Festive music at the castle

Hillsborough Castle will be decked out in its festive finest to host the special Christmas concert by the Cappella Caeciliana choir.

Performing in the magnificent Throne Room, the choir will bring the joys of the season to the castle with a specially-created programme of Yuletide readings, poetry and choral music.

With a viewing of the beautifully decorated State rooms and a festive drinks reception, it’s sure to be the perfect start to the holiday season.

Cappella Caeciliana was founded on the feast of St Cecilia 1995 and has sung liturgies and concerts all over Northern Ireland as well as in Italy, Germany, Austria and USA.

The choir has performed works by Handel and Faure with the Ulster Orchestra, Bach Cantatas in Dublin with the Orchestra of St Cecilia and works by Vivaldi, Pergolesi and Mozart.

Historic Royal Palaces, the heritage and conservation charity responsible for HM Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, Kensington Palace, Banqueting House and Kew Palace, assumed responsibility for Hillsborough Castle from the Northern Ireland Office in April 2014.

The charity is undertaking a major project to transform the visitor experience at Hillsborough Castle and open up the castle to the widest possible audience.