The Ulster Hall, Belfast was the venue for the IDO’s 4th public performance on 3rd March 2024 under the baton of the fantastic Sinead Hayes. 

The orchestra of 86 players were accompanied on stage by the local choirs of St Malachy’s College and St Dominic’s Grammar school.  The programme opened with Verdi’s overture “La Forza del Destino” followed by the individual choirs demonstrating their exceptional talent with their own pieces.  The choirs and orchestra then combined for a performance of the Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves from Nabucco.

The orchestra performed Dvorak’s Symphony no. 9 “From the New World” which included a rarely known original ending to the first movement.  The concert was brought to a magnificent close with the full force of the choirs and orchestra on display for Carl Orff’s “O Fortuna”. 

The concert was a huge success and we managed to raise over £8500 for our charity partner, Children in Northern Ireland.