W&L’s University Singers Compete in 66th Cork International Choral Festival The University Singers will compete virtually on May 1.

By Erica Turman
April 30, 2021

The University Singers, led by Shane Lynch, associate professor of music and director of choral activities at Washington and Lee University, will compete in the 66th Cork International Choral Festival’s International Mixed Voices A Cappella Video Competition on May 1, 2021. The event can be viewed for free on the competition’s Facebook and YouTube pages.

Founded in 1954 to be a dynamic force in developing choral music in Ireland, the Cork International Choral Festival is held annually over the five days preceding the first Monday in May.

The University Singers continue to be recognized as one of the finest a cappella choirs in the region. The group tours nationally or internationally every year, performing a wide variety of literature across the globe while serving as artistic ambassadors for W&L in concert series, festivals, competitions and conventions.

The University Singers have been recognized for their excellence in performance by the American Choral Directors Association and the Virginia Music Educators Association. They have performed in multiple international competitions and in featured programs at major venues such as Carnegie Hall, the National Cathedral and the Academy of Music.

At W&L, the University Singers are the centerpiece of the annual Candlelight Lessons and Carols service, perform in concerts and convocations, and participate in the ChoralFest, which honors America’s top conductors and composers. Student members of the University Singers represent a broad cross-section of the programs offered at the school, routinely representing over 30 of the 36 undergraduate major concentrations.

Membership in the University Singers is chosen by a competitive audition process each spring.

If you know a W&L member who has done great, accolade-worthy things, tell us about them! Nominate them for an accolade.