About us

The Kilkenny Choir was founded in 1992 by Philip Edmondson and quickly developed into a choir of national standing. It prides itself on the quality and diversity of the music it performs, ranging from Monteverdi and Bach to Stravinsky and Britten.

The choir’s cultural impact on Kilkenny is significant, with concerts attracting large audiences to St Canice’s Cathedral and other church venues. Links and cultural exchanges with other choirs internationally have been a great success.

Repertoire includes works by Mozart, Bach, Brahms, Britten, Bruckner, Haydn, Carissimi,Cherubini, Handel, Liszt, Mendelssohn, Monteverdi, Schutz, Gabrieli, Vivaldi, Charpentier, Vaughan Williams, Victoria, Poulenc, Stravinsky.

The Kilkenny Choir performs two main concerts each year, at Christmas and in late Spring, with occasional additional performances. The choir sometimes travels abroad and has performed to date in Paris, Rome, Bruges and Arlon (Belgium), Lucca (Italy) and Dubrovnik.

In April 2018 after 25 years of wonderful leadership Philip Edmondson retired from the position of musical director. The Kilkenny Choir is truly indebted to his years of commitment and dedication and the tremendous legacy he has left us.

Our current Musical Director, Thomas Kehoe, who now lives in Kilkenny, is a masters graduate of University College Dublin and University of Cambridge. He has held previous positions as Director of Music with UCD Philharmonic Choir and Principal Guest Conductor of Mullingar Choral Society. He is currently MD of Ballinteer Male Voice Choir and The Amici Singers, whileholding the post of organist in Kilmacud Parish.