choir conductor, orchestra conductor

• artistic director of mixed choirs Sola and Sēja, and ancient music ensemble Modus Vivendi
• supervisor of choirs in Limbažu district
• collaborated with professional choirs and orchestras in Latvia and abroad
• conductor at the Latvian Song Celebration

Born in Bologna, Italy, Andrea Angelini is a Doctorate of Music (Piano) at Ferrara's Frescobaldi Conservatory. He is the Artistic Director and Conductor of the professional group Musica Ficta Vocal Ensemble in Italy as well as of the Rimini Community Choir. He also is the artistic director of the Rimini International Choral Competition, of the Claudio Monteverdi Choral Competition, of the Queen of the Adriatic Sea Choral Festival and Competition, of the Liviu Borlan Choral Festival and one of the tutors at the Rimini International Choral Workshop. Furthermore, he has been member of the jury at many international choir competitions in Italy, Europe and Asia. Angelini frequently leads choral workshops in Italy and abroad, especially enjoying doing masterclasses on the topic of Renaissance Choral Music. He is the editor of the International Choral Bulletin, the membership magazine of the International Federation for Choral Music, which is distributed in 84 countries.

conductor, composer, singer, clinician

• qualified school teacher for music and English
• in Germany he is a well-known gospel singer and choir leader, as well as composer of gospel songs for various CD productions
• participated with his choir in the World Choir Games in Bremen, Germany (2004) and Xiamen, China (2006), and each time won the gold medal
• leads gospel and pop workshops in different European cities

composer, conductor, lecturer

• since 1992 artistic director and conductor of Vilnius City Municipal Choir “Jauna muzika”
• full time professor at Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, head of the composition department
• recipient of the Lithuanian National Culture and Art Prize in 2010

Aira Birziņa is a professor of choral conducting at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music (JVLMA), a conductor of the Riga Cathedral Girls' Choir TIARA, the female choir DZINTARS of the VEF Culture Palace and the female choir RASA of the Ogre Cultural Center. Conductor of the Latvian Song and Dance Festival (XXIII, XXIV, XXV, XXVI). She leads various workshops, participates in conferences, and works as a jury member at the international competitions in Latvia and abroad.

Aira Birziņa was awarded with the Acknowledgment of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Latvia in 2018, the Order of the Three Stars in 2015, the Annual Award of the Ogre County Cultural Center "Golden Linden 2018", the Annual Culture Prize of the Ogre County Culture Center in 2017, Culture Prize "White Sparrow" of the Riga Municipality in 2015, and the Ministry of Culture's Prize in Folk Art in 1999.

The associate professor Inessa Bodyako is head of the choral conducting department of the Belarus State Academy of Music, artistic director of the Student Choir (with 2008) and teaches choral conducting and the history of Russian choral music at the Belarusian State Academy of music. She was a chorus master of the Academic chorus of the national television and the radio broadcasting company of the Republic of Belarus, as well as founder and conductor of the chamber chorus "Cantemus", who achieved prizes at the international choral competitions in Italy (Arezzo, Gorizia), Spain (Tolosa), Poland (Hajnowka), Belarus (Minsk).

Inessa Bodyako was awarded the title "Best Conductor" at international choral competitions and under her direction different choirs won five Grand Prix competitions (Minsk, Gorizia, St-Peterburg, Guangzhou, Grodno).

She is responsible for a great number of choral projects in Belarus including the Open Conductor’s Competition named after V. Rovdo and Choral Pages of the XX-th century.

Inessa Bodyako is regularly invited internationally to serve as a jury member and to give master classes in Germany, China, Romania, Poland, France and the Ukraine. She is a honorary professor of the Anyang Normal University (China). From 1997 to 2010 she was a regent of the orthodox Christmas church (Minsk) and a member of the ECA-EC Music Commission from 2013-2015.

conductor, voice trainer, arranger

• conductor of award winning choirs, such as the "RAU Choir" and the "UJ Choir"
• currently conductor and manager of the "University of Johannesburg Choir" where she works with voices from different cultural backgrounds, proving the flexibility of the voice and adaptability of young singers to different styles of music
• soloist in numerous oratoria in South Africa and abroad
• involved with adjudication nationally and internationally

Jürgen Budday studied music education, church music and musicology from 1967 to 1974 at the State University of Music and the Performing Arts Stuttgart. From 1979 to 2012, he taught at the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Maulbronn, a high school with boarding school.

He is the founder and artistic director of the "Maulbronn Chamber Choir", which he conducted until June 2016. From 1979 to 2013, he was the artistic director of the "Maulbronn Monastery Concerts" at the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in Baden-Württemberg and developed the concert series into a classical music festival with international renown.

With the Maulbronn Chamber Choir he has won numerous prizes at home and abroad, such as 1st prize at the International Choir Days in Prague in 1990 and 1998, 2nd prize at the 3rd German Choir Competition in 1990 in Stuttgart, 2nd prize in 2009 at the International Chamber Choir Competition in Marktoberdorf and victory at the International Choir Competition in Malta.

Regular activities as guest conductor, workshop leader and juror also lead Jürgen Budday to travel regularly at home and abroad.

From 2002 – 2019, he was Chairman of the Advisory Board for Choirs at the German Music Council and thus Jury Chairman of the German Choir Competition and has been the Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Federal Youth Choir at the German Music Council (DMR) since 2019.

In 2013, Jürgen Budday received the Georg-Friedrich-Händel-Ring, one of the highest awards in choral music, and in 2014 he was appointed artistic director of the International Chamber Choir Competition in Marktoberdorf.

Javier Busto was born in Hondarribia (Basque Country - Spain) in 1949 and graduated in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Valladolid. He gained his musical knowledge through self-teaching with inspiration by the maestro, Erwin List.

Javier Busto was conductor of Ederki Choir in Valladolid (1971-1976) and was founder and conductor of the Eskifaia Choir in Hondarribia from 1978 to 1994 as well as founder and leader of Kanta Cantemus Korua (1995-2007) and Aquam Lauda Korua (2014).

Javier Bustos's choral works are published in the Basque Country, France, Germany, Japan, the USA, the United Kingdom and Sweden and is regularly invited as conductor and jury member to different choral festivals and competitions in Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Mexico, Norway, Panamá, Poland, Shout Korea, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Turkey, the USA and Venezuela.

musical director, educator, clinician, judge

• published author of articles, choral editions and vocal arrangements
• judged music contests in eight countries and three continents, and is in demand as a musical clinician, arranger and coach
• university educator

teacher, conductor, author, clinician

• Professor in choral conducting and management
• conductor of the "Vocal Group Nordic Blue" and the "Defrost Youth Choir"
• frequently engaged as guest conductor, clinician and adjudicator at international competitions
• specialist within the psychological / pedagogical aspects of choral leadership, coupled with the traditional perspectives of choral conducting and in the cross field between classical and rhythmical singing and conducting
• author of "The Learning Conductor", a book on choral conducting (2016)

conductor, lecturer, countertenor

• choirmaster of the Philippine Madrigal Singers since 2001
• lecturer at the University of the Philippines College of Music Choral Conducting Department
• artistic director of the Consortium of Voices (Kilyawan Boys Choir, Voces Aurora Girls Choirs, Kilyawan Male Choir)
• countertenor soloist

choir and orchestra conductor, Head Master

• established choir and orchestra conductor
• under his direction, his ensembles have won international accolades and championships
• the "Diocesan Boys' School Choir" is four-time World Champion at the World Choir Games
• Joint Choir of Diocesan Boys’ School and Diocesan Girls’ School is Hong Kong’s highest ranking choir in the World
• received the "Outstanding Artistic Award" as well as "The Outstanding Conductor Award" at International Competitions
• headmaster of the Diocesan Boys' School, Hong Kong

conductor, singer, lecturer, musical actor

• one of the chief conductors of the Latvian Song Celebration; in the Latvian Song Celebration 2013 Cinkuss was artistic director of Final Gala Concert
• has worked with most major Latvian professional ensembles – Latvian Radio Choir, State Choir “Latvija”, Liepāja Symphony orchestra and Baroque orchestra “Collegium Musicum Rīga”
• artistic director of the leading Latvian male choir “Gaudeamus”

teacher, cantor, organist

• since 1985 teacher of harmony and composition at the Jūrmala School of Music
• was the singer of vocal group Schola Cantorum Rīga (1994 – 2004)
• was the organist at the Rīga Our Lady of Sorrows Church and, as of 1999, he is the cantor of the Rīga St. Mary Magdalene Church

composer, lecturer, conductor

• an original and sought-after voice of the Baltic music tradition
• commissioners have included the Latvian Radio Choir and State Choir 'Latvija', the Britten Sinfonia, Trinity College Choir Cambridge, Temple University (USA), the Boston Symphony Orchestra and City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
• his work is recorded on a number of CDs
• former Fellow Commoner in Creative Arts at Trinity College, University of Cambridge

During the last years Jürgen Faßbender achieved with his choirs numerous 1st prizes at renowned international choir competitions such as "let the people sing", Arezzo, Riva del Garda, Tours, Trelew, Prague, Kleipeda, Llangollen, Vienna, Wernigerode and Choir Olympics Bremen and won the German Choir Competition (Deutscher Chorwettbewerb) several times.

He is a member of the Federal Music Committee of the Hessian Singers' Association, the Choir Association Rhineland-Palatinate, the Literature Committee of the German Choir Competition and the Association of Professional German Choir Conductors.

Since 2012 he has been working as a co-editor of the popular choir book series "Reine Männersache" edited by Peters-Verlag, Frankfurt.

He is an internationally renowned juror, guest conductor and clinician and since 2008 Artistic Director of the Hesse State Youth Choir. In 2012 he was appointed to the World Choir Council.

conductor, singer

• regarded as one of the most talented choral conductors in Hong Kong
• for various periods conductor of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Chorus, the Academy for Performing Arts Choir, Hong Kong Singers, the Hong Kong Chorus, the Pro-Musica Chorus, and the Hong Kong Silver Jubilee Singers
• currently Chairman of the The Opera Society of Hong Kong, Music Director of HK Sheng Kung Hui, Diocese of HK Island, Choirmaster of St John’s Cathedral and Assessor to The Art’s Development Council of Hong Kong
• member of the World Choir Council

conductor, professor, composer

• Advisor of Vice-President of ALACC (Latin American Association of Choral Singing), founder of OFADAC (Argentine Federation for Choral Activities Organizations) and ADICORA (Argentine Choral Conductors Association)
• CIC Foundation President and organizer of Trelew International Coral Contest (1993-2013), artistic committee member of the POLYFOLLIA Festival (France, 2003-2014)
• conductor of "ESTUDIO CORAL TRELEW" chamber choir and many other choirs in Patagonia, Argentina
• adjudicator, lecturer and clinician at many festivals and competitions around the world

conductor, composer

• Associate Professor in Choral Music at the University of Southern California, USA
• award winning conductor and composer, active guest conductor, clinician, adjudicator and conducting pedagogue in North and South America, Europe and Asia
• member of the IFCM Board of Directors and current chair of the Ethnic and Multicultural Committee for the Western Division of the ACDA
• founder of a new Choral Series published by Gentry as an editorial outlet for new Latin American choral repertoire

composer, continuo player

• graduated 1999 at Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest
• his professor was György Orbán
• has composed numerous choral works for renowned Hungarian and international choirs, like "Pro Musica Girl's Choir" (Hungary), "Stellenbosch University Choir" (South Africa) and "Iowa State University Choir" (USA)
• jury member at the World Choir Games Cincinnati (USA) and Riga (Latvia)
• awarded the "Erkel Ferenc Prize" in 2005 and the "Bartók Pásztory Prize" in 2009

composer, conductor, associate professor

• one of Israel's most prominent and well known composers and conductors
• jury member at 9 World Choir Games
• composed more than 100 compositions, including chamber, choral and orchestral music
• received the "Prime Minister's Award for Composition" (1997, 2015) and the "ACUM Life Achievement Award" (2008)
• since 1976 Associate Professor in choral and orchestral conducting at the Jerusalem Academy of Music, Israel
• principal conductor and Music Director of the "Kefar Sava Chamber Choir", Israel

conductor, composer, music educator

• head of choral conducting department at the Johann Joseph Fux Conservatory in Graz and lecturer at the Graz University of Music and Performing Arts
• since 2012 artistic director of the Austrian Choral Association
• was awarded the merit prize of the Federal Ministry of Science and Research

choir conductor, cultural projects producer

• conducted the youth choir “Balsis”, the Bank of Latvia Choir and the Jēkabpils District Choir and one of the chief conductors in several Latvian Song Celebrations
• in charge of organising various large scale national and international cultural events
• artistic director and producer of ECB European Cultural Days 2013 – Latvia
• invited regularly to conduct Latvian community choirs in the United States, Australia, Great Britain, and Ireland

choral conductor, music teacher

• founder and conductor of the Hamrahlid Choir which has been at the forefront of Icelandic musical life for four decades.
• more than 100 works have been composed for the choir and its conductor
• in 2000 she was the principal conductor of the Voices of Europe. For that occasion Arvo Pärt dedicated to her his work “...which was the son of...”
• adjudicator in several music competitions in Europe and has received many prizes, and was appointed Artist of the Year 2012 in Iceland

• Was a singer and one of the founding members of the world-famous vocal group "The Real Group" for more than 30 years
• Studied choir conducting with Professor Eric Ericson, and is a frequent workshop leader, popular lecturer and well renowned adjudicator in competitions all around the world
• Through the years he has collaborated with groups and artists such as Bobby McFerrin, Barbara Hendricks, Gene Puerling, "Take 6", "Rajaton" and "MPact"
• After leaving The Real Group in 2015 he has worked as headmaster for a school for music and culture, chief for music in the county of Östergötland in Sweden and since January 2020 he is choirleader, conductor and organist in Norrtälje just north of Stockholm

conductor, teacher

• is one of the most outstanding Latvian conductors
• professor of conducting and producer, music director of the Latvian Radio Choir since 1992
• associate professor at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music and a teacher of conducting at the Rīga Dome Choir School
• multiple winner of the Latvian Grand Music Award and performed at the Concertgebouw and Muziekgebouw of Amsterdam, Berliner Konzerthaus and Philharmonie, New York Lincoln Centre a. o.

Since 1998, Mārtiņš Klišāns, works as art director of the Rīga Cathedral Boys’ Choir. Under his guidance, the choir has been granted the Latvian Grand Music Award - the highest State award in music and Latvian Music Recording Award.

Klišāns has graduated from the conducting class at the Jāzeps Vītols’ Latvian Music Academy (tutored by Imants Kokars). He got his Master’s degree in 2009. His vocal skills were improved at Bach Academy (Stuttgart, Bruce Abel). As a vocalist, Klišāns has contributed to the chamber choir Ave Sol and Rīga Vocal Group. As a tenor solo performer, he has participated in more than one hundred performances of the Baroque operas and oratories.

Klišāns still teaches at the Rīga Cathedral Choir School and at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music. In July, 2004, he was a guest conductor at the Americafest: the world festival for boys’ and men’s choir singing. He’s a member of the council of the World Choir Games and of the INTERKULTUR association, and has been a part of international juries lately. He is the conductor of the amateur choirs Juventus and Beverīna and also conducts the mixed choir Vaidelote, the mixed choir Valmiera, and is chief conductor of Cēsis district. Klišāns has also been elected chief conductor of the Great Song Festival 2008, 2013 and 2018 as well; he was also among the chief conductors of the IX and X Latvian Youth Song and Dance Festivals. Annually he is invited to the different choral competitions as a jury member. In 2015 Mārtiņš Klišāns got the highest State award – The Order of Three Stars.

After graduating with a degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Performing Arts (VŠMU) in Bratislava under Prof. Peter Hradil, Milan Kolena continued his studies of Gregorian Chant with Prof. J.Kohlhaufl at the University for Music and Performing Arts in Vienna. He is the author of the first Slovakian professional publication about Gregorian chant: ”Current Directions in Interpretation of Gregorian Chant“. He actively cooperates with Prof. Dr. F.K. Prassl from Graz and Prof. Dr. J.B. Goschl from Munich regarding the interpretation of Gregorian chant and teaches choir conducting and Gregorian chant at the VŠMU. Kolena regularly acts as a jury member and leads workshops about vocal polyphony, Gregorian chant and Slovakian contemporary music all over the world. Since 1998 he has been the Art Director of the international festival in Bratislava and since 2013 he is the president of the Slovakian Choral Association. Kolena recorded CDs of Bratislava antiphons for the Slovakian National Library together with Schola Gregoriana Bratisalvensis. In 2014 he gave lectures at three American universities regarding the interpretation of Latin texts in Sacred Choral Music. He was awarded the special prize for the best conductor during the „Singing World“ choral competition in St. Petersburg, Russia in 2015.

choral conductor, music teacher

• teaches music and choral singing at the Primary school of Prof. Dr. Josip Plemelj in Bled
• since 1990 artistic director and singer of the Mixed Vocal Ensemble Dr. France Prešeren which has received The Seal of Quality of the Republic of Slovenia three times
• her work has significally influenced the growth and development of amateur musical activities, for which she was awarded with the Gallus Document by The Republic of Slovenia Public Fund for Cultural Activities

Bernard Krüger is currently the Director of Music at Kearsney College, a leading independent school for boys in South Africa. Prior to this post, he was the Artistic Director of the Drakensberg Boys Choir School – a specialist educational institution using choral singing as a vehicle to teach music and all other academic applications to boys in South Africa.

He is a composer and arranger for local and international ensembles, a cappella groups, choirs and orchestras. Krüger studied conducting at the Koninklijk Conservatorium (Royal Conservatory) in The Hague, Netherlands, with Jos van Veldhoven and Jos Vermunt, received masterclasses from Simon Halsey, Paul Hillier, Jaap v Zweden, Tonu Kaljuste, Steve Reich, Masaaki Suzuki and Nathalie Stutzmann.

He is frequently in demand for workshops at conferences and festivals in South Africa and abroad, particularly for South African choral music and performance practice and was member of the jury at the Johannes Brahms Competition (2011), the European Choir Games (2013), the World Choir Games (2014), Canta al Mar (2016) as well as competitions and eisteddfods in South Africa.

In 2017, the Drakensberg Boys Choir, under Bernard’s direction, toured to Japan and performed in front of 38,500 people over 25 concerts in all major cities and in 2018, the Drakensberg Boys Choir was crowned Champions of the WCG in Tshwane in the category Scenic Pop. In 2019, Bernard led the DBC to perform at the official 20th Anniversary concert of The Lion King on the West End in London, in a joint performance with Lebo M and the cast.

Bernard is no stranger to the Kearsney College Choir and worked with them from 2009-2015 as well, and during this time, the choir was twice crowned WCG Champions (2012 and 2014).

Bernard Krüger is actively involved in the promotion of choral music in South Africa and believes choral music will one day be the driving force to bring peace and understanding across cultures, borders, religions and all nations on Earth.

conductor, lecturer, teacher

• from 1969 until 2005 artistic director of the Szczecin University Choir and since 1984 leading professional chamber choir and orchestra "Camerata Nova”
• frequently invited internationally to participate in workshops and international juries for choir, composition and vocal contests
• artistic director of Polish music festivals in Kamien Pomorski and Szczecin, and director of the International Choir Festival in Szczecin
• professor of the Academy of Art in Szczecin (Department of Conducting)

choral conductor, conservatorium lecturer, music arranger, adjudicator

• artistic director, “A Voyage of Songs”, “Jubilate, Festival of Choirs” and “Asia Cantate” International Choral Festival series
• executive member of the National Arts Council’s Advisory Board for Choral Development in Singapore and first Vice-Chairman of the Asian Youth Choir Council
• conductor of nine school-, college-, university- and semi-professional choirs in Singapore that won numerous national and international accolades

composer

• well-known name among Latvian contemporary composers
• his recent creative contribution includes musicals Pūt vējiņi (2012) and Onegin (2013), both rewarded with the highest annual theatre award for the best music author
• big part of his work is dedicated to vocal and choral music, symphonic and instrumental compositions

conductor, clinician, author

• artistic director of the Indianapolis Children’s Choir
• Professor Emeritus – Butler University
• has conducted many regional and national honor choirs, and for many years the National Youth Choral Festival in Carnegie Hall
• widely known as a specialist in choral techniques, the child's voice, Dalcroze Eurhythmics, and the boy's changing voice and the male maturing voice

choral and orchestral conductor, music director

• choral and orchestral conductor, church music director, organist
• gives master classes and workshops all over the world
• guest conductor of several European radio choirs and festivals
• Artistic Director of the Copenhagen Concert Society
• jury member at eight editions of the World Choir Games

choral conductor, jury member

• professor at the Gnesins Russian Academy of Music
• leads Chamber Youth Choir and Choir of the Opera Theatre Studio which have frequently won various national and international festivals and competitions
• author of numerous articles on choral performance;
• jury member in various national and international choral competitions and regularly organises master-classes and workshops

Māra Marnauza was born in 1963. She has graduated the “Jāzeps Vītols Latvian State Conservatory” in 1987.

Māra Marnauza is the founder, conductor, and artistic director of the chamber choir FORTIUS and the female choir BALTA; a chief conductor at the Baltic States’ Student Song Festival Gaudeamus and the XXV General Latvian Song and XV Dance Festival in 2013.

Māra Marnauza won the Best Conductor’s Award (Riga, 1999), received the international jury’s Special Best Conductor’s Prize (Námestovo, 2009).

She has gained recognition as a conductor in many international choir festivals and competitions, recorded CDs and DVDs, lead international artistic projects, master classes in Latvia and abroad in cooperation with Ragnar Rasmussen, Bob Chilcott, Christoph Schönherr and others.

Māra Marnauza is the Riga Teacher Training and Educational Management Academy’s vice-rector for research, PhD, professor in music pedagogy, Latvian Science Council expert, author of several scientific publications.

Māra Marnauza is a regular jury member in several choir festivals. This is her first adjudication for an INTERKULTUR event.

Nicol Matt, one of Germany's few new generation conductors, studied Lutheran church music, conducting, vocal coaching, score playing, piano and singing at the music academies of Stuttgart, Trossingen and Strasbourg.

He is the founder and conductor of the Chamber Choir of Europe and was the conductor of the Amadeus Choir. Almost one hundred CDs with recordings of highly demanding vocal, orchestral and instrumental works document his sophistication as an artist. Worldwide sales of over eight million CDs testify to the demand for his highly-regarded and awarded interpretations.

He regularly receives invitations to perform at established concert series such as the Rheingau Music Festival, the SWR Festival, the MDR Musical Summer in Germany, and in many other countries.

As producer Nicol Matt developed and initiated many new projects for the international TV- and music industry, to support choirs and a cappella singing worldwide.

Nicol Matt has active partnerships with contemporary composers from Germany, England and the USA – including Morten Lauridsen, Bob Chilcott, John Rutter, Ola Gjeilo, Hans Schanderl and Frank Zabel.

As lecturer and judge 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.

Selga Mence – a composer, who has gradually taken her place as one of Latvia’s significant composers of choral music, as well as vocal and instrumental chamber works.

She studied composition at Latvian State Conservatory. Since 1985 she has been lecturer at Latvian Academy of Music, currently a professor and head of the Composition Department. Mence’s choral music has been performed by the The Latvian Radio Choir, the State Choir Latvija, at Latvian National Song Festivals as well as various festivals outside Latvia. Many choirs performing her works have taken victory titles in international competitions.

Selga Mence’s vivid emotions, lively musical images, admiration for Latvian folk songs and their traditional and firm ethos find their expression in choir songs. Popular Latvian folk melodies and texts (often blurring the boundaries between folksong arrangements and original music) are related to the national romantic tradition but are developed through contemporary compositional techniques. The compositions of Selga Mence explore sonorities and improvisation games characteristic to the aleatoric technique. Melodic material as one the most important facets of her music is purposefully and logically developed to set the work alight.

conductor, lecturer, juror

• Chairman of the Children's Chorus Committee of China
• Vice-Board Chairman of China Chorus Association
• Director of China Broadcasting Children's Chorus (China National Radio) from 1983
• jury member of the World Choir Games since 2008

conductor, composer, director of the school of arts

• founded the BONIFANTES Boys’ Choir in Pardubice in 1999
• has been presented with a number of awards for outstanding conducting performance and his choirs have won many gold and silver medals at various international competitions
• Union of Czech Choirs awarded him the “Junior Choirmaster” prize in 2003
• editor-in-chief and intellectual father of the project SBOR.CZ, a Czech choral Association.
• has been acknowledged by experts for his interpretation of 20th century music and for historically authentic interpretation of baroque music

composer, conductor, clinician

• Artistic Director of the "Ąžuoliukas Boys' and Men Choir"
• Professor of Choral Conducting at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre
• President of the Lithuanian Choral Union
• won prestigious prizes at numerous national and international competitions with his choirs
• international adjudicator, conductor, composer and guest lecturer

conductor, piano teacher, jazz pianist, juror

• director and founder of the Gitameit Music Center
• founded "Gitameit Voices" which is believed to be the first secular choir in Myanmar in 2004
• Principal at Legacy Music Academy, Music Supervisor at International Language and Business Center (ILBC) in Myanmar
• in 2010, he successfully organized the very first choir festival in Myanmar in partnership with a Malaysian choir
• representative of INTERKULTUR in Myanmar

From 1983 to 1987 Nico Nebe visited the special class for music education in Zwickau. He continued his qualifications with studies of choral conducting at the University of Chemnitz-Zwickau from 1989 to 1995. Since then he has been acting as a freelancer in music teaching, conducting, arranging and music publishing in Zwickau.

Since many years Nico Nebe has been conducting the chamber choir "Belcanto" Zwickau and the male choir "Liederkranz" Zwickau 1843. Under his direction both ensembles won numerous prices and diploma in national and international competitions. In the framework of these competitions, Nico Nebe was repeatedly awarded several conductor prices.

As the president of the West Saxony Choir Association and as the vice president of the Choir Association of Saxony Province, he has a strong connection to the choir movement. He made significant contributions to unify the several and different Saxony Choir Associations to the present Choir Association of Saxony Province with nearly 10.000 members.

As the owner and head of the publishing company "edition choris mundi" he maintains a close cooperation with renowned German and international choral composers. Apart from his own arrangements and compositions the publishing company edits each year numerous new music pieces for all choral genres.

Nico Nebe furthermore regularly acts as a juror at national and international choir competitions and holds conductor workshops in Saxony.

Mārtiņš Ozoliņš is the Chief Conductor of the Latvian National Opera and has worked as the guest conductor with Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, Liepāja Symphony Orchestra, Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra, Kaunas Symphony Orchestra, Leipzig Gewandhaus, Tampere Philarmonic Orchestra, and Orchestra della Fondazione Teatro Lirico “Giuseppe Verdi” di Trieste. He is a graduate of the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music Choir Conducting Department with Prof. Edgars Račevskis and Symphony Orchestra Conducting Department with Prof. Imants Resnis. He improved his professional skills with Helmuth Rilling, Gintaras Rinkevičius, and Vassily Sinaisky. He is the Head of the Department of Orchestra Conducting at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music since 2010.

He has been the laureate of several international conducting competitions including 4th Jorma Panula Conducting Competition. Mārtiņš Ozoliņš has toured to Moscow, Mexico, Tamper, Trieste, Catania, Muscat, Leipzig, Gdansk etc. Mārtiņš Ozoliņš was the Artistic Director of the brass orchestra “Rīga” (2011–2015). He has been the conductor of the LNO since 2005 and the Chief Conductor of the LNO since 2013. From 1997 - 2016 he was artistic director and conductor of mixed choir "Sonore".

Composer, conductor

• Winner of composition prizes from Tokyo, Japan and Tours, France
• Writer of approximately 300 commissioned works for choirs around the world
• Featured composer at JCDA Tokyo 2012 and and 2013 in South Africa, Japan, Indonesia and Croatia
• Jury member in Takarazuka (Japan), Cro Patria Split (Croatia), Rimini (Italy) and the IFCM Composition Contest in 2012

choral conductor, orchestra conductor

• conductor and vice director of the Vietnam National Opera & Ballet
• assistant conductor of the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra (1989 – 2001) and the Dean of Conducting - Composition at the Vietnam's Military University of Arts (1984 – 1989)
• founder and conductor of the Vietnam's Children Choir (2004) and Hanoi New Choir (2009)
• member of the international jury at World Choir Games since 2006

Zimfira Poloz is an expert in choral artistry for young voices. Recipient of awards from Ontario, Canada, and Kazakhstan and with invitations to conduct from around the globe, Zimfira has been a guest artist at Europa Cantat (France, 2018), 1st International Choral Alberto Grau Competition (Venezuela, 2017), America Cantat (Bahamas, 2016), and World Choir Games (2000-2016).

Zimfira established her musical credentials in Kazakhstan as founder of their first choir school. In Canada, Zimfira found a home with Toronto Children’s Chorus, St. Michael’s Choir School, and eventually as Artistic Director of Hamilton Children’s Choir and Young Voices Toronto.

In 2018, Zimfira celebrates her 15th anniversary as Artistic Director of Hamilton Children’s Choir (HCC). Under her direction, HCC has become among the most acclaimed youth choral programs in the world, appearing at "Podium" Choral Canada Conference 2012 and 2018, ACDA National Conference 2017, America Cantat XIII 2016, Polyfollia 2014, IFCM World Symposium 2014, 1st Xinghai International Choral Competition 2013, Euroradio Choral Competition 2009.

Zimfira teaches music at the University of Toronto. Her curated Canadian choral collection can be found with Cypress Choral Music: The Zimfira Collection.

composer

• Latvian composer whose music is inspired by nature, rock and folk roots
• in 2012 he received a Grammy nomination for the best contemporary composition for his work “The Nightingale” (with Michala Petri and the Danish National Vocal Ensemble, conducted by Stephen Layton)
• his best known a cappella work Missa Rigensis has been performed across the

  world

Tove Ramlo-Ystad is an educated singer and conductor with a Master Degree from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim. Her teachers and mentors in conducting have been Stefan Sköld, Anders Eby and Mogens Dahl.
Tove is one of Norway's most acknowledged choir conductors. She is a popular and inspiring guest conductor, and is frequently invited as an adjudicator in international choir competitions. Tove is representing Norway in The World Choir Council. Since 2015 she has been the artistic director of The Norwegian National Championship for Choirs.
Ramlo-Ystad has conducted both mixed and male choirs through the years, and has kept conducting the female choir Cantus since their beginning in 1986. Through Tove's leadership has Cantus received a lot of attention, won several competitions and has recorded 9 CD’s. The three last recordings got a Grammy nomination. Cantus is known by their Nordic sound. This sound was the reason Disney discovered Cantus, and led to the choir being asked to sing in their animation movie 'Frozen' 1 and 2. Several of the works commissioned for Cantus through the years have become an inspiration for many other female choirs around the world.
Tove Ramlo-Ystad is music director for the Norwegian Choral Association.

conductor, author

• honoured artist of Russian Federation, president of the Association of conductors of Children and Youth choirs and member of the Presidium of Russian Choral Society
• conductor of Youth Cappella “Harmony” and other choirs
• artistic director of choral and competition Rainbow and composer’s competition Choral Laboratory XXI c. in Saint-Petersburg
• author of methodical articles, leader of masterclasses in Russia, Latvia and Estonia, member of jury in several international competitions

Johan Rooze studied Piano and Conducting at the Utrecht Conservatory, the Netherlands. Later he went to the U.S. to specialize in Jazz Piano, Singing and Arranging.

He was founder and 23 years Musical Director of the Utrecht University Vocal Group “Dekoor”. They won many prices such as The Dutch Choir Festival, The International Vocal Group Festival and the “Idols for choir” TV show, “Korenslag” 2007 in the Netherlands. He was Conductor of the Utrecht Student Symphonic Choir and Orchestra. With these choirs he toured all over the world. Johan Rooze founded the “Dudok-Ensemble”, an outstanding Project Choir, conducted the monthly Bach Cantatas in Utrecht and was guest conductor with the National Radio Choir.

Furthermore he was Professor for Vocal Jazz, Conducting and Arranging at the Conservatories of Rotterdam and Alkmaar, a member of the board of Musical Advisors for the Dutch Royal Christian Music Association and Artistic Director for the International Choir Festival, Netherlands 2005.

In 2008 he moved to South Korea and teaches Choral Music and Jazz Piano at the Yeongnam University. He is musical director of a new Jazz Choir (Yaenoeul Jazz Singers) and in 2010 he founded the professional Daegu Students Choir. He is a frequent guest conductor with other choirs. Besides his choral work he is very active as a Jazz Pianist and Arranger. He works as Artistic Director for INTERKULTUR and is a frequently asked adjudicator, speaker and workshop-leader internationally.

conductor, educator, producer

• founding Artistic Director of "Estonian Television Girl's/Children's Choir", Principal of Tallinn Georg Ots Music College
• worked with Michael Jackson, Arvo Pärt, Veljo Tormis, Roxanna Panufnik, Imogen Heap and performed at Eurovision Song Contest & Film Awards live, for HM Elizabeth II and Their Majesties Japanese Emperor
• Artistic Director/conductor of the Estonian Song Celebration Choir with 20 000 singers and board/council member of WCG, IFCM, Estonian CA
• "Guidoneum Award", "Order of the White Star of the Republic of Estonia in 2004", "Prize of the UNICEF Estonian National Committee"

conductor, music educator, lecturer

• lecturer at Malaysian Institute of Art, University of Malaya, and University of Technology MARA – Music Faculty
• founder and Director of Young Choral Academy in Kuala Lumpur, a venue for choral music training, Malaysian Kodály Centre and a platform to nurture young Malaysian choral singers and teachers
• founder of the "Kuala Lumpur Children's Choir", "Young Kuala Lumpur Singers" and Malaysian Choral Eisteddfod (an annual choral symposium for children and youth choirs)

conductor, cantor

• cantor of Aarhus Cathedral and founder and conductor of Skt. Clemens Boys Choir
• associate professor of conductorship at the Royal Academy of Music in Aarhus, Denmark, and artistic director of the renowned Danish vocal Group, Concert Clemens
• works on regular basis with ensembles as Aarhus Bach Orchestra, Aarhus Jazz Orchestra and Aalborg Symphony Orchestra
• his recording of Duruflés Requiem/complete organ works played by Kr. Krogsoe recently won the german critics’ award “Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik”

Kirby Shaw has made a major impact in choral music education and has shared his musical expertise in 45 states. Kirby has degrees in Music Education and Choral Composition from San Jose State University and a DMA degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Washington. Dr. Shaw’s teaching is infused with a sense of humor and breadth of knowledge that is transmitted in an exciting and highly contagious manner. Kirby taught in the Mt. Shasta public schools before joining the faculty at College of the Siskiyous in California where he founded and directed the innovative and highly acclaimed COS Vocal Jazz Ensemble. He also pioneered similar groups at Colorado State University and The University of Missouri - Kansas City, and is now directing the Jefferson State Choral Coalition at Southern Oregon University. Kirby has scatted one-on-one with such notables as Bobby McFerrin, Al Jarreau, Jon Hendricks, Mark Murphy, Greta Matassa and Chris Calloway.

He has overseen the creation of hundreds of educational recordings, five college and university albums and two solo CDs. Kirby is a member of Just 4 Kicks, a zany 4-man a cappella vocal ensemble specializing in Jazz. A composer/arranger with nearly 3000 choral compositions/arrangements in print, Kirby’s music is sung around the world and has sold over 20 million copies. He has many commissioned pieces to his credit, including one for The Mormon Tabernacle Choir. This creative and prolific output has resulted in numerous ASCAP awards. Kirby and his wife, Markita have written an original musical based on Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol entitled SCROOGICAL.

Karmina Šilec is an artistic director of Carmina Slovenica, ensemble !Kebataola! and Choregie – new music theatre, conductor, composer and director - author. With her unique concept choregie she brought freshness and originality to the world of vocal music and theatre, has opened wider artistic spaces and set trends worldwide.

As conductor and director she has projects with various companies, opera houses and ensembles, her productions have been performed worldwide on stages and festivals of the highest esteem. Karmina Šilec has received more than 20 highest international awards at choir competitions and International Robert Edler Prize for Choral Music for her exceptional contribution to the world choir movement. She also works as an artistic adviser for choral music, university professor for conducting, a guest conductor and jury member at festivals and competitions.

conductor

• one of the leading conductors in Latvia
• founder of the Youth Choir “Kamēr…” which he lead until 2012
• since 1997 artistic director and chief conductor of State Choir “Latvija” and International Sacred Music festival
• has been awarded eleven times with the most honorable award in the Latvian music society, Latvian Great Music Award
• honorary board member of the Latvian Academy of Sciences and the bearer of the The Order of the Three Stars

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.

conductor, composer, adjudicator

• Artistic Director of the children’s and youth choir "Preobrajhenie"
• Head of the Foundation of Creative Development "Preobrajhenie"
• member of the Union of Composers of Russia
• author of choral works and songs for children and adults
• works at the Natalya Sats Musical Theatre and the musical theatre Helikon-Opera
• juror at international choir competitions worldwide
• chairman of the jury of the International Vocal and Choral Competition of Jean Sibelius in Turku, Finland

music educator, conductor, juror and administrator

• former principal, Sydney Conservatorium of Music, University of Sydney and artistic director of the annual Hong Kong International Youth Music Festival
• has been the director of several choirs, symphony orchestras, brass choirs, marching bands
• was awarded the Australian Public Service Medal (P.S.M.) in the Queen's Birthday Honours for his service to music in 1990
• juror at all World Choir Games and 2 Asia-Pacific Choir Games as well as judging at competitions around the world, e.g. in Austria, France, Wales, Singapore, Argentina, the USA and Korea

• Artistic Director and chief conductor of The Chamber Choir of the Moscow Conservatory & Professor at the Choral Conducting Department & Dean of the Office for Foreign Students’ Affairs of the Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory
• Artistic Director of the International Festivals of Moscow Conservatory: Autumn Choral Festival named after Prof. Boris Tevlin, Dedicated to the Victory Day, The Sealed Angel, Born in Russia
• Artistic Director of the State Choir of Tula region & Professor at the Choral Conducting Department of Moscow State Institute of Music named after A.G. Schnittke
• President of Creative Initiatives Development Fund

Branko Stark (1954), composer, choral director and voice teacher, is a teacher at the Arts Academy (University of Split-Croatia) where he teaches vocal technique, singing and acting voice. He has written over two hundred compositions for which he is the recipient of numerous awards.

His speciality is voice theory and its scientific-pedagogic research and works published on this subject. He holds seminars, masterclasses, lectures and workshops for choral conductors and singers worldwide (Argentina, China, Slovenia, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Malta, USA, Korea, South Africa, Iran, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, India, Hong Kong, Philippines, Singapur, Brunei, Latvia, Russia, Czech Republic, Spain).

Mr. Stark is also a prominent adjudicator for many international choral competitions (Germany, Austria, Croatia, China, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Latvia, Italy, Czech Republic, Sri Lanka, Korea,).

He is President of the Croatian Choral Directors Association, leader of the Vocal Academy, and a member of the International Council of the World Choir Games.

Angela Stevens a dynamic choral conductor, teacher and adjudicator, was born in South Africa. Her long and varied International career took her to Oman where she mastered styles and techniques of Arabic music before moving to Germany where she has been the Head of Music at the Internationale Friendensschule in Cologne for the past four years.

Angela Stevens holds her Masters in Music Education and is an innovative conductor who brings ethnic and cultural diversity to her many choirs while instilling a love and appreciation of music to all those with whom she is associated.

As the former conductor of the Kearsney College Choir, South Africa, she was responsible for their being crowned Olympic Champions of Folklore in 2000 and 2004 at the World Choir Games in Linz and Bremen respectively. Angela Stevens and her choir were awarded the prestigious Prize of the City of Vienna in 2004, amongst many other accolades both in Europe and Asia.

Angela Stevens was the Vice President of the KwaZulu Natal Youth Choir and advisor to the Artistic Director. She has led many diverse choral workshops both in South Africa, Germany and Switzerland amongst others. Angela Stevens has been adjudicating for Interkultur since 2007.

conductor, composer, clinican

• for 17 years he has been teaching conducting and ensemble leadership at the Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm
• leads courses for both choral singers and conductors and was invited as guest conductor all over the world
• has been workshop leader at several world symposia and he is a guest lecturer and a diligent jury member at choral competitions and festivals worldwide
• amongst other awards, he received the Kings Medal of the 8th Magnitude with a bright blue ribbon for valuable service as director of the male choir Orphei Drängar

conductor, teacher, music director

• chief conductor of the Estonian National Opera Boys’ Choir and the Chairman of the Association of Estonian Choral Conductors
• artistic director of the Youth Song Celebration in 1997 and 2002 and also the artistic director of the 26th Estonian Song Celebration in 2014
• his choirs have won several prestigious awards, for example the Cornwall International Male Voice Choral Festival in 2003, the 15th International S. Šimkus Choir Competition in Klaipeda in 2005 etc.

Aida Swenson is one of Indonesia‘s strongest forces of choral music development. A founder and conductor of the Indonesian Children‘s & Youth Choirs- Cordana, who have gathered international recognitions and awards, and have been invited to perform in major cities worldwide.

As a graduate of the Westminster Choir College, Princeton, USA and as a sought after clinician, Aida Swenson conducts numerous workshops and adjudicates national and international events. Her activities as a juror includes in: USA, England, Germany, Vietnam and Singapore.

Aida Swenson has spent many years traveling throughout Indonesia creating and leading choirs, giving masters classes, and training choral conductors. However, her professional endeavors are largely but not limited to her choral clinician activities. Her professional activities include: Council Member of the World Choir Games for Indonesia; Member of the Advisory to INTERKULTUR‘s World Choir Games; Chairman of the Foundation for the Development of Choral Music in Indonesia; Member of Advisory of the Foundation of Church Music; Member of Artistic team of Polyfollia World Showcase; Member of the committee APCS-IFCM; Artistic Director of National Christian Universities Choir Competition in Indonesia.

Aida Swenson is featured in the “World Who is Who in Choral Music”. Her personal commitment to her musical endeavors in Indonesia is not only centered on her vision in furthering the quality of children‘s choral development. Aida is a pillar of change, of progression, and of energy to achieve unassailable quality in choral music in Indonesia and internationally.

choirmaster, musicologist, speech-language therapist

• conductor of the Adam Mickiewicz University Chamber Choir in Poznań with which he has won numerous awards at national and international competitions
• head of the Department of Vocal Pedagogy at the Academy of Music in Bydgoszcz
• director of the International Festival of University Choirs Universitas Cantat in Poznań

Ints Teterovskis has been the Artistic Director of the award-winning Latvian youth choir BALSIS since 1998 and has been a Principal Conductor of the Latvian National Song Celebrations since 2008. He is also the Principal Regional Conductor for over 20 choirs in Latvia. As a conductor, he has recorded twelve CDs to date.

In particular Ints is recognised for his interpretation of the musical repertoire of Baltic composers. His imaginative and passionate approach to teaching choral technique and interpretation has him increasingly in demand as a choral workshop clinician, guest conductor and adjudicator in Latvia and abroad. Ints has led choral workshops in America (2000, 2003, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2014), Canada (2010, 2011), Sweden (2013), Australia (2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2020), China (2015, 2016) and has coached students attending the International Masterclasses for Young Musicians project in Latvia. Ints is well known as a creative and inspirational conductor who is always seeking to find new ways to bring choirs and audiences together and to introduce choral singing to as wide an audience as possible. In recent years this includes virtual choral concerts (2020), light and sound performances (Glass’ "Sounds of Liquid Days", 2020), and vocalised photo performances (2021) as well as working on new recordings with youth choir Balsis. In addition to an active conducting career, Ints, a gifted baritone, also performs as a soloist. He is also closely involved in many music festivals and mega concerts (the Ancient Music Festival, the Great Music Award, Youth Choir Song Celebration concerts etc.).

conductor, pedagogue, clinician

• Artistic Director and conductor of "SYC Ensemble Singers" and Artistic Director of the "Young Musicians' Society"
• coordinator of Asia Pacific Working Committee of the International Federation for Choral Music
• recipient of the Cultural Medallion 2012, Singapore’s highest arts accolade, awarded by the President of Singapore

André J. Thomas, the Owen F. Sellers Professor of Music, at Florida State University is in demand as a choral adjudicator, clinician, and director of Honor/All-State Choirs throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, New Zealand, and Australia.

International conducting credits are extensive. They include, conductor/clinician for IFCM, World Youth Choir in Taiwan, Philippines, and in Europe. He has been the guest conductor of the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in England, and guest Conductor for the Berlin Radio Choir and the Netherlands Radio Choir.

Thomas has also distinguished himself as a composer/arranger and has produced two instructional videos. His Book, "Way Over in Beulah Lan' is published by Heritage Music Press.

Born and brought up in Wales, UK, Katie Thomas read Music at Cardiff University before pursuing postgraduate studies in Choral Conducting at the Royal Academy of Music in London.

She is the conductor of the Royal College of Music Junior Department choirs and vocal coach/assistant chorus master to the BBC Symphony Chorus. She also directs her own professional concert project group, The Constellation Club.

Katie is proud to be a conducting mentor for the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain and enjoys working as tutor of conducting technique for the Association of British Choral Directors.

Alongside her conducting career, Katie has performed as a singer on the international concert platform with professional vocal ensembles including the Monteverdi Choir (with whom she also acted as rehearsal assistant conductor to Sir John Eliot Gardiner), Polyphony, Academy of Ancient Music, and Tenebrae.

Noted for her authoritative yet encouraging approach and sound stylistic awareness, she is considered a leading choral music specialist in the UK.

conductor, lecturer, scholar

• conductor of five choral ensembles
• singer of professional vocal ensemble Lumen Valo
• teacher of choral conducting, chairman of the Finnish Choral Directors' Association
• Doctor of Music, Renaissance music scholar

choir conductor, voice teacher, composer

• retired conductor of different choirs that achieved international recognition under his direction and represented Namibia in many countries abroad
• successful in fusing voices from a multicultural community into ensembles that are able to sing repertoire ranging from Mozart to Mambo

Johann van der Sandt received his formal undergraduate and post-graduate education at the University of Pretoria. He also furthered his studies in Choral Conducting in the Netherlands at the Institute of Choral Conductors training, Gorinchem.

He has been involved in choral work as a composer, conductor, arranger and adjudicator on national as well as international level throughout his career.

In his capacity as adjudicator, conductor and lecturer, he is well sought after. Johann has conducted numerous choirs; his experience stretches wide, from working with Children’s Choirs to Youth Choirs, student’s choirs and Adult choirs. His adult Chamber choir Singkronies specifically aimed at the recording, development and preservation of South African. His work with the University of Pretoria Camerata (a mixed student’s choir) is characterized by numerous accolades. Under his leadership, the Drakensberg Boys choir established itself as one of the best boys choir internationally.

Currently Johann is professor in Music Education at the University of Bolzano, Italy. Before that, he was professor in Choral Conducting at the University of Pretoria and served as the conductor and the Director of Music at the Drakensberg Boys Choir School, South Africa.

Andris Veismanis is professor of Choir Conducting department of Latvian Music Academy, artistic director and conductor of professional chamber choir "Ave Sol". He is artistic adviser of the board of Latvian National Opera and artistic director of the Vidzemes chamber orchestra.

Veismanis graduated from the choir conducting department (the class of Prof. Imants Kokars) of the Latvian Academy of Music in 1990, received the degree of Master of Arts in 1995 (the class of Prof. Jānis Dūmiņš). He studied symphonic and opera conducting with Prof. Yuri Simonov and baroque music with William Christie.

He was the Principal Chorus Master of the Latvian National Opera from 1997 until 2006. Since 2006, he is a conductor at the Latvian National Opera. He was also the artistic leader of the chamber choir "Sacrum" from 1989 to 1997. Since 1995, Andris Veismanis is conductor of the Vidzeme Chamber Orchestra.

Among his best productions are Dido and Aeneas and The Queen of Fairies by Henry Purcell, Alcina by Georg Friedrich Handel, Orfeo ed Euridice by Cristoph Willibald Gluck, The Birds' Opera by Jānis Lūsēns and Māra Zālīte, The Turn of the Screw by Benjamin Britten, Passions after St.John by Johann Sebastian Bach, oratorios Messiah and Saul by Georg Friedrich Handel.

He is laureate of the Latvian Great Music Award in 1993 for Dido and Aeneas staged by the Avantgarde Academy and in 1998 for Alcina staged at the Latvian National Opera.

Aleksandar S. Vujić studied piano, conducting and composition at the Music University Belgrad and graduated in 1983. He was working as a professor at the same university from 1974 to 2013.

Aleksandar S. Vujić was awarded the “Zoltan Kodaly“ medal in 1983 and in 1988 a national medal from Israel. In 2014 he received an order from the Serbian president and travelled to the USA in 1987 as a state guest.

In 1987 Aleksandar S. Vujić founded the chamber orchestra „Sinfonietta“ Beograd which recorded 12 CDs until now. Furthermore he conducted several choirs and orchestras in Serbia and was often invited as a juror for events in Serbia, several European countries and Asia.

As a conductor he achieved two gold medals at INTERKULTUR events (World Choir Games Busan 2002 and Budapest 2009).

Aleksandar S. Vujićs choral works have been edited in Germany, USA, Italy, Hungary and Serbia and are being sung in many countries worldwide. „Synkope“ - B. R. Germany is the exclusive publisher of Vujićs choral works.

At the composition competition in Zwickau (1995) he achieved a 1st and 3rd prize and in Trento 1993 a 3rd prize.

Aleksandar S. Vujić is a member of the World Choir Council for Serbia.

After graduating from Shanghai Conservatory of Music, Western Michigan University and Peabody Conservatory of Music majoring in conducting, Jun Wang worked as conductor at the University of Wisconsin in Oshkosh, at Xiamen Opera House and Hubei Opera House, with the Oshkosh Symphony Orchestra as well as the China National Symphony Orchestra. Currently he is the Artistic Director of Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra Choir, Zhongshan Choir and Autumn Whispers Choir.

Wang is Vice Director of the Conducting Committee of the China Choral Association, Vice Chairman of Guangdong Choral Association and Chairman of Zhongshan Choral Association. Wang is a famous choral conductor in China and conducted the “China National Choir” based in Beijing which was ranked one of the best choirs in China. Under his direction many choirs won gold medals at national and international choral competitions including the World Choir Games in Guangzhou, Riga and Sochi and at several national choral competitions in China.

choral conductor, teacher

• founder and Professor of the Conducting Department of China Conservatory and expert panel member of the Committee for Art Education of Ministry of Education of China
• Vice President of the China Chorus Association and choir master of National Center of the Performing Art
• has been very active in both performing and educating which is very rare in China
• top conductor with huge popularity and a professor with great prestige

conductor, music educator, juror

• Professor of Conducting at the Central Conservatory of Music
• Principal Conductor of "Tianjin Symphony Orchestra", resident conductor of the "Children and Young Women's Chorus of China National Symphony Orchestra", director and conductor of "Beijing Philharmonic Chorus"
• publisher of articles in the "Journal of the Central Conservatory of Music" and "Journal of Tianjin Conservatory of Music" and of the text book on conducting titled "Modern Conducting Techniques"

composer, choral director, lecturer, jury member

• studies of paedagogic, voice training and electronic music
• choral director of Vox Humana Chamber Choir and Vienna Symphonic Opera & Concert Chorus
• since 2012 president of the Austrian Choral Association