Dear Choir Secretary or Chairperson,
I take this opportunity to write to you and your choir to introduce the Isle of Man Festival of Choirs Competition to be inaugurated in 2010.
The Isle of Man has long held a tradition of music making through its ancient culture and we would like your choir to consider competing in this new festival which we hope will become a regular one in the choir calendar.
Whilst competition is at the heart of the Festival we would like it to include and involve the family and friends of choristers and their supporters who would have ample time to socialise and enjoy the greater world of singing by being able to explore our Island and share its many unique aspects through organised tours.
The friendly competitions will be held in the island's premier concert venue, the Villa Marina Royal Hall recently refurbished at a cost of around £14.5 million with seating for 1300.

We are very pleased that Miss Moira Anderson OBE an Island resident has kindly agreed to be our patron. We are also proud to announce that Alwyn Humphreys MBE will be the Chief Official Adjudicator. As you may know he held the post of Musical Director of the world famous Morriston Orpheus Male Voice Choir and is a well known choral arranger.

Competition Rules
As you will be aware this is our first Festival of Choirs and we continue to receive huge interest from choirs around the world. Following feedback from so many enquiries it has been decided to dispense with set test pieces. This means each choir will now be required to sing three contrasting own choice pieces, one of which must be unaccompanied.  The finalists will be expected to perform a concert repertoire of their choice but allowing only one piece already sung in their class entry.  For further details and more information about the festival, please visit www.visitisleofman.com

Festival Programme (timetable subject to alteration)

Monday 18th October 2010 – Depart
Local tour operators on the island have also been showing their support to the festival by kindly putting together bespoke packages for festival attendees. These packages are as follows:

If you have any further questions and/or would like to take part in this exciting new event, please contact Laura Quinn, Event and Conference Administrator by email on Laura.Quinn@gov.im or by phone on 01624 698372 for more details.