What started out as a twelve person community choir under the leadership of Mr. Ronnie Allen in 1980 has grown and developed into a almost 90 person, four part choral ensemble. The Hibernian Festival Singers have performed extensively both nationally and internationally. Their tours have included the 150th commemoration of the Great Hunger in Ireland, Solemn Mass at the Vatican in Rome, Notre Dame, Le Mont-St. Michel, Lourdes, the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Chartres, La Madeleine Church in Paris, Normandy's American Cemetery and Beaches as well as concerts throughout the United States. Some performances of particular acclaim have been Radio City Music Hall, Carnegie Hall, the Columbus Day Parade in Manhattan, Westbury and Valley Forge Music Fairs, St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, St. Ignatius Basilica in Rome, the Stonehill College Irish Festival, the Hofstra University Irish Festival, the St. James Irish Festival, the Nassau Coliseum, Trump Plaza and Shea Stadium.  The Hibernian Festival Singers have had the privilege of sharing the stage with such exceptional artists as the late Frank Patterson, Eily Patterson, Ronan Tynan, Anthony Kearns, Kathryn Smith, Ciarán Sheehan, Gay Willis, John McDermott, Hal Roach, Andy Cooney, Phil Coulter, and so many more.

In 2015, The Hibernian Festival Singers were thrilled to perform in an Off-Broadway production called "The Events" which received glowing reviews from the New York Times. 

Beyond these notable achievements, the group has donated their time to sing for many community, civic, church and Ancient Order of Hibernian functions. They look forward to providing both their local and their larger global com­munity with many more years of quality Irish entertainment.

Our Conductor

Christopher Bilella

Christopher Bilella earned his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the Hartt School of Music in Connecticut where he studied choral conducting with James Jordan of the Westminster Choral College, Pamela Perry of the University of Connecticut and Gerald Mack of the Gerald Mack Choral Series. Christopher also studied voice with Jerome Pruett and David Ray Smith at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City. 

In 1999, Christopher was awarded a Master’s Degree in Education from Dowling College and earned a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from Capella University in Minneapolis in 2009. That same year, he was honored as “Teacher of the Month” by News 12 Long Island and Dowling College.   

Christopher currently works at the Bay Shore High School where he conducts the Women’s Chorus, Men’s Chorus, the Bay Shore Showstoppers, the Bay Shore Harmonaires and the Concert Choir. His choirs have received numerous level six gold medal awards from the New York State School Music Association, and from Music In The Parks Festivals in Virginia. 

Besides teaching Chorus at the Bay Shore High School, Christopher is also the Director and Producer for the Drama Club, which has been recognized by the Islip Arts Council with dozens Teeny Awards and nominations. Since 1987, he has also served as Artistic Director and/or Music Director for The Lynn Clark Summertime Players.

In 1992, Christopher was hired as an accompanist for the Hibernian Festival Singers and since 1998, he has served as their Conductor and Music Director and has composed several of their vocal arrangements. Together, he and the “singers” have received rave reviews for their performances at venues such as Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall, the Lyric Opera House in Baltimore, Westbury Music Fair, Shea Stadium, Nassau Coliseum, Notre Dame Cathedral, the National Concert Hall in Dublin, the Cruise of Irish Stars and St. Patrick’s Church in Bay Shore. 

Our Founder

Ronnie allen

Ronnie Allen immigrated to the United States from his hometown of Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland where he was well known for his organizing skills with the local Red Cross. He was the Dundalk Unit Officer and had received an award from the President of Ireland.

A short time after he arrived here, Ronnie put his organizational skills to good use running Irish sports and cultural festivals, dances, and concerts all to benefit the Church, a local Irish Dancing School and the Hibernians.

However, other than his family, his proudest accomplishment was the founding of The Hibernian Festival Singers in 1980. Starting with just twelve singers performing at nursing homes and Hibernian Masses, the group eventually grew to over 80 strong.  They performed in concerts and festivals in many parts of the U. S. and Europe while never forgetting the joy they bring to nursing homes.  The late, great Irish Tenor, Frank Patterson took a special interest in them and invited them to sing with him in Radio City Music Hall and Carnegie Hall and many other places of note that they still perform today.