A full day of world-class singing awaits as the Charles Wood International Song Competition returns to Armagh on Saturday 7th March 2026. Now in its 8th year, the competition continues to cement its place as a leading platform for young classical singers across the UK, Ireland, and beyond. Hosted in the stunning St. Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral, the event offers audiences a chance to witness the stars of the future in an inspiring showcase of vocal artistry.
The internationally acclaimed British-Italian mezzo-soprano Sara Fulgoni joins this year’s panel, where she will be joined by distinguished vocal coach Paul Farrington and the Competition’s Patron, Dame Fionnuala Jay-O’Boyle DBE. Their combined knowledge and insight promise to make this year’s competition an unforgettable experience for competitors and audiences alike.
The competition is divided into two categories: the Junior Class (ages 18-21) and the Senior Class (ages 22-28), each featuring some of the brightest young talents in classical music. Whether you're a seasoned classical music lover or new to the world of song, the Charles Wood International Song Competition is an event not to be missed. The competition continues to champion the next generation of musicians, offering an inspiring day of performances that showcase the very best young vocalists. Tickets are just £5, available online or at the door. This is the perfect chance for young musicians to experience world-class singing up close. Come and be part of an unforgettable day of music, mentorship, and discovery in one of Northern Ireland’s most breathtaking venues.
Junior Competition
At 2:00pm, the Junior Final will feature performances from Cassia Moore, Cara-Rose Toale, Nicholas Faulkner, Sophie Bainbridge and Amelie O'Kelly. These gifted singers, representing top music conservatoires in the UK and Ireland, will perform alongside pianist Gail Evans.
Senior Competition
The Senior Final begins at 7:00pm, showcasing the exceptional talents of Natalka Pasicznyk, Ciara Smith, Julian Wakley, Cliodhna Regan and Aimee Banks. These accomplished singers will be accompanied by pianist Ruth McGinley, ensuring a captivating evening of music.
All Day Pass
The Song Competition Pass grants access to both Song Competition Finals (2pm and 7pm).
Thanks to the generous support of Armagh Credit Union, the competition boasts substantial cash prizes, including a £1,000 award for the winner of the Senior Class. In addition to financial support, finalists will have the opportunity to win the Dame Felicity Lott Song Prize, awarded for the most engaging performance of a Charles Wood song. Beyond the prizes, the competition provides career-enhancing performance opportunities, making it a key stepping stone for young singers. We’re also indebted to the support and funding from Arts Council Northern Ireland Lottery Funding.
Song Competition Jury
Sara Fulgoni
British-Italian mezzo-soprano Sara Fulgoni is internationally acclaimed for performances of exceptional dramatic intensity, described as “as commanding as ever, her stage presence impossible to ignore” (Operascene) and praised for her “extraordinary emotive power” (The Times). Named “the Carmen of the decade” by The Daily Telegraph, she has appeared at the world’s leading opera houses and concert venues in a vast repertoire ranging from Mozart and Verdi to Wagner, Britten and contemporary opera. Highlights of recent seasons include Fricka (Die Walküre), Erda (Das Rheingold), Brangäne (Tristan und Isolde), Judith (Bluebeard’s Castle), Mistress Quickly (Falstaff), Auntie (Peter Grimes), and roles with companies such as Welsh National Opera, English National Opera, La Monnaie, Teatro La Fenice, Grange Park Opera, De Vlaamse Opera and the Canadian Opera Company. Her 2025/26 season includes Erda in Das Rheingold and Bhumi in Tavener’s Krishna for Grange Park Opera, and Fricka for Shanghai Opera.
A committed concert and recital artist, Sara has worked with conductors including Riccardo Chailly, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Riccardo Muti, Kurt Masur, Giuseppe Sinopoli and Andrew Litton, and has appeared with major orchestras such as the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and Bergen Philharmonic. Her extensive discography includes recordings for Decca, EMI, DG and Chandos, and she created the title role in the world premiere of Tobias Picker’s Thérèse Raquin. A graduate of the Royal Northern College of Music, supported by the Peter Moores Foundation, she is a prize-winner of the Kathleen Ferrier Awards and continues to be a regular guest with Welsh National Opera and Grange Park Opera, where she has sung many of the great mezzo-soprano roles.
Paul Farrington, Chair
Trained as a classical tenor, Paul enjoyed an active performing career, but began teaching whilst still studying and decided to make his love of exploring and teaching voice his full-time career. A founding member of the Professional Voice Users Clinic at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital over a quarter of a century ago, he worked there as an NHS Clinical Vocal Consultant for seventeen years. He now works closely with a number of Harley Street Consultants in rehabilitating both spoken and sung voice clients and is acknowledged as a leader in this field.
Paul has held positions in a number of major Conservatoires and Drama Schools in the UK and also worked as vocal coach on various West End productions, including Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Grease, Spamalot, Evita and Miss Saigon. He is now Vocal Technique and Vocal Health Consultant to the Royal Opera House Covent Garden; The New National Theatre Tokyo; Göteborgsoperan Sweden; and is full Professor of Opera and Vocal Pedagogy at the Kunsthøgskolen (Opera Academy) in Oslo, as well as visiting Professor to the Kunsthøgskolen Stockholm.
He was Music Coach and Musical Director on the movie Quartet, and more recently on the Oscar nominated The Theory of Everything. Much in demand for lecturing, coaching and teaching worldwide, Paul now divides his time between his teaching studio in London and recent and forthcoming engagements in New Zealand, Australia, Japan, the USA, Singapore, Barcelona, Madrid and Zurich.
Dame Fionnuala Jay-O’Boyle
Dame Fionnuala Jay-O’Boyle DBE is Lord Lieutenant of Belfast and Vice Chair of Northern Ireland Opera.
Founder of the Glenarm Festival of Voice in 2010, she has a particular interest in young and emerging artists. In a past life, she was a multi award winning soprano who studied voice with Noelle Barker OBE, Frank Caper MBE and Marc Rochester. She is now a regular jury member and chair, author and commentator on voice and cultural matters.
