Mayo Choral Festival kicked off last night (Fri 24 May 2012) at the Castlecourt Hotel in Westport. Following a civic reception and speeches three choirs performed to a large audience in the hotel's Dome Suite - Westport Community Choir, Rhode Island College Chamber Choir and Cór Mhaigh Eo.

The choirs treated their listeners to a wide-ranging and eclectic mix of songs - from Monteverdi to the Beatles; from Queen to Fauré and Rutter (of course) plus a great version of Toto's Africa from Chór Mhaigh Eo - just a sample of the great tunes heard on the night. If the standard of music heard last night is anything to go by the festival will be a great success.

The competitions take place on Friday and Saturday 25, 26 May and the final 10 choirs sing at the Gala Concert in the TF Royal on Saturday 26 at 8pm when the overall winner will be announced. Choral concerts will be held at Ballintubber Abbey, Ballina Arts Centre,  Knock Basilica and Swinford Church. - check out the programme at: mayochoral.com. The competitions are in Castlebar at the Linenhall, GMIT, Christchurch and the Royal Theatre on Friday and Saturday.

Rhode Island College 2012 Chamber Choir, USA.

Westport Community Choir.

Cór Mhaigh Eo.

Participating Choirs.

Ad Hoc Chorale, Mixed Voice, Waterford
Ballina Chamber Choir, Ballina, Co. Mayo
Cantamus, Mixed Voice, Derry
Castlebar Gospel Choir, Castlebar, Co. Mayo
Castlebar Parish Choir, Mixed Voice, Castlebar, Co. Mayo
Cathedral Choir, Mixed Voice, Ballina, Co. Mayo
Cill Áodaín Choral Society, Mixed Voice, Kiltimagh, Co. Mayo
Close ‘n Time, Barbershop Quartet, Co. Sligo
Cór Mhaigh Eo, Mixed Voice, Co. Mayo
Dublin County Choir, Mixed Voice, Co. Dublin
Duhallow Choral Society, Mixed Voice, Duhallow, Co. Cork
Dunmore Church Choir, Dunmore, Co. Galway
Enchiriadis Chamber Choir, Mixed Voice, Malahide, Co. Dublin
Four Bars Later, Acapella Chorus, Co. Sligo
Galway Gospel Choir, Co. Galway
Gracenotes, Female Voice, Co. Mayo
Harmonia, Mixed Choir, Co. Mayo
Knock Basilica Choir, Mixed Choir, Co. Mayo
Laulu-Jaakot, Male Voice Choir, Finland
Mayo Male Voice Choir, Co. Mayo.
Mayo School of Music Youth Choir, Co. Mayo
No Half Measures, Barbershop Chorus, Co. Sligo
Note-Orious 4, Barbershop Quartet, Co. Sligo
Rejoice Gospel Choir, Ballina, Co. Mayo
Rhode Island College 2012 Chamber Choir, US
Rockmount Choir, Female Voice, Co. Dublin
St Joseph's Secondary School Senior Choir, Castlebar, Co. Mayo
Sofienberg Choir, Mixed Voice, Oslo, Norway.
Swinford Church Choir, Mixed Voice, Co. Mayo
Sweeney Toddlers, Barbershop, Co. Waterford
Tone Cold Sober, Barbershop Chorus, Co. Sligo
Westport Community Choir, Mixed Voice, Westport, Co. Mayo
Wexford Male Voice Choir, Co. Wexford.