Got a complaint about Ireland? Have it sung by Ireland's first complaint choir!

Have you got a complaint? Want to tell someone about it? How about having it sung by a choir?

The Royal Irish Academy of Music and the Bealtaine Festival are putting a call out to complainers and choirs to join forces and be part of Ireland’s first “Complaints Choir”, which will debut on Wednesday May 1 in Dublin.

 It works like this - the people of Ireland are invited to send their complaints to the Bealtaine Festival. 

Conor Linehan of the Royal Irish Academy of Music will turn these complaints into lyrics for a choral symphony. 

Choirs around the country will be invited to learn this new composition of complaint then gather together on May 1st, the first day of the Bealtaine Festival, to transform all that moaning into a work of art.

Complaints Choirs are an initiative of Finnish artists Tellervo Kalleinen and Oliver Kochta-Kalleinen, and are now spreading around the Globe.

 Everyone it seems has something to complain about! Dominic Campbell, Artistic Director of Bealtaine, says, “Complaints Choirs are about transforming the huge energy we put into complaining into something more positive. Irish people are supposed to be world class at complaining – here’s the chance to prove it! “ 

Some Complaint choir videos:

Birmingham 2006.

Singapore 2008.

Chicago 2008

Copenhagen 2009

PRACTICALITIES: 

Send your complaints, those of your friends, and anyone else in poor humour to [email protected] before February 18th or post them to 

Complaints Choir, 
Bealtaine Festival, 
Age & Opportunity,
Marino Institute,
Griffith Avenue,
Dublin 9, Ireland. 

Complaints are treated anonymously.  

Choirs – if you are in a choir/conduct a choir and you think your group would enjoy taking part in learning a song and coming together to sing in Dublin on May 1st contact Deborah Kelleher, Director of RIAM on [email protected] before February 18th. 

The Royal Irish Academy of Music is Ireland’s oldest musical institution and a home of musical excellence. Founded in 1848 the Academy is a place of teaching and learning its objectives are transmitting the highest standards of performance and appreciation in all musical disciplines.  

The Bealtaine Festival is Ireland’s groundbreaking nationwide celebration of creativity as we age and is an initiative of Age & Opportunity. This year’s theme is “Grow Happy!”.  I

n 2013, the festival will be bookended by two unique choral events, the “Complaints Choir” on Wednesday 1st May and on Sunday 26th May Ireland’s “Dawn Chorus” will sing out across Ireland and for the first time across Europe as part of the EU Presidency’s Cultural Programme.