Celebrating World Music Day
Irish pop-up choir in New Delhi came together to perform a selection of iconic Irish songs
This year, to mark World Music Day, the Embassy of Ireland, in partnership with The Piano Man, hosted the Irish Pop-Up Choir in New Delhi.
Over 200 strangers came together for an evening celebrating music, community and culture.
Led by choir facilitator Nise Meruno and sponsored by Teeling Whiskey, the event welcomed participants of all musical abilities. Together they performed a selection of iconic Irish songs, including Dreams by The Cranberries, One Love by U2, Take A Sexy Picture of me by CMAT and Sinead O’Connors’ Nothing Compares to You.
The event reflected the Embassy’s commitment to cultural diplomacy by creating an inclusive and participatory experience that introduced audiences to Ireland’s rich musical heritage.
Participants in the Stranger’s Choir included members of the Irish community, Indian music enthusiasts, actors, students and first-time choir singers, many of whom came together as strangers and left having performed as a unified choir.
Ireland’s musical traditions
Music has a unique ability to transcend language, geography and cultural differences, creating shared experiences that foster understanding and connection. Through singing together, strangers not only discovered Ireland’s musical traditions but also built meaningful friendships and celebrated the values of openness, creativity and community that underpin the relationship between Ireland and India. Strangers were also treated to impromptu performances by musicians Kapil Srivastava, Manvi Gupta and Neeraj Devraj.
Overall, the Irish Pop-Up Choir celebrated World Music Day while strengthening Ireland’s cultural presence in India, demonstrating how music can bring people together, inspire dialogue and build lasting connections across communities and cultures.