Our Story

Founded in January 2015 by Eoghan Desmond and Judith Lyons, Dulciana is a chamber choir committed to performing the very best in music for upper voices from across the ages. Since its very inception, part of Dulciana’s mission has been the promotion of music by female composers, both those neglected by history, and those currently making history. The first manifested itself in the form of a concert consisting entirely of music by female composers – five pieces written for Dulciana by composers based in Dublin, alongside music by Rebecca Clarke and Imogen Holst. The following year, on International Women’s Day, they launched a call for scores for music by emerging female composers. Some months later Dulciana received over 80 scores from around the world. They are also firm supporters of contemporary Irish composers, and alongside many pieces by female Irish composers they have also premiered works by Eoghan Desmond, Seán Doherty and Jonathan Nangle.

Accolades

1st place ~ Cork Choral Festival 2024 (National Competition for Upper Voices)

2nd place ~ Cork Choral Festival 2024 (Ireland’s Choir of the Year)

1st place ~ RTÉ Lyric FM 2022 Choirs for Christmas (Best Overall Choir and Best Performance of a Contemporary Irish Work).

1st place ~ Derry Choral Festival 2022 (Equal Voice Competition – Female)

3rd place ~ Cork Choral Festival 2021 (National A Cappella Virtual Choir Competition)

1st place ~ Derry Choral Festival 2019 (Equal Voice Competition – Female)

2nd place ~ Cork Choral Festival 2019 (National Competition for Female Choirs)

Joint 1st place ~ RTÉ Lyric FM 2018 Choirs for Christmas (Best Performance of a Contemporary Irish Work)

Current singers

Lori Anderson
Éna Brennan
Anna Bryant
Andrea Clausen
Aoife Cuthbert
Suzette Das
Éabha Harper-McKeever
Sherry Hazlett-Gallen
Sally Herbert
Jane Hilliard
Julie Hough

Shannon Kirk-Finan
Aoife McGrane
Erica Murray
Lucie O’Flynn
Aodh Quigley
Andrea Regli
Dervilia Roche
Katie Stoker-Phelan
Anna Whelan
Saoirse Whelan
Katie Wink