🎼 Early Music As Education Royal Academy of Music Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Royal Northern College of Music Royal College of Music, London Guildhall School of Music & Drama Royal Birmingham Conservatorie Historical Performance GSMD HP Department

23/08/2026

We’ve been a little quiet on here while we’ve been busy working away on our upcoming season 👀 and we’re getting very excited to announce soon!

If you want to be the first to hear of our upcoming concerts, auditions, projects and more then make sure you’re following us on our social media platforms and you’re signed up to our mailing list! The link to subscribe is below:

https://www.sestinamusic.com/subscribe-to-mailing-list

We cant wait to see you at a Sestina Music event very soon!

14/07/2026

Earlier this month some of our Next Generation Artists and Artistic Director Malachy Frame joined Margaret Faultless, Nicholas Mulroy and Bettina Varwig for ‘Bach in the Flesh,’ a research project at Royal Academy of Music exploring the embodiment of the music of Bach’s St Matthew Passion. We had a thrilling and eye-opening day, thanks so much for having us!

31/05/2026

🌟NEXT GENERATION ARTISTS SHOWCASE🌟

Soprano Neala Cahir give a little insight into next week’s concert. Neala, currently studying at QUB Music, is one of our very talented NGA’s this year and will be performing alongside 8 other brilliant singers next Saturday 6th June in Fisherwick Presbyterian Church, 7pm. The programme is a varied and wonderful mix of baroque repertoire, from Monteverdi, Charpentier, Purcell and Rameau, offering you a chance to hear these performers in intimate, moving solo and duet repertoire, as well as exciting choruses and ensembles, accompanied by Tristan Russcher and led by our Artistic Director Malachy Frame.

Now that the summer weather has gone on pause for a bit, why not join our NGA’s for an evening of musical sunshine, and support these fabulous singers as they mark the end of this years scheme, but the beginning their musical journeys!

🎟️ Tickets available through the link below or via the Sestina music website 🎟️

https://ti.to/sestina-music/next-generation-artists-showcases

08/05/2026

NEXT GENERATION ARTISTS SHOWCASE

Saturday 6th June, 7pm
Fisherwick Presbyterian Church Belfast

In the final concert of our Spring/Summer ‘26 series, this years Next Generation Artist’s take centre stage, showcasing these talented up and coming performers and giving your a chance to hear them in action at this exciting stage in their development. A culmination of this year’s scheme, our 25/26 cohort will perform a varied programme of vocal ensembles from composers including Monteverdi, Purcell, Charpentier and more, under the direction of Malachy Frame, accompanied by Tristan Russcher. We hope to see you there! Tickets available through our website and the link below:

https://ti.to/sestina-music/next-generation-artists-showcases

Sestina Music is generously supported by the National Lottery through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland

03/05/2026

Applications still open for the Charles Wood Festival of Music and Summer School Armagh in both the Charles Wood Singers (18+) and the Girls Choir. A brilliant opportunity for enthusiastic choral singers of all ages to be a part of this historic festival in the beautiful cathedral city of Armagh. Application details via their website:
https://www.charleswoodsummerschool.org/charles-wood-singers

DEADLINE EXTENDED – Apply Now!

The application deadline for both the Charles Wood Singers and the Charles Wood Girls’ Choir has been extended!

This year between 15th-23rd August, we mark the 100th anniversary of the death of Charles Wood, and we would love you to be part of it.

Both courses include full accommodation and meals, expert training, and the opportunity to perform outstanding repertoire with the Girls' Choir performing a world premier by Bob Chilcott and the Charles Wood Singers singing on BBC Radio 3, Radio 4 and Radio Ulster.

Charles Wood Singers – £500
Charles Wood Girls’ Choir – £350

Places are limited, so please submit your application as soon as possible.

Apply online at www.charleswoodsummerschool.org

24/04/2026

🌟 EASTER ORATORIO 🌟

One week on from our 15th anniversary celebration concert, performing Bach’s Cantata BWV 182 & Easter Oratorio to a wonderful and packed audience at Fisherwick Presbyterian Church. Bringing this glorious music to the people of Belfast was the greatest joy, and to have the stage filled with old and new friends of Sestina, featuring the finest musicians of today and the future, felt incredibly special. With huge thanks to our supporters, our musicians, Artistic Director Malachy Frame, and the endless list of people who helped bring this event together. Here’s to the next 15 years and beyond!

Many thanks go to the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the Continuo Foundation for generously funding this project.

We hope to welcome you all to our next concert on Saturday 6th June, where our very own Next Generation Artists take centre stage.

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17/04/2026

🌻EASTER ORATORIO🌻

A very special day of rehearsals yesterday, bringing together our musicians in preparation for tonight’s concert. Our audience is in for such a treat!

There are tickets still available via the link in our bio, so do book in advance if you can.

We can’t wait to celebrate our 15th Anniversary with you!

Bach’s Easter Oratorio
17th April 7PM
Fisherwick Presbyterian
Belfast

This concert is generously supported by and

📸-

16/04/2026

🌼 EASTER ORATORIO 🌼

MEET THE PERFORMERS

🎺 Trumpet - Darren Moore 🎺

Ahead of our concert tomorrow evening, Trumpeter extraordinaire Darren Moore gives us an insight into the fanfare and spectacle that the orchestra will bring in Bach’s Easter Oratorio.

Darren is one of very few musicians performing on modern and historical trumpet with some of the finest ensembles in the world. We hope you can join us to hear Darren and the rest of our incredible orchestra live tomorrow evening.

Easter Oratorio
Friday 17th April, 7pm
Fisherwick Presbyterian Church

This concert is generously funded by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the Continuo Foundation.

14/04/2026

🌼 EASTER ORATORIO 🌼

✨ MEET THE PERFORMERS ✨

We’re delighted to have a fantastic line up of singers joining us for our Easter Oratorio concert this week. Bringing together some of the finest singers from across the UK and Ireland, performing for the first time with our Next Generation Artists. From virtuosic arias to dynamic and joyous choruses, this will he a performance not to be missed.

Soprano
Anna Gregg
Charlotte O’Hare*

Alto
Jenny Bourke
Laura Lamph*

Tenor
Christopher Bowen*
Graham Cooper
David Walsh

Bass
Hugo Herman-Wilson*
Ben McKee

💫 Next Generation Artists 💫
Eilibh Bisset**
Neala Cahir
Cassia Moore
Ellen Griffiths
Olivia Sheehy
Orla Smith
Desmond Halvin
Fraser Robinson

*soloist
**guest NGA

This project is generously supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the Continuo Foundation