We at Bangor International Choral Festival in Northern Ireland are proud of our Founder, Roberta Dunlop who was presented with a Special Civic Award from the Mayor of Ards and North Down Borough Council to recognise the work she has done with the Festival for 32 years.
Roberta founded the Festival in 1993 to encourage cross community connection through singing and her ethos of all inclusiveness for the Festival, irrespective of age, ability or background is still held today. The Festival welcomes choirs from Europe, UK, ROI and across the Province of Northern Ireland and includes classes for from Primary and Secondary Schools, Special Schools, Youth and Adult choirs.
In the past two years we have also welcomed a choir from HMP Hydebank College in Belfast who have been adjudicated remotely but with the prison’s permission, have been recorded and their performance then played to the other competitors in their class. The recordings from their class are then sent back to the prison to ensure that they feel included and part of the Festival.
We at Bangor International Choral Festival are proud and privileged to have Roberta as our Founder and are delighted that she has been recognised for the hard work she has put into the Festival over many years.
Anne Poots
Bangor International Choral Festival