Chamber Choir Ireland, formerly known as the National Chamber Choir of Ireland, is the Republic of Ireland's national choral ensemble and national chamber choir, and the only regularly funded professional choir in the country. Primarily funded by the Arts Council of Ireland, the choir is the resident ensemble at the National Concert Hall and Affiliated Artists to Dublin City University. Paul Hillier, has been the choir's Artistic Director since 2008. The choir's repertoire spans from early Renaissance music to the present day. It also commissions new works by contemporary composers. In addition to its performances in Ireland and international tours, the choir has released recordings on the Harmonia Mundi, Orchid Classics, and RTÉ Lyric FM labels. Chamber Choir Ireland is a member of the European network of professional chamber choirs, TENSO Artistic directors Paul Hillier (2008–present) Celso Antunes (2002 –2007) Colin Mawby, founding Artistic Director (1991–2001) The Choir also regularly invites international guest conductors to work with the group, and since 2016 has worked with Sofi Jeannin, Grete Pedersen, Nils Schweckendiek and Jörg Widmann. Commissions Since its inception, Chamber Choir Ireland has regularly commissioned choral work by both Irish and international composers such as Gerald Barry, Ian Wilson, Andrew Hamilton, Siobhán Cleary, Tarik O'Regan, David Fennessy, Deirdre McKay and Jennifer Walshe. Touring Chamber Choir Ireland regularly tours throughout the island of Ireland, presenting choral concerts to audiences all around the country. Internationally, the Choir has toured extensively in Europe, Asia and North and South America including performances at the White House for President Barack Obama on St Patrick's Day 2011. Learning & Participation Chamber Choir Ireland has developed learning and participation programmes across the choral art form: Composers in the Classroom (for school children aged 15–18 to write new choral music), Axis SING (a community choir project in North County Dublin), Choral Music in Ireland: History and Evolution (a series of lectures on the history of choral music in Ireland) and Choral Sketches (a professional development programme for emerging Irish choral composers). Chamber Choir Ireland has also provided opportunities for young singers and conductors to participate in apprenticeship programmes. Funding Principal funding for Chamber Choir Ireland comes from the Arts Council /an Chomhairle Ealaíon, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland National Lottery Fund, and Dublin City Council. Recordings The choir's recordings include: Gerard Victory: Ultima Rerum – Virginia Kerr (soprano), Bernadette Greevy (mezzo-soprano), Adrian Thompson (tenor), Alan Opie (baritone), RTÉ