Quire Belfast Singers !
Quire Belfast is an award winning LGBTQ+ community choir – the only of its kind in Northern Ireland. Formed in 2005 with just 15 singers, we have a current membership of over 90 singers and our aim is to bring performance and entertainment through music and song and offer a social space to improve the mental and emotional health and wellbeing of our LGBTQ+ members. 2025 was an exciting year for Quire who celebrated their 20th anniversary with a glorious gala concert. We are immensely proud to mark over two decades of music, community and unapologetic queer expression. Along with a regular calendar of events, we are super-excited to be showcasing our talents and repertoire at our first European choir festival in Brussels June 2026. Led by our Musical Director Niall O’Flaherty-Lynch along side our accompanist Trevor Gillian, we will bring a mix of traditional, folk and pop to our new European audience. What began as a small group with big dreams has grown into a bold and beautiful family of voices that continue to uplift, challenge and inspire. Heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported us on this journey. Quire Belfast 🌈
A Brief History of Quire Belfast Established in April 2005 by the Rainbow Project as a choir for Belfast Pride, Quire Belfast has grown from a small group of 15 singers to a vibrant ensemble of over 90 members. The choir’s first Musical Director, Evan Ferrar, quickly established a strong foundation, leading to performances with Glória, Dublin’s Lesbian & Gay Choir, at the Belfast Waterfront Hall and the National Concert Hall in Dublin. Becoming an independent arts organisation in 2007, Quire Belfast continued to thrive under the direction of Ross Anderson and Jonny McMillen-Patterson (2006-2011), expanding its repertoire and performance opportunities, including appearances on BBC One NI’s Art Space programme in 2010 and at the Outburst Queer Arts Festival. In September 2011, Leanne Shields joined as Musical Director, bringing a wealth of experience and guiding Quire from strength to strength for over a decade. Under her leadership, the choir embraced new opportunities like the Rainbow Connection Concert in partnership with Newry Rainbow Community (2012), and participated in international events such as Various Voices in Dublin (2014), as well as regular performances at Hand in Hand events in London (2013) and Cardiff (2019). Leanne also encouraged Quire to compete in music festivals at Holywood, Portadown and Foyle, achieving notable success with 1st prize at Holywood. Our current Musical Director Niall O’Flaherty-Lynch joined Quire as a member in 2022. Niall took up the role of MD in 2024 and has since brought his extensive musical experience and passion to the choir. Previously serving as Musical Director for both Banbridge and Fortwilliam Musical Societies, he also helped establish the Irish language choir Na Béil Bhinne. Niall is a talented pianist as well as head of music at Hunterhouse College in Belfast. His support of Quire in developing a new repertoire has led to winning performances at many local musical festivals and feiseanna. Quire also returned to performing at the Outburst Queer Arts Festival and forged a new partnership with The Ulster Orchestra and Dumbworld on their How We Stand, How We Breathe art production. In 2024 Quire performed at Hand in Hand in Bristol as well as being awarded Belfast Pride Entertainer of the Year 2024 and 2025. 2025 culminated with an energetic summer concert celebrating 20 Years of Singing Queers – two decades of Quire Belfast. We are immensely proud of this milestone and all our success, achievements and wins. We would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to our friends and family, members old and new, sponsors and audiences for their unwavering support getting us to this landmark point. Thank you! Quire Belfast 🙏🌈
As Quire Belfast prepares to embark on an exciting choral journey to Various Voices in Brussels, we ask ourselves what does participation mean to us and what would we like to achieve? Various Voices is more than just an event; it’s a chance to connect and forge relationships on the European stage with likeminded individuals and choirs who share a passion for music and song, LGBTQ+ rights and acceptance, love and unity. We look forward to sharing this international platform with other queer choirs in a safe environment that celebrates diversity and belonging. As the only choir of its kind in Northern Ireland we are excited to not only showcase our own talent, but to enjoy the many different LGBTQ+ choirs that are joining from across Europe. Beyond the festival and the venue, we look forward to spending time in Brussels and exploring the vibrant culture and history of the city. Well known for its hospitality, we hope to soak up some local beers, indulge in its fabulous cuisine, discover fascinating landmarks, and immerse ourselves in the wonderful city of Brussels.