"The singers were very happy. If you ask me I think this was the best festival ever. Then I think of the venue, the hotel, the distance between venue and hotel, the quality of the choirs and also the organization. Very professional!"
Grand Prix of Nations Gothenburg 2019 & 4th European Choir Games
Sing with a nation of choristers!
Austria, Germany and Latvia were already hosts for one of the most prestigious European choir competitions, the European Choir Games. In 2019 the 4th edition of the event will once again take place and explore a new destination: Sweden – nation of choristers!
With approximately 600 000 singers, choir singing is one of Sweden’s most popular movements and the country is thus a perfect location for this international singing event.
The host city for the event has been well chosen: Gothenburg, the country’s second largest city, is a genuine music city where music is close to people’s hearts. It has a lively alternative music culture and big arena stages. Culture and the arts take center stage in Gothenburg.
Singers from all over the world are invited to join, compete and celebrate a grand festival of choral music in Sweden at the Grand Prix of Nations Gothenburg 2019 & 4th European Choir Games.
Participation Opportunities
This event invites all non-professional choirs of the world to participate, offering fair and realistic competition to experienced competitive choirs as well as to choirs with relatively little international experience.
The Grand Prix of Nations Gothenburg 2019 combined with the 4th European Choir Games offers the Open Competition, the European Champions Competition and the Grand Prix of Nations. These three competitions allow choirs the opportunity to participate at the appropriate level an even to qualify for the higher levels.
AI – Open Competition
In the spirit of "Participation is the highest honor", choirs from all over the world, regardless of their present level of achievement, have the opportunity to participate in the Open Competition to gather valuable experience in international competition.
AII - European Champions Competition
This competition level is open to European choirs with international competitive experience and/or comparable credentials. Participation is by decision of the Artistic Committee.
AIII - Grand Prix of Nations Gothenburg 2019
The Grand Prix of Nations is open to choirs from all over the world that have corresponding international competitive experience and that have proven their abilities in international choral competitions. Participation is by decision of the Artistic Committee.
CATEGORIES |
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1 - Children's Choirs |
2 - Youth Choirs (Mixed and Equal Voices) |
3 - Chamber Choirs/Vocal Ensembles |
4 - Adult Choirs (Mixed, Male, Female Choirs) |
5 - Musica Sacra a cappella |
6 - Musica Sacra with accompaniment |
7 - Gospel, Spiritual, Music of Spirit and Faith |
8 - Jazz, Pop, Show |
9 - Folklore a cappella |
10 - Folklore with accompaniment |
A detailed description of the competition categories can also be found in the booklet available for download:
Participant Information(970 KB)
BI - Evaluation Performance
for non-competing choirs
This level of participation is available to choirs who choose not to be placed in competition, but seek to be part of the international experience of the event.
Choirs will sing a program of three pieces for a maximum performance time of 15 minutes in front of a panel of international experts. At the conclusion of the program there will be a brief internal consultation of the panel of choral experts. Finally, the program is discussed with the choir in an open and amicable atmosphere.
Performance coaching and recommendations will be given for future participation in international competitions. The choirs will receive an official certificate of participation.
BII - Individual Coaching
All participants, whether taking part in the competitions or not, are given the opportunity to participate with their choir in a session with a noted international choir director.
Choirs interested in making use of this opportunity are required to prepare one piece of choral music. An internationally respected choral music expert will then rehearse the piece with the choir to provide new artistic ideas and impetus. Choirs not participating in the competition are presented a certificate and a recommendation for their future participation in international choral competitions.
CI - Friendship Concerts
In addition to their competitive or non-competitive participation, choirs may perform in a Friendship Concert with other choirs in public venues in and around the city of Gothenburg.
These free public concerts provide opportunity for each choir to present musical traditions and costumes of their native land. Choirs, instrumental groups, and dance companies not participating in any other category may also register to participate solely in multiple Friendship Concerts.
CII - Festival Stage Choir
As artistic highlight of the event a festive performance of a selection of traditional and international choral symphonic pieces will be performed at the Closing Concert.
During your stay obligatory rehearsal sessions will take place. Choirs interested in participating in this concert are invited to register for it. However, the Artistic Committee has final approval on selection of choirs who must rehearse independently and arrive prepared for massed rehearsal.
Choirs may also only participate in Friendship Concerts and/or the Festival Stage Choir performance.
"Huge thanks to the whole team for organizing the event and creating such an experience! Special thanks for all the help you provided for us!! We already miss You, Berlin and the fantastic atmosphere and suberb premises! Hopefully we see you soon!"
"It was really a great honour and pleasure to take part in this competition! The award ceremony was simply incredible! It was really great! The girls will never forget this trip to Germany."
Registration Information
This event lies in the past!
You are interested in participating in this event series? Then have a look right now at our overview, which provides information about when the event will be held the next time. There you can also find further dates and destinations of our events taking place worldwide.
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Event Details
Saturday, August 3, 2019
- Stage Rehearsals & Rehearsals
- 20:00h Partille Arena: TV Show "Eurovision Choir 2019" & Opening Concert
- Sightseeing & Excursions*
Sunday, August 4, 2019
- Morning: Workshop
- Stage Rehearsals & Rehearsals
- Open Competition: Categories O2, O4, O6, O7, O9
- Champions Competition: Categories C2, C4
- Grand Prix of Nations: Categories GP2, GP6, GP9
- Evaluation Performances (non-competing)
- Individual Coachings
- Friendship Concerts in and around Gothenburg
- Sightseeing & Excursions*
Monday, August 5, 2019
- Morning: Workshop
- Stage Rehearsals & Rehearsals
- Champions Competition: Categories C2, C6, C7, C9
- Grand Prix of Nations: Categories GP2, GP4, GP9
- Evaluation Performances (non-competing)
- Individual Coachings
- Friendship Concerts & Celebration Concerts in and around Gothenburg
- 19:00h Vasakyrkan: Special Concert „Sweden a Cappella“
- Sightseeing & Excursions*
Tuesday, August 6, 2019
- Stage Rehearsals & Rehearsals
- Grand Prix of Nations: Categories GP2, GP6, GP7, GP9
- Evaluation Performances (non-competing)
- Individual Coachings
- Friendship Concerts in and around Gothenburg
- 20:00h Partille Arena: Awards Ceremony for categories 2, 4, 6, 7 and 9
- Sightseeing & Excursions*
Wednesday, August 7, 2019
- Stage Rehearsals & Rehearsals
- Evaluation Performances (non-competing)
- Friendship Concerts & Celebration Concerts in and around Gothenburg
- 10:30h -16:30h Bethlehemskyrkan – Special Event „World Choir Events in the Belt and Road“ with Swedish and Chinese choirs
- 17:30h Parade of Nations from the Universitetsplatsen to the Kungstorget
- 18:30h Kungstorget: „Gothenburg welcomes the World“
- Sightseeing & Excursions*
Thursday, August 8, 2019
- Morning: Workshop
- Stage Rehearsals & Rehearsals
- Open Competition: Categories O1, O3, O5, O8, O10
- Champions Competition: Category C3
- Grand Prix of Nations: Categories GP5, GP8
- Evaluation Performances (non-competing)
- Individual Coachings
- Friendship Concerts in and around Gothenburg
- Festival Stage Choir Project
- Sightseeing & Excursions*
Friday, August 9, 2019
- Morning: Workshop
- Stage Rehearsals & Rehearsals
- Champions Competition: Categories C1, C3, C5, C8, C10
- Grand Prix of Nations: Categories GP1, GP3, GP5, GP8, GP10
- Evaluation Performances (non-competing)
- Individual Coachings
- Friendship Concerts in and around Gothenburg
- Festival Stage Choir Project
- Sightseeing & Excursions*
Saturday, August 10, 2019
- Stage Rehearsals & Rehearsals
- Grand Prix of Nations: Categories GP1, GP3
- Festival Stage Choir Project
- 14:00h Partille Arena: Awards Ceremony for categories 1, 3, 5, 8 and 10
- 20:00h Partille Arena: Closing event
- Sightseeing & Excursions*
depending on the individual schedule
As of: 09.07.2019 - Subject to change!
If you are interested in individual excursions please send an email to travel(at)interkultur.com.
Artisten – Sjöströmsalen
Address: Fågelsången 1, 412 56 Gothenburg, Sweden
Artisten houses Gothenburg’s Academy of Music and Drama and is located in the very center of Gothenburg with the Gothenburg Concert Hall, the Gothenburg Museum of Arts, the Gothenburg City Theatre and the Swedish Exhibition & Conference Centre only a few steps away. Artistens beautiful concert hall is called Sjöströmsalen. With almost 400 seats and a stage with space for a complete symphony orchestra it will be the venue for many competitions. The Lindgrensalen and Jakobsonteatern in Artisten will further be available for Workshops, Evaluation Performances and Individual Coachings.
Photos: Natalie Greppi, Göran Olofsson
Domkyrkan
Address: Kyrkogatan 28, 411 15 Gothenburg, Sweden
The beautiful airy Gothenburg Cathedral was built in 1815 after the two previous Cathedrals were ravaged by fires. The Cathedral has been renovated several times; most recently an interior renovation in 2014, when the church’s neoclassical style was enhanced with a color scheme of white, grey and gold.
The choir could house at least 125 musicians – instrumental musicians and choir singers. The Cathedral has the capacity to seat a total of 600 people at the same time.
Photos: Adobe Stock, Domkyrkoforsamlingen
Universiteitsaulan
Address: Göteborgs universitet, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
The beautiful main building of the University of Gothenburg in Vasaparken, dates from 1907, and has been declared a historic building by the National Heritage Board. With its square granite pillars and monumental flight of steps flanked by two bronze lions, the building lends a dignified presence to the University in central Gothenburg.
One of its functions today is to house public events under the auspices of the University. The University Assembly Hall, with its splendid murals by Nils Asplund, seats 300, with an additional 150 seats in the gallery.
Photos: Johan Wingborg
Stora Teatern
Address: Kungsparken 1, 411 36 Göteborg, Sweden
Stora Teatern is Gothenburg’s grand stage for Swedish and international guest performances. In this beautiful and centrally located theater you’ll experience contemporary circus and dance, theater, music from around the globe, inspiring talks and much more. The theatre is over 150 years old and seats 500 guests.
Photos: Simon Dybeck
Partille Arena
Address: Gamla Kronvägen 2, 433 33 Partille, Sweden
Partille arena was inaugurated in 2016 and is one of the newest arenas in Sweden. Partille arena is the future of event venues with an innovative stage construction and flexible concert hall, which is scalable depending on the size of the event. With a capacity of 5600 people the main hall can host a variety of events. There are two halls in total and the smaller of the two often gets used as an additional, smaller venue for festivals and sports tournaments.
Photos: Johannes Berner, Tengbom
Prof. Dr. Ralf Eisenbeiß
Ralf Eisenbeiß was born in 1952 in Zeulenroda. After his secondary school examination he studied pedagogy, German philology and musical education. He received his PhD in 1979 at the Pedagogical University of Zwickau. From 1978 to 1981, he studied choir and orchestra conducting at the Franz Liszt Conservatory in Weimar.
Ralf Eisenbeiß was working as the director of the choral department at the Pedagogical University in Zwickau and appointed professor for choir conducting and choral singing in 1987. He was conductor of the renowned Pedagogical University Zwickau Choir. With his choir he performed a wide repertoire of compositions for a cappella choirs and with orchestra, too. Under his direction the choir won numerous prizes at national and international choir competitions.
Ralf Eisenbeiß was lecturer at the central seminar for choral conductors in Berlin and organized numerous workshops himself. He often appears as guest conductor at home and abroad. Since almost 30 years he works as artistic director of INTERKULTUR. Ralf Eisenbeiß is founder of the Int. Robert Schumann Choir Competition in Zwickau and one of the founders of the World Choir Games. Since 1992 he was responsible for more than 150 international competitions of INTERKULTUR in Germany, Italy, Korea, Indonesia, China, Austria, Spain, USA and other countries. Ralf Eisenbeiß is very often invited as a juror in national and other international choir competitions all over the world.
Fred Sjöberg
Fred Sjöberg, born 1953, is an educated singer and choral conductor at the Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm and Örebro. Among others he has studied with Prof. Solwig Grippe, Prof. Eric Ericson and Prof. Helmuth Rilling. He has been the first conductor to conduct the three major international youth choirs as World Youth Choir (1991 and 2005), World Chamber Choir (1993) and European Youth Choir (1999).
When the Swedish organization for young choirs “UngiKör” started he was elected as their first president. In 2000 he was appointed as the “Conductor of the Year” in Sweden by SCDA (Swedish Choral Directors Association) appointed with the Johannes Norrby Medallion for outstanding and 2001 service and development to the Swedish Choral Life. From 1997 to 2004 he was the Music Director and conductor of the project “Notes for Millions”.
From 2000 to 2004 he was also Music Director of the Swedish Choral Centre as well as Artistic Director for Lund International Choral Festival from 2005 to 2006. Since 2009 he is Music Director of Swedish International Choral Centre in Örebro. Fred Sjöberg has been Vice President of Europa Cantat as well as President of the Music Commission of Europa Cantat and has also been Vice President of IFCM.
He is Council Member of INTERKULTUR and also on the Artistic Directorium of INTERKULTUR.
From 2015 he is General Artistic Director of INTERKULTUR.
Kicki Rosén Bejstam
Kicki Rosén Bejstam is Artistic Director of Brunnsbo Music Classes in Gothenburg, Sweden, which often collaborates with the Concert Hall, Göteborg Wind Orcestra and the Gothenburg Opera. She is director of Brunnsbo Music Classes Girl’s Choir, and tours a lot around the world. She holds a MFA in Music Education from the Örebro University, and has a Master degree in choral conducting from the Academy of Music and Drama in Gothenburg. Rosén Bejstam is also a freelance singer and sings first soprano in Vocal Art Ensemble of Sweden. She is a former president of the youth choral association UNGiKÖR väst and a Swedish representative of INTERKULTUR.
Marit Zetterström (Sweden)
Marit Zetterström is the Manager of Choir Center West in the region of Västra Götaland, Sweden. Choir Centre West is part of the cultural administration Kultur i Väst and their aim is to strengthen and develop the choir scene regionally. This is done by offering courses and consultations, initiating events, and spreading choir research.
Marit Zetterström is a conductor, producer, logonom/speech therapist, guest lecturer and former chair of the Swedish Choral Council. She is often chosen to produce national choral activities, projects, festivals and conferences. As a freelance conductor, consultant and inspirer she has been working all over Sweden. Marit Zetterström has been a teacher, conductor and speech therapist at the well-known education for Musical Artist at Balettakademien in Gothenburg. She was a member of the Academy of Amateur Culture in Sweden for a couple of years. She was also the Organizer of the national choral activities in Sensus study Association 2008-2016.
Marit Zetterström is a member of the local artistic committee planning the 4th European Choir Games in Gothenburg 2019.
Giovanni Acciai (Italy)
- Graduated in organ, composition and choir conducting and specialized in paleography and musical philology
- Former director of the "RAI Chamber Choir" of Rome and recognized as one of the greatest interpreters of the Renaissance and Baroque vocal repertoire
- Professor of Musical Palaeography at the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory in Milan
- In 2015 he was invited as individual member in the Réseau Européen de Musique Ancienne (R.E.M.A.)
- Carries out an intense concert and recording activity at the helm of the "Collegium vocale et instrumentale Nova Ars Cantandi"
- Member of the World Choir Council
Ala-Pöllänen (Finland)
- Past conductor and artistic director of the Tapiola choir and Vox Aurea choir, activities on all continents
- Music teacher, symphony orchestra-, folk- and jazz musician and conductor, juror
- Artistic director of festivals, chair of the IFCM Songbridge Artistic Committee
- Pro Finlandia Medal, the highest recognition for arts by the President of the Republic of Finland, the UNESCO Price1996 for Performing Arts / the Tapiola choir, subject of the doctoral thesis
Ekaterina Avetisian (Russia)
- Conductor, music educator, church choir director, composer
- Founder, Artistic Director and Conductor of the vocal ensemble “Blagaya Vest” (Good Tidings) and of the “Moskovskiye kolokolchiki” (Moscow bells) Children's and Youth Choir since 1991
- Professor at Gnessin Moscow Children's School of Music
- Honored Worker of the Moscow Musical Society
Christo Burger (South Africa)
- Christo Burger recently won 6 Gold medals at the World Choir Games, Tshwane 2018 with Akustika Chamber Singers (4), Akustika Male Choir (1) and Jacaranda Children's Choir (1).
- Akustika Chamber Singers was crowned the "Champion of the World Choir Games" in Tshwane for the Category: "Musica sacra a cappella".
- Akustika Chamber Singers was awarded a gold medal at the Grand Prix of Nations in Magdeburg, Germany.
- Akustika Chamber Singers won the Pavarotti trophy as well as the title “Choir of the World” at the annual Llangollen International Music Eisteddfod, Wales, UK, 2008.
Erika Budai (Belgium)
- Teaches music composition and harmony at the Music Conservatory of Louvain (Belgium)
- Graduated as a composer and professional musician from the Royal Music Academy of Brussels and Lemmens Institute of Louvain
- Received several commissions for the “Belgian Radio Choir” and composed a great deal of compulsory pieces for national and international choir competitions
- Regularly invited as a jury member at national and international music competitions in Belgium, Italy, Slovakia and Croatia
Javier Busto (Spain)
- From 1972 to 1976 conductor of "Ederki Choir" in Valladolid
- Founder and conductor of "Eskifaia Abesbatza" (1978-1994), "Kanta Cantemus Korua" (1995-2007) and of "Aquam Lauda Korua" (2014)
- His choral works have been published in the Basque Country, France, Germany, Japan, the USA, the United Kingdom and Sweden
- Regularly invited as conductor and jury member to different Choral Festivals and Competitions worldwide
Guanghui Chen (China)
- member of the World Choir Council
- National First Class Conductor (rank of professional title in China)
- President of Shenzhen Chorus Association
- founder and Artistic Director of Shenzhen Star Bright Choir
- founder and Director of Guangdong international choral pedagogic education project
- directed many choirs which have won champion titles in numerous choral competitions, both home and abroad in past few decades
Jürgen Faßbender (Germany)
- First prize winner of many international choir competitions
- Repeated Prize Winner of the German Choir Competition
- Editor of „Reine Männersache“, „Reine Frauensache“ Edition Peters
- International Juror, lecturer and guest conductor
- Member of the INTERKULTUR World Choir Council
Lena Ekman Frisk (Sweden)
- Senior Lecturer at Malmö Academy of Music and Director at Southern Choral Centre, Lund University, Sweden.
- Former president of Swedish Choral Directors Association.
- International adjudicator and guest lecturer.
- Conductor The Malmö Academy of Music Womens Chorus and Christianstads Motet Choir.
Helle Hoyer Vedel (Denmark)
- Founder and conductor of Aarhus Girls Choir, Champion of the World Choir Games and winner of Let the Peoples sing (EBU)
- Conductor of the girls choir of the Royal Academy of Music, Aarhus, and Korvida with young female singers. Teacher at the Aarhus Music School
- Worked with several Danish composers as Per Nørgård and Søren Møller, collaborated with Aarhus Symphony Orchestra, Danish National Opera and the Dutch choireographer Panda van Proosdij
- International juror and lecturer
Anne Johansson (Sweden)
- Founder and director of the female choir Brunnsbokören, 1980-2009 and of Gothenburg Youth Choir, since 2005
- Founder and principal of Brunnsbo Music Classes, Gothenburg, 1985-2013
- Ass. Professor at the Department of Music and Drama at the University of Gothenburg
- President of UNGiKÖR, Children- &Youth Choir Association, 1989-1997 and of NORBUSAM, Org. for Nordic Children’s and Youth Choirs, 2002-2008
- received prominent awards e.g. as Royal Academy of Music prize, Children- & Youth choir Conductor, The Norrby-medal
Katalin Kiss (Hungary)
- Founding conductor of "Ars Nova Vocal Ensemble", which is winner of sixteen first prizes and special prizes, seven times of "Grand Prix" at international competitions, two times the title of "Champion of the World Games" (Graz, Austria, Riga, Latvia)
- Founding Director of Ars Nova Edition Publishing House, which specializes in contemporary choral music
- Professor of conducting and musicianship at Kodály Institute of Liszt University of Music and Beijing Central Conservatory of Music
- Author of music theory books, the latest is 'A Practical Approach to Harmony I, II'
- Lecturer at workshops, seminars, symposia all over the world
- Often serves as juror at international choir competitions
- Member of the World Choir Council
Jean Kleeb (Brazil/Germany)
- Music Director of Chamber Choir Klangfarben Gießen (Germany) and Choir Vozes do Brasil (Cologne-Germany).
- Choral conductor of Joy of Life of Kurhessian Kantorei Marburg (Germany).
- Workshops “World music and choir” in Germany, Spain, USA and Brazil.
- Composer at Bärenreiter Verlag (Germany) and Helbling Edition (Austria.
Dimitris Ktistakis (Greece)
- Studied at the Hochschule für Musik SAAR, where he acquired a degree in piano teaching and postgraduate degrees in piano performance, choral conducting and orchestral conducting
- Was the first conductor of the award winning "Madrigalchor Dillingen" and a scholar of the Richard Wagner Foundation
- Artistic Director of the "Trikala Youth Symphony Orchestra" and conductor of the female vocal ensemble "InDONNAtión", with which he holds 4 gold awards in four successive competitions organized by INTERKULTUR
- Holds the first Doctoral degree awarded in Greece in performance of choral conducting (OMA)
- Assistant Professor at the Music Department of the Ionian University in Corfu, conductor of the choir, the vocal ensemble and teaching the mixed choir conducting class
Susanna Lindmark (Sweden)
- Composer, innovative Choral Conductor and Guest Lecturer, appointed "Children And Youth Choirs Conductor of the Year in Sweden" 2017.
- Founder, Artistic Director and Choir Manager for Arctic Light Girls´Choir since 2004 (Appointed "Choir of the Year in Sweden" 2010).
- Board member of Swedish Choral Directors Association since 2014 and former Board member of UNGiKÖR, Swedish Children and Youth Choirs Association 2005-2010.
Anzhela Maslennikova (Ukraine)
- Honored Cultural Worker of Ukraine (2009)
- Chief Choirmaster of Kyiv Municipal Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre for Children and Youth
- Member of Mykola Leontovych All-Ukrainian Choir Society of the National Music Union
- Member of National Union of Theatre Artists of Ukraine
- Choirmaster–Director of International Projects
- Expert of the Theatre Award «Kyiv Pectoral»
Nicol Matt (Germany)
- Founder and Artistic director of the Chamber Choir of Europe and the World Choir for Peace.
- Almost 100 CDs with recordings of highly demanding vocal and orchestral works.
- Active partnerships with world famous composers like Morten Lauridsen, Sir Karl Jenkins, John Rutter and Eric Whitacre.
- He is regularly invited to international choir competitions, festivals and universities, to teach during workshops and master-classes for conductors and singers around the globe.
Mia Makaroff (Finland)
- choral composer and arranger, whose music has been internationally sung by many well-known vocal groups and choirs such as Rajaton, King's Singers, Cantus
- experienced music teacher, choral conductor and a grounder of the Vivace Choirs and Ocarina Choirs and actively co-operating with many choral theme projects
- lecturer and teacher of composing master classes, clinician specially with children singing, rhythm and creativity in choirs
- founder and producer of the nationwide MunKuoro (MyChoir) -network in Finland for un-auditioned children and youth choirs
Dapeng Meng (China)
- Director of the Children's Chorus Committee of of China Chorus Association
- Vice President of the World Youth Chorus Artists Association
- Has served as the Artistic Director and full-time conductor of the prestigious China Youth Radio Choir for 37 years
- Played a leading role in the planning of China International Chorus Festival, the CCTV Youth Song Competition Chorus Competition and the China Children's Chorus Festival
- Founder of the "Deep Space Chorus" brand and "Deep Space Youth Choir"
- Member of the World Choir Council
Janis Ozols (Latvia)
- Head conductor of Riga and Jurmala Region choirs
- Artistic Director of the “International Baltic Sea Choir Competition” as well as conductor and artistic director of the Jāzeps Vitols Latvian Academy of Latvia Mixed Choir and mixed choirs “Maska” and “Pa Saulei”
- Member of the board of the Latvian Song Festival Foundation since 2018 and Member of the Latvian National Centre for Culture Council in sector of choirs
- Works often as jury member at international choir and singer competitions
Baoping Ren (China)
- Vice Chairman of China Chorus Association and Chairman of China College and University Choir Committee
- Artistic Director and chief conductor of the awarding-winning „Peiyang Chorus“
- One of the representative figures of contemporary Chinese chorus art development, creating a unique “Peiyang chorus sound”
- Regularly gives lectures on Chinese traditional music in the USA and more than 30 areas of China
- Adjudicator at national and international choir competitions
Johan Rooze (Netherlands)
- Artistic Director at INTERKULTUR, Germany.
- Teacher of Jazz piano and Choir at Yeongnam University in Daegu, South-Korea.
- Founder and conductor of the Daegu Jazz Singers in Daegu, South Korea.
- International adjudicator, clinician-, seminar- and workshop-leader.
- Former conductor and artistic director of student Vocal Jazz Group „Dekoor“ and the Student Symphonic Choir and Orchestra (USKO) of the University of Utrecht, the Netherlands.
- Former professor for Choral Conducting at the Conservatory of Alkmaar and Vocal Jazz at the Conservatory of Rotterdam (The Netherlands).
- Member of INTERKULTUR World Choir Council
Aarne Saluveer (Estonia)
- Conductor, producer, educator, founder/Artistic Director of Estonian Television Girl’s and Children’s Choir
- Artistic Director of European Film Awards TV-live Gala, HM Elizabeth II and their Majesties Japanese Emperor and Empress State Visit Concerts.
- Worked with Michael Jackson, world premieres and recordings of Arvo Pärt, Veljo Tormis, Urmas Sisask, Roxanna Panufnik /BBC, WDR, Danish Radio etc.
- Guidoneum Award of Arezzo Foundation, Order of White Star of the Republic of Estonia, Prize of the UNICEF National Committee, Musician of the Year by Estonian National Broadcast
- Member of the INTERKULTUR World Choir Council
Kristine Sheroyan (Armenia)
- President of the Armenian Choral Conductors’ Association
- Founder, Conductor and Artistic Director of the Tavush Diocese Children choir
- Conductor of the Yerevan K. Sarajyan music school children’s choir
- Guest conductor, lecturer Co-founder and director of the International choral projects, International jury member
Karmina Silec (Slovenia)
- Conductor and stage director of projects with various companies, opera houses, choruses, and ensembles worldwide
- Composer and author-director
- Artistic director of Carmina Slovenica and Choregie – new music theatre
- University professor, lecturer, international adjudicator
- Recepient of Robert Edler Prize for her exceptional contribution to the world choir movement and more than 20 other highest international awards at choir competitions
- 2018-2019 fellow at Harvard University/Radcliffe institute for advanced study
- Member of the INTERKULTUR World Choir Council
David Slater (Australia)
- Former lecturer, Australian National University School of Music and 4 prestigious colleges. Jury member of 10 international music festivals.
- Founder/Artistic Director, North Coast Camerata, Coffs Youth Orchestra. Regular guest conductor in several countries.
- Winner of Symphony Australia Prize, National Orchestras of Australia Award and for conducting, composing and service to music in the community.
- Associate Composer, Australian Music Centre and member of the National Choral Association.
- Member of the INTERKULTUR World Choir Council
Randolph Stenson (USA/Japan)
- Founder and Artistic Director of the acclaimed "St. Mary's Varsity Male Ensemble" and "International Show Choir" of Tokyo, Japan
- Music educator in choral movement and Co-Author, with Henry Leck, of "Creating Artistry: Movement and the Maturing Male Voice"
- Edits the "Randy and Rachel Choral Series" for Santa Barbara Music Publishing, the "Randy Stenson Male Choral Series" and "Randy Stenson International Choral Series" for Pavane Publishing
- Guest conductor, clinician-lecturer in over 30 countries
- International choral adjudicator for competitions all over the world
Karl-Gerhard Straßl (Austria)
- Conductor, organist, lawyer, cultural scientist and cultural manager
- President of the Austrian Choir Association; Initiator and Coordinator of the project "CHOR:sinfonie" celebrating the 70-year anniversary 2019
- Founder and President (until 2018) of the Austrian National Youth Choir and conductor of different choirs, currently of the mixed choirs "Wiener Sängerrunde" and "Chorus of Administration" at the mdw - University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna
- Jury chairman and jury member at international competitions for choir or organ
- Numerous concerts as organist or conductor in many European countries, in China, South Africa and Brazil
- Member of the INTERKULTUR World Choir Council
Helene Stureborg (Sweden)
- Conductor and Head of the choir departement at the Stockholms Musikgymnasium/Kungsholmens Gymnasium
- Graduated with a Master in Fine Arts in Church music and a Postgraduate Diploma in Choral Conducting at the Royal University of Music
- Previous professor in choral conducting at the Royal University College of Music in Stockholm and at varying courses in Sweden and abroad. Member of the Artistic Council of Statens Musikverk
- In 2017 she received the Choir conductor of the year prize in Sweden and was one of two conductors to lead the World Youth Choir 2018 during their summer session in Inner Mongolia and China
Aida Swenson (Indonesia)
- Founder and Music Director of the internationally known Indonesian Children and Youth Choir "Cordana"
- Chairman of the National Foundation for the Development of Choral Music in Indonesia and Member of Advisory of the Foundation of Church Music – YAMUGER
- International and national juror and clinician
- Has travelled through the provinces in Indonesia training choirs and conductors
- Member of the INTERKULTUR World Choir Council
Alicja Szeluga (Poland)
- Conductor and Artistic Director of SKOWRONKI Girls Choir, Poznań (Poland)
- First Prize Winner of many International Choir Competitions.
- International adjudicator, lecturer and leading workshops for conductors of children's and youth choirs
- Founder and director of the TRILLME FESTVAL, an International Girls’ Choir Festival, Poznań, Poland (2014, 2016, 2018)
Maarten Van Ingelgem (Belgium)
- Professor of Composition at LUCA School of Arts, Lemmens campus, Leuven
- Conductor of the Ghent-based chamber choir "De 2de Adem" ("The Second Wind") specializing in contemporary choral music
- Three-time laureate of the European Award for Choral Composers
- Experience as pianist-accompanist and as bass singer in choirs like "Aquarius" and the "Flemish Radio Choir"
- Local Artistic Director of the World Choir Games 2021 in Flanders, Belgium
Romāns Vanags (Latvia)
- Artistic Director of INTERKULTUR
- Professor of choral conducting study program at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music since 1987
- Chief conductor and Artistic Director of “Jāzeps Mediņš Rīga 1st Music School Boys’ Choir” and principal conductor of the Latvian University female choir named “Minjona” since 1990
- One of the chief conductors of the Latvian Nationwide Song Celebration (in 1993, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2008, 2013 and 2018)
- In 2008 received the highest civil decoration in Latvia – “The Order of the Three Stars”.
- Member of the INTERKULTUR World Choir Council
Timothy Wayne-Wright (Great Britain / New Zealand)
- countertenor in The King's Singers for 10 years, touring the world and singing over 1500 concerts in some of the world's greatest venues
- taught at over 500 masterclasses, workshops and summer schools, imparting ensemble skills and techniques to vocal ensembles across the globe
- recognition for The King's Singers during his tenure include two Grammy Awards, a further Grammy nomination and an induction into the inaugural Gramophone Hall of Fame
Jan Yngwe (Sweden)
- Conductor and composer, also Professor Superior in Choir and Conducting at the Academy of Music and Drama, Gothenburg University.
- Well known leader of Vocal Art Ensemble of Sweden, a powerful voice in the Swedish and international community.
- Jan is also the recipient of the two finest Swedish distinctions for musicians: “Johannes Norrby Medal” (2004) and “Choral Conductor of the Year” (2015) for his superb artistic quality and devotion, both on the national and international stage of choral music.
Jinming Zhu (China)
- Director of the show choir Committee of the World Youth Choral Artists’ Association, Deputy Director of the show choir Committee of the Chinese University Choral Association
- Guest director of Peiyang Chorus of Tianjin University and Tongji University Choir
- Started learning vocals and dancing at an early age, and specializes in performing chorus rehearsal and theoretical research
- Works rehearsed have been performed in more than 30 countries and regions in the world, and have won the Gold Award of International Chorus Competition and the Best Performance Award for more than 30 times
The Official Song of the Grand Prix of Nations Gothenburg 2019 & 4th European Choir Games is called “We can fly” and the composer Susanna Lindmark (Sweden) says that she wanted to give the song wings: "I wanted to encourage the singers to sing together and let the music flow through their heart and soul. Because we know that it’s possible – together we can fly!"
There will be numerous occasions to hear the song – during the inauguration concert by a choir of 350 singers together with Bohuslän Big Band, along the week by one or several choirs and during the closing concert where a great arrangement for choir and Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra will be performed.
Listen to “We can fly” here: ECG Gothenburg 2019
Organizer
INTERKULTUR
and
Göteborg & Co AB
President INTERKULTUR
Günter Titsch (Germany)
Honorary Artistic Presidents
Morten Lauridsen (USA)
John Rutter (Great Britain)
Mikis Theodorakis (Greece)
Hongnian Yang (China)
Xiaoying Zheng (China)
Artistic Committee
Prof. Dr. Ralf Eisenbeiß (Germany)
Fred Sjöberg (Sweden)
Kicki Rosén Bejstam (Sweden)
Marit Zetterström (Sweden)
Project Management
Diāna Čivle (Latvia)
Ella Schmiede (Germany)
INTERKULTUR Executive Committee
Günter Titsch (Germany)
Qin Wang (China)
Stefan Bohländer (Germany)
Dr. Christoph Wirtz (Germany)
Meet the composer: John Rutter introduces his music
Sunday, August 4, 2019 at 10:00 h
Artisten – Lindgrensalen (Fågelsången 1, 412 56 Gothenburg, Sweden)
John Rutter is one of the best known, and most in demand contemporary British choral composer, whose works are performed widely throughout the world. In this 90-minute session everyone will have a chance to sing and get to know some of his choral pieces, sacred and secular. John will speak about the music and offer hints and tips for performance. Bring your voices!
Working language of the session: English. Music is provided.
Sing with your heart - Poetic metaphor or physically measurable?
Monday, August 5, 2019 at 10:00 h
Artisten - Lindgrensalen (Fågelsången 1, 412 56 Gothenburg, Sweden)
In 2013, a research team from the University hospital of Sahlgrenska, Gothenburg released an internationally renowned study about choir singing and heart rate synchronisation. Musician and composer Rickard Åström, part of the team, shares his experience in exploring how our hearts and nerve systems respond to music, and gives us examples of the expanding field of research in singing and wellbeing. He illustrates with live music from the piano.
Working language of the session: English
Scenic Choir: Musical communication, body language and how to sing from the heart
Friday, August 9, 2019 at 10:00 h
Artisten - Lindgrensalen (Fågelsången 1, 412 56 Gothenburg, Sweden)
Scenic Choir is a concept that combines stage awareness, presence, clearly defined performance goals and carefully chosen theatrical elements. Anci Hjulström, an old stager when it comes to creating scenic music performances, demonstrates how focusing on concepts including body language, playfulness, mindfulness, communication, and creativity enables singers to connect to their unique expressive self and how this approach will give the whole choir a power to touch the audience in million ways.
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Working language of the session: English
CONGENIAL CONDUCTING: Workshop for choral conductors and interested singers
Thursday, August 8, 2019 at 10:00 h
Artisten - Lindgrensalen (Fågelsången 1, 412 56 Gothenburg, Sweden)
Composer and conductor Jan Yngwe is a Professor Superior in Choir and Conducting at the Academy of Music and Drama at Gothenburg University and well-known leader of the Vocal Art Ensemble of Sweden. His workshop will deal with "Gestic interpretation": Conducting exercises will help increasing the expression register and also build bridges between choir and orchestral conducting. Reflections about the necessity of precense and sustainability will complete the session.
Working language of the session: English
Sweden A Cappella
The church Vasakyrkan, Monday August 5, 19:00 – 20:45 h
Swedish choral singing straight from the heart: traditional choral singing in Swedish national romantic style that describes nature's flavors and greenery, and newly written choral music mixed with rhythms from marimba and folk music, in arrangements for choir singing. Welcome to an evening where feelings and expressions are united with unique tones from three different choirs! On stage: Ymna, Vocal Art Ensemble, Petri Sångare and Rhythm Art Duo.
World Choir Events in the Belt and Road
The church Betlehemskyrkan, Wednesday August 7, 10:30 – 16:30 h
Take part in an exciting and varied program where several Chinese choirs present Chinese choral music with current composers. There will also be choral music from Scandinavia with choirs from Sweden and a unique international exchange: Chinese choirs will learn and perform Swedish choral pieces and Sweden choirs will present their skills with Chinese choral works. Further you can listen to panel discussions comparing choral pedagogy and development and choral education between China and Europe during the day, watch a video presentation about the cultural life from the famous "Silk Road", learn a Chinese choir song led by Mr. Chen Guanghui and we will also sing European Choir Games own theme song together. This is a unique opportunity to gain a deeper insight into the exciting Chinese choir life and its rich tradition.
Gothenburg Welcomes the World
On Gothenburg Culture Festival’s stage at Kungstorget, Wednesday August 7, 18:30 – 20:00 h
European Choir Games, part 2, starts with the Parade of nations where choirs walk through the city center to Kungstorget where a great choral happening takes place. On stage Sångensemblen Amanda with Gunnar Eriksson, Brunnsbo Musikklassers Flickkör, Rhythm Art Duo and several guesting international choirs. We welcome everybody! To sing together with us, or just to listen, watch and experience. “We can sing, we can fly on the wings of our song”.