Digging for Gold

Four letters – one choir

Gold diggers from Norway are going on stage in Cincinnati. EDTChoir, named after the initials of the Norwegian choir directors Erland Dalen and Thomas Caplin, consists of singers aged from 14 to 23. Heading for the United States is a longer way than going to a choir practise in the group’s home town Hamar, but the musical road all people involved are taking to, has a very deep and important sense: discovering the gold in oneself. Choirs may also receive a golden reward at the World Choir Games, be it a Diploma for The Open Competition or a Medal for The Champions Competition.

“We are a kind of gold diggers!” say choir directors Dalen and Caplin introducing the choir’s work. “We’d like to help that the choir members become able to discover and to work for the 'gold' in themselves.” According to Dalen and Caplin there’s no better chance to strengthen human’s social values than by singing together in a choir. “Loyality, solidarity, mutual respect and tolerance play an essential role in a choir and help to achieve a desirable harmony in oneself – EDTChoir provides important assistance for that.”

Young people of different experiences and talents gathered on the initiative of both Caplin and Dalen. 30 people in all, aged from 14 to 23 are singing in this choir and are hardly working on a joint project: participation in the World Choir Games in Cincinnati USA in July 2012! – A challenge for everybody!

It’s also interesting about this choir that not only created the initials of the Norwegian choir directors its name but also that both choir conductors are there for the choir in each rehearsal. Since 2011 the choir has been digging for gold and started its musical journey. A further destination is Cincinnati and the World Choir Games. “The result from the competition is not the most important thing: The journey is the reward!” says Caplin. Both Dalen and Caplin are famous Norwegian choir conductors and are experienced with the World Choir Games. The choirs they have been conducting for years now are placed among the top 50 in the Musica Mundi World Rankings.

The World Choir Games is the most famous among the INTERKULTUR competitions. It’s taking place every two years on another continent. From July 4 to 14, 2012 participating choirs can compete in altogether 23 different categories.