About Cuore

Cuore is an internationally award-winning auditioned mixed-voice adult chamber choir based in Dublin, Ireland and conducted by Amy Ryan. The choir consists of thirty singers from a range of nationalities and ages, committed to high-level performances of rewarding music, from early polyphony to contemporary premieres. Members include current and former professional singers, music teachers, conductors, academics (including music), professionals working in other disciplines, college students, recent graduates and retirees.

Cuore’s concert repertoire ranges from standard choral works to early music editions prepared by choir members and premieres of pieces written for the choir. We primarily perform a cappella, although we have performed with orchestra and other instrumental forces. We have a particular affinity for contemporary classical music by living European composers, having won prizes for interpretation at home and abroad, and regularly present Irish premieres at our Dublin concerts.

In addition to our own concerts throughout the year, the choir engages in charitable performances, and collaborations with orchestra. It’s become traditional for us to lead the singing at the annual Service of Nine Lessons in St. Stephen’s Pepper Canister Church, supporting the Black Santa Appeal.

Awards & Accolades

Founded by Amy Ryan and Patricia O'Neill in 2014, Cuore has consistently achieved high standards at festivals in Ireland and abroad.

RTÉ lyric fm Choirs for Christmas Recording Competition, 2024

For our recording of Make We Merry by Rhona Clarke, our national broadcaster awarded us:

• Best Overall Choir
• Best Performance of a Contemporary Irish Choral Work

6th International Choral Competition Ave Verum, Austria, 2024

• Gold rating

17th International Choir Festival “Tallinn 2023”

• 2nd prize, Chamber Choirs
• 2nd prize, Contemporary Music
• Special prize for Best Performance of the obligatory contemporary piece, Omnia mutantur by Erkki-Sven Tüür.

Feis Ceoil, Dublin, 2023

The adjudicator Peter Broadbent awarded us:

• 1st prize, Mixed Voice Choirs
• 1st prize, Corn Hardebec
• Oliver Hynes award for the Best Performance of a contemporary work setting an Irish text
• Qualified for the Oliver O'Brien competition final

Cork International Choral Festival 2022

• CMC Perpetual Trophy for the Best Performance of Irish Contemporary Choral Music, for Alleluia, Christus Resurrexit by Colin Mawby
• Selected for the Fleischmann International Trophy Competition

Zêzere Arts Festival (non-competitive) in Tomar, Portual 2019

• Invited as the international guest choir, where we performed varied programmes including polychoral works by Enda Bates, Marenzio and Tallis.

Cork International Choral Festival 2018

• 1st prize, National Competition for Mixed Voice Choirs
• 2nd prize, Ireland's Choir of the Year
• CMC Perpetual Trophy for the Best Performance of Irish Contemporary Choral Music, for Regina Coeli by Rhona Clarke
• John Mannion Trophy for the Best Performance by a Chamber Choir in the National Competitions, for Sagastipean by Javier Busto.

Navan Choral Festival 2017

• 2nd prize, Sacred Music Competition (ex aequo)
• Selected for the Navan National Choir of the Year Competition

Sligo International Choral Festival 2016

• 1st prize, Mixed Voice Choirs
• 3rd prize, Sacred Music
• Qualified for the Grand Prix

Mayo International Choral Festival 2016

• 2nd prize, International Final (Premier Competition)
• 1st prize, Choirs from Ireland

AIMS New Ross Choral Festival 2015

• 1st prize, Chamber Choirs

Music Premiered by Cuore

Below is a list of pieces premiered by Cuore. We welcome financial support to help fund future premieres and commissions.

Titles below link to performances by Cuore, where available.

Entries marked ‘*’ are tentative. We welcome corrections providing information on prior premieres.