In 1915, at the height of his powers, John McCormack recorded this version of Adeste Fideles. The recording stands as a testament to the golden age of vocal recording and for many years was a cherished part of the holiday music tradition. RTÉ lyric fm youtu.be/pMmK2LkD1lM

Celebrating the Voice 2025 is one week away! Join us at National Concert Hall for an incredible week of music making, master classes, lectures, talks, Q&A’s and galas!

Due to the intervention of Storm Daragh (mustn't be a fan of music) Martin Dwan's talk 'The Inspired & Admired' that he delivered in December (to a thrilled but small audience) will return to open our Spring 2025 season. Not to be missed. 8th Feb, at 11am in Buswells Hotel.

We’re delighted to announce our series of talks for the spring. Martin Dwan’s talk was blessed with a great turn out. We look forwarded to welcoming new faces and old to the rest of the talks which will be held in our traditional venue, Buswells Hotel. johnmccormacksociety.ie/2025/02/16/spr…

Our next talk takes place on Saturday 8 March. 'Schubert - An Overview' will explore the composer’s rich and diverse musical output, featuring a selection of his most captivating compositions. 🎼johnmccormacksociety.ie/2025/02/25/sch…

Our next talk is on the 12th April at 11am in Buswells Hotel. It will explore the evolution of singing over the past century and be delivered by Gordon Ledbetter, the award winning broadcaster and critically acclaimed author. Read more: johnmccormacksociety.ie/2025/04/05/the…

Our final talk of the Spring season is this Saturday 10th May in Buswells Hotel at 11am. It promises to be a captivating journey through the vocal treasures of Russia, the former Soviet Union, and Eastern Europe. Learn more: johnmccormacksociety.ie/2025/05/03/ari…

Lovely to hear Lily McCormack recall her husband John's career on the 5th anniversary of his death. x.com/RTEArchives/st…

Our first talk of autumn 2025 takes place next Saturday, 13th September at 11am in Buswells Hotel. We look forward to welcoming Society members and newcomers. Read more in the link below. 🎼johnmccormacksociety.ie/2025/09/06/mus…

David Clarke delivered another superb talk yesterday. His knowledge of singers is extraordinary. We left wanting more. The novelty duet of Caruso and McCormack singing Lolita was a delight (they never recorded it together). Tebaldi sings Ave Maria: youtu.be/S1no4dz99wI?fe…

OTD 1945 John McCormack died. He is arguably one of the greatest concert recitalists of the 20th century and widely regarded as setting the benchmark for the interpretation of Mozart and Handel. To mark his 80th anniversary we share this performance. youtu.be/Ra0kNnhPFSI?fe…

Clíodhna Regan, 22 y/o soprano from Meath is one of our 2025 bursary recipients. 🎶 Feis Ceoil winner 2025 & recent opera debuts in Carmen + Così fan tutte. Next up: NCH with Sheldon Nulty Music! 🎤 Book your Bursary Concert Tickets 👇 eventbrite.ie/e/john-mccorma…

David Conroy is one of our 2025 Bursary Recipients. 🎶 An Irish bass & Feis Ceoil prizewinner, seen with Irish National Opera, Lyric Opera, Ireland & National Symphony Orchestra Ireland (Lurline). He's a rising operatic voice to watch! 👀🎤 Book your bursary concert tickets 👇 eventbrite.ie/e/john-mccorma…

Sinéad Cosgrove is one of our 2025 bursary recipients. 🎶 She's a soprano from Louth. Member of Lassus Scholars, she's sang in St. Peter’s Basilica & Swiss Youth Choral Festival. She secured 2nd in Feis Ceoil 2025 🥈 Book tickets for bursary concert 👇eventbrite.ie/e/john-mccorma…

Nicholas O'Neill is one of our 2025 bursary recipients. He's a Dublin baritone 🎶 Feis Ceoil Baritone Solo winner 2025 + multiple past awards. Performed with Irish National Opera, Yorke Trust & Trinity College Dublin Chapel Choir. He's a rising operatic talent! Tickets 👉 eventbrite.ie/e/john-mccorma…

We're delighted to welcome the return of the multitalented conductor and pianist, Niall Kinsella, to accompany this year's bursary award recipients. Niall has established himself as one of the ​most exciting Irish musicians of his generation. 🎹🎼 Bio: johnmccormacksociety.ie/?p=2321

What a wonderful night was had at the Royal Irish Academy of Music last Saturday where our bursary recipients delivered memorable performances of pieces by Mozart, Beethoven, Handel, our own Michael William Balfe, and many others. johnmccormacksociety.ie/2025/10/13/ann…

Humour in the History of Sound Recording is the subject of our Nov 8 talk by Gordon Ledbetter, McCormack biographer & broadcaster. Gordon will look at humour in its widest sense & how it has reflected society’s tastes & mores over the past century. 🎼 johnmccormacksociety.ie/2025/11/01/hum…

Gordon Ledbetter treated us to a memorable talk on humour in music with recordings going back as far as 1891. One of the standout recordings was a 2016 performance by Patricia Janečková. An extraordinary talent taken from us far too early. Sublime! youtu.be/mVUpKIFHqZk?si…

2025 witnessed some wonderful talks during our spring and autumn seasons and our annual bursary concert at RIAMDublin once more revealed that the strength in depth of young singers in our country. We look forward to meeting familiar and new faces in 2026. Now a word from John.