In Peace and Harmony: The INTERKULTUR Choral Year 2024 begins in Japan
13 choirs from 7 nations are coming together for the 3rd Sing’n’Pray Kobe
The INTERKULTUR choral year of 2024 is starting in these days: The 3rd edition of "Sing'n'Pray Kobe," gathers choirs from around the world for a celebration of peace through the universal language of music.
On January 25, 2024 the event started with an Opening Reception for choir conductors and representatives, where the international team led by Artistic Directors Johan Rooze and Mashahiro Kishimoto welcomed everybody to this prestigious event.
In his welcome speech, Johan Rooze emphasized: “I am very happy to see choral music lovers coming together to sing, dance, learn, and meet each other. In spite of all kinds of challenges in the world, I feel that the choral world is alive and thriving, proving that ’Singing together brings nations together’”.
The Sing’n’Pray Kobe event features a vibrant lineup of musical choir performances, but the crown jewel of the event is undoubtedly the "Pray from Kobe Concert" to take place on January 28 featuring over 600 singers in the exquisite Kobe Bunka Hall. This concert originated in 2012 as a heartfelt response to the devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck Fukushima in 2011. Since then, it has grown into a cherished tradition held every last weekend of January.
This tradition has now evolved to include choirs from across Japan coming together to sing and pray, not only for those affected by natural disasters but also for world peace. "Sing'n'Pray Kobe" transcends religious boundaries, inviting participants to sing and pray in the language of all faiths and of humanity itself. As St. Augustine once said, "Those who sing, pray twice."
In 2024, the affiliated choir competition at Sing’n’Pray Kobe welcomes national and international participants, offering them a platform to compete and sing together in a harmonious contest. For the first time this year, two additional competition categories were introduced, enhancing the festival's diversity.
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