Limerick Sings International Choral Festival
University Concert Hall is delighted to welcome APOLLO5 to open the 2026 Limerick Sings International Choral Festival, performing their stunning "Anam" programme.
Anam is an evening of “music to move the soul” in which APOLLO5 draws deeply on Irish spirit, language and landscape. Rooted in the ancient Gaelic word for the soul, the programme traces a bardic line from Renaissance polyphony to brand‑new music, with Michael McGlynn’s vibrant setting of the Song of Amergin, “Am gaeth i m-muir”, and Fraser Wilson’s “Anam” at its heart. Around them, songs of parting, wandering and return – from folk‑inflected Scots fare such as “The Parting Glass” and “Johnnie Cope” to contemporary ballads like Tom Petty’s “Wildflowers” – sit alongside luminous sacred works and close‑harmony classics, creating a journey that feels simultaneously epic and intimate. Anam celebrates how a living connection to Gaelic tradition, homeland and nature can inspire song that speaks straight to the listener’s heart, from one generation to the next.
The programme will also include favourites like "Your Song," "Lovely Day" and "The Way You Look Tonight."
Celebrating their 15th anniversary in 2025, APOLLO5 stands out as one of Britain’s smallest but most dynamic vocal groups. Comprising a soprano, mezzo-soprano, two tenors, and a bass, the ensemble — named after the ancient Greek god of music — has earned a reputation for its ability to connect intimately with audiences whilst producing a rich, vibrant and versatile sound. With a repertoire that embraces Renaissance, classical, and contemporary choral works, alongside folk, jazz, and pop, the group’s five voices vividly bring five centuries of music to life.
APOLLO5’s extensive touring schedule has taken the group across Europe, the USA, and Asia. The ensemble has performed at renowned UK venues including Wig more Hall, Cadogan Hall, the Royal Albert Hall, and the Barbican Centre. They have also toured widely across Europe, with recent highlights including collaborations with an orchestra in Lisbon and a brass band in Prague.
The group has released seven solo studio albums. Recent highlights include Anam (2025), a Gaelic inspired collection of “Music to Move the Soul,” and Haven(2023), which explores the music of troubled, displaced, and persecuted composers and features William Byrd’s complete Mass for Five Voices.
“Exceptional cohesion and effortless style… faultless.★★★★★” BBC Music Magazine
“An unbroken spectrum, [creating] the illusion of larger forces” Choir & Organ
“Exceptionally beautiful singing” Classic FM
★★★★★– “bristling, youthful economy” The Observer
“Harmonious without the slightest concession to quality…the rapt listener would be hard put to find fault” Yorkshire Times