"Our team and I express our gratitude for the excellent organization and conduct of the festival in Kalamata. The panel of judges, the professionalism of the choirs, the terms of the performances were excellent. After participating in these festivals we have-artists "grow wings" and open up new horizons for creativity!"
3rd Kalamata International Choir Competition and Festival
Singing in the Land of Gods
Two previous choir events in Kalamata have proven: The combination of sea, mountains, vine and olive trees make Greece a place where singers from all over the world feel mostly welcome.
Hosted by the romantic city of Kalamata, located on the Southern Peloponnese this choral event combines the advantages of an international choral competition with various concert opportunities in a culturally diverse city.
Narrow lanes, a historic old town and the Apostles church of the 12th century characterize the townscape until today: Kalamata is vibrant, calm and idyllic.
The competition part offers categories for different levels of difficulty, casts and musical genres – the festival combines an easy going gathering of different nations with the wonderful setting of South East Europe.
Participation Opportunities
This INTERKULTUR event provides you the opportunity to choose from the following options of participation:
Non-competitive Participation | Competitive Participation |
---|---|
Non-competitive Festival Participation* | Competition Categories* |
Evaluation Performance* | Evaluation Performance* |
Individual Coaching* | Individual Coaching* |
Friendship Concert Performance included
- Category A – Difficulty Level I
- A1 – Mixed Choirs
- A2 – Equal Voices (Male and Female Choirs)
- Category B – Difficulty Level II
- B1 – Mixed Choirs
- B2 – Equal Voices (Male and Female Choirs)
- Category G – Children's Choirs and Youth Choirs
- G1 – Children's Choirs
- G2 – Youth Choirs of equal voices
- G3 – Youth Choirs of mixed voices
- Category S – Sacred Choral Music a cappella
- Category F – Folklore
A detailed description of the competition categories can also be found in the booklet available for download:
Participant Information(4 MB)
Evaluation Performances
for non-competing choirs
- three (3) pieces of the choir’s choice
- performed before a panel of qualified international jurors who provide immediate positive artistic and pedagogical advice for improvement
- certificates of participation will be awarded, as well as evaluation ratings and recommendation letters for future INTERKULTUR competitions upon request
Number of singers: unlimited
Singing time: maximum 15 minutes
Duration: 45 minutes
Accompaniment: unlimited
for competing choirs
- presentation of the competition program the day before competitions begin
- for interested choirs it is recommended to arrive on October 8 already
- performed before a panel of qualified international jurors who provide immediate positive artistic and pedagogical advice for improvement
- the evaluation does not involve preliminary decisions regarding the competition result
Number of singers: according to category rules
Singing time: according to category rules
Duration 45 minutes
Accompaniment: according to category rules
Individual Coachings
- one piece of the choir’s own choice
- with an international choral expert for stimulating artistic ideas and interpretive guidance
- for an effective rehearsal, choirs must prepare one piece in advance
Number of singers: unlimited
Singing time: 45 minutes rehearsals session
Accompaniment: unlimited
Participating choirs may register to perform together with other international choirs in Kalamata. Choirs must prepare approximately 20 minutes of their own music pre-approved by the INTERKULTUR artistic committee. The concert should be preferably a cappella or with own instruments. (Piano or E-Piano can be provided upon request.)
Please be aware that several friendship concerts are planned open air. In the event that weather conditions do not allow this, some concerts may be cancelled due to the weather. The organizers will try to manage alternatives but choirs do not have any legal claim to this.
Choirs can also take part in Friendship Concerts ONLY (Non-competitive Festival Participation).
The respective Category Winners are invited to participate in the competition for the Grand Prize. The jury reserves the right to nominate further choirs for participation. The winner of this competition will receive the Kalamata Choir Prize 2019 - endowed with 1.500 €.
- Program: two freely chosen a cappella pieces which may not be the ones the choir had already performed in their whole competition program. Those two pieces must be confirmed by the Artistic Committee.
- Singing time: the maximum actual singing time is 8 minutes.
"Thank you for the precious memories you offered to all the members of the choir."
"It was an unforgettable experience for all of us!"
"It was a good festival in Kalamata, the city is a fantastic place for a festival"
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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Festivals, Choir Competitions, Sing Along Projects: Learn more about special performance opportunities with the free INTERKULTUR newsletter.
Event Details
Wednesday, October 9, 2019
- Arrival
- Afternoon Evaluation Performances
- Stage Rehearsals for the Opening Concert
- Evening Opening Concert
- Sightseeing and excursions*
Thursday, October 10, 2019
- Stage rehearsals
- Morning Individual Coachings
- Afternoon and evening Competitions in categories Folklore and Sacred Choir Music a cappella
- Evening Friendship Concerts in Kalamata
- 21:00 Gala Concert (ticketed event)
- Sightseeing and excursions*
Friday, October 11, 2019
- Rehearsals and stage rehearsals
- All day Competitions in categories Children’s Choirs, Youth Choirs of Equal and Mixed Voices, Sacred Choir Music a cappella and Adult Choirs of Equal and Mixed Voices with difficulty level II
- Afternoon and evenings Friendship Concerts in Kalamata
- Sightseeing and excursions*
Saturday, October 12, 2019
- Rehearsals and stage rehearsals
- Morning Competitions in categories Adult Choirs of Equal and Mixed Voices with difficulty level I
- Noon Friendship Concert in Kalamata
- 14:30 Grand Prize Competition for the Kalamata Choir Prize 2019 (ticketed event)
- 18:00 Choir Parade
- 21:00 Award Ceremony
- Sightseeing and excursions*
Sunday, October 13, 2019
- Departure
- Morning: Friendship Concert in Kalamata
- Sightseeing and excursions*
depending on the choir's individual schedule
Subject to change!
If you are interested in individual excursions please send an email to travel(at)interkultur.com.
Kalamata Dance Megaron
Address: Artemidos 121 (Junction Artemidos & Klada Street), 24134 Kalamata
The Kalamata Dance Megaron was constructed with funding mainly from the European Union and the Greek State, in order to house the activities of the Kalamata International Dance Centre, during the International Dance Festival, which takes place every year in July, as well as cultural events that take place throughout the year. It first opened its doors in July 2013. Every year it welcomes the dance world’s most prestigious names and, since 2015, every second year, choirs from around the world.
Kalamata Dance Megaron is a modern, multi functional hall. It has a main hall with 650 seats and a small hall with 200 seats, as well a massive foyer on the ground floor and another one on the upper floor.
Text and photo: Municipality of Kalamata
Amphitheatre Theo Angelopoulos
Address: 95 Aristomenous Street, 24131 Kalamata
Named after the well-known film director, scriptwriter and film producer Theo Angelopoulos (1935-2012), who was originally from Messinia (the wider area, of which Kalamata is the capital), this amphitheatre, built to host seminars, concerts and workshops, opened in 2006. It is centrally located, close to the Municipal Theatre, on the main shopping street, and just a few minutes’ walk from the Kalamata Dance Megaron and the Holy Taxiarches Church. With its 250 seats and good acoustic, it is a suitable place for the competition and evaluation performances.
Text and photo: Municipality of Kalamata
Holy Taxiarches Church
Address: Taxiarchon Square - Vas. Georgiou & Asklipiou Street, 24100 Kalamata
The Holy Taxiarches Church is dedicated to the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel. The church is located in Kalamata city center. Its construction begun in 1938 and it was inaugurated in 1956. Its architectural style is hellenobyzantine. Dimitrios Kentakas, a famous craftsman, painted its murals in byzantine style.
Text and photo: Municipality of Kalamata
Tenta Sports Hall
Address: Junction of Sfakianaki Street & Anatoliko Kentro, 24100 Kalamata
The Award Ceremony will be held in Tenta Sports Hall. Tenta Sports Hall is actually a huge tent, used for various sports events. With a total of 2000 seats, it can host all participants of the Kalamata International Choir Competition & Festival. A big stage is constructed especially for the official events of the choir competition, but there is still enough space for the participants to sing and dance together and celebrate the results.
Text: Municipality of Kalamata. Photos: INTERKULTUR
The Greek song „Sto perijiali to krifo” by composer Mikis Theodorakis marks the highlight of the Opening Ceremony on October 9. All participants will sing it together in an arrangement by the late INTERKULTUR Honorary President Christian Ljunggren (Sweden).
Please find the scores here and get well prepared for our Singing together!
Scores download (PDF 70 KB)
Külli Kiivet (Estonia)
Külli Kiivet (1979) graduated from the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre in 2006 majoring in musical education and Tallinn Georg Ots Music High School in 2001 majoring in classical singing. She works at Tallinn School of Music and Ballet, teaching voice placing and leading the Young Children`s Choir. She is the chief conductor and artistic director of the Estonian National Girls’ Choir LEELO and she`s a voice placer for the Estonian National Opera Boys Choir and prepares boys perform in operas; many of her students s have been awarded in National and International song contests. Külli Kiivet has been a conductor in Estonian Song and Dance Festivals for girl´s and female choirs and has been chosen female choir’s lead conductor at the 28th Estonian Song and Dance Festival planned in July 2025. She has been often invited to be a member of Jury at various song contests in Estonia and has been a guest conductor on County Song Festivals.
Külli Kiivet has been awarded the Estonian Choir Union Annual Awards – "Young Conductor of the Year 2009“, „Conductor of the Year 2017“, “Conductor of the Year 2022” and she is Cultural Endowment of Estonia, folk culture annual award winner in 2021.
Mary Konstantinidou (Greece)
Mary Konstantinidou was born in Thessaloniki, graduated from the State Music School of Thessaloniki in piano and choral conducting, and has continued her studies with Peter Erdei (Hungary), Dimitris Agrafiotis (Grecce) and Titner (Great Britain).
She has conducted Mixed Choir of Thessaloniki since its establishment and has led them to win one gold, two silver, and three bronze medals at international competitions of Athens, Rome and Langollen.
She has collaborated with the National Opera of Greece, Greek Festival, National Theater of Northern Greece, Opera of Thessaloniki, Athens State Orchestra, ERT National Symphony Orchestra, as well as with Thessaloniki Concert Hall, Athens Concert Hall in more than 24 opera productions and 50 oratorios and has appeared in chamber concerts in America and Canada.
She has conducted the choirs Thermaikos, North College, Anatolia Alumni, and many more. She has also conducted in Budapest, Stockholm, Salzburg, Venice, Vienna, Istanbul, Rome, Saint Petersburg, and many more cities as well.
Maria-Emma Meligopoulou (Greece)
Maria Emma Meligopoulou holds a Master Degree in Choral Conducting from Boston University CFA and a PhD in Choral Conducting and pedagogy for Children and Youth Choirs from Ionian University. She has also studied Law at Aristotle University. She teaches Choral Conducting Techniques and directs the University Choir at the University of Macedonia in Thessaloniki.
She also teaches at the master’s program of Choral Conducting at Ionian University and is professor of Choral Conducting at the New Conservatory of Thessaloniki. She has performed many choral concerts and international tours in Greece, Europe (Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Finland, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, UK), Asia (Israel, Turkey, Singapore, China, Japan), Africa (Egypt, South Africa), USA, Canada. As Choral Director she has been several times recipient of First Prizes with her own Choir “Ss. Cyril & Methodios Choir”, among them the Moscow Sounds Festival, Interkultur Festivals, Loto Quebec Festival (Canada), etc.
She is council member of the World Choir Games, Artistic Advisor of Interkultur Festivals, and she is on demand as lecturer, guest conductor and adjudicator in international symposiums, festivals and workshops worldwide. In 1992 she founded the Ss. Cyril & Methodios Children’s and Youth Choir, the largest choral organization in Northern Greece with over 300 singers in five departments (preparatory choir, children’s choirs, mixed youth choir and chamber choir).
She is author of the textbook Introduction to the Art of Choral Praxis (2011) 3rd Edition in 2013 and the Music Editions: Choral Works for Equal Voices by Greek Composers (2014), and Christmas Choral Works for Equal Voices (2016), all of them available by Nakas - Papagregoriou Editions, Athens.
Lucien Posman (Belgium)
Lucien Posman is honorary professor of composition and music theory at the Royal Conservatory of the University College Ghent in Belgium. He is the founder and honorary chairman of "ComAV", the Flanders Composers Archipelago, an interest association. Posman is member of The Royal Academy of Belgium for Science and the Arts. As bass singer he was and still is member of several choirs among them "Aquarius Choir". He studied music theory, composition and singing at the conservatories of Ghent and Antwerp. His works comprise a symphony, an opera, concertos for piano and for violine, a concerto for clarinet & choir and piano, chamber music for various ensembles and a relatively large number of vocal works, mostly using texts by William Blake. As composer he is a representative of postmodernism. His work is performed and broadcasted by prominent musicians and ensembles at home and in many European countries, Brazil and Russia. A number of his works have been awarded composition prizes.
Baoping Ren (China)
Prof. Ren studied under the supervision of the conductor and music educator Prof. Geshun Ma, and started his own career in choral arts and teaching in 1983. By adding decades of practical achievements into Chinese choral realm, with the aid of innovation, he created the distinctive choir “Peiyang Acoustics”.
Prof. Ren is regularly invited to give lectures in more than 30 provinces and cities in China and many young conductors and composers are nurtured by Prof. Ren, like Yong Mao, Yuchuan Wen, Wenhao Mou, Jinming Zhu, Can Zheng, Wei Cui.
Throughout the years, he has set up Choral Appreciation, Chorus and Conduct and other courses at the Tianjin University. Apart from that, he advocates for holding Chinese Chorus Conductor Masterclasses, the pedagogic achievements of which won the Chinese government's rewards. Prof. Ren also shouldered the responsibility successively to be the Art Director of more than 20 choirs and is guest professor at a large number of universities.
Prof. Baoping Ren is Vice Director-General of the China Choral Association and of the China higher-education academy musical education major committee, Chairman of China higher-education choral committee, Vice Director of the China Choral Association University Choral Committee, Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of Peiyang Chorus and is regularly invited as a judge for international choir competitions.
INTERKULTUR
in cooperation with
the Municipality of Kalamata
supported by
Mikis Theodorakis International Foundation
President INTERKULTUR
Günter Titsch (Germany)
Artistic Directors Kalamata 2019
Stathis Giftakis (Greece)
Assoc. Prof. Romāns Vanags (Latvia)
Maria-Emma Meligopoulou (Greece)
INTERKULTUR Artistic Committee
Prof. Dr. Ralf Eisenbeiß (Germany), Senior Artistic Director
Johan Rooze (Netherlands), Artistic Director
Fred Sjöberg (Sweden), Artistic Director
INTERKULTUR Executive Committee
Günter Titsch (Germany)
Qin Wang (China)
Stefan Bohländer (Germany)
Dr. Christoph Wirtz (Germany), Secretary General
Organizer is the INTERKULTUR Management GmbH.
Program Book
Participating Groups
We are happy to welcome 37 choirs from 15 nations to the 3rd Kalamata International Choir Competition and Festival!
3rd Kalamata International Choir Competition and Festival
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AccettareDESTINATION
Kalamata is a typical vibrant South European seaport with roughly 70.000 inhabitants. It represents the economical center of the South Peloponnese and is therefore a commercial as well as a touristic center of attraction. Kalamata is situated in the big bay of the Greek headlands and has a long sandy beach and a major harbour facility. The charming city center invites visitors to a stroll and lingering with its narrow alleys, many shops and typical Greek taverns.
One of Kalamata’s cultural highlights is the annual summer festival with concerts and performances at the municipal theatre which is located at the historic castle of Kalamata.
There are several ways to get to Kalamata by plane:
Kalamata International Airport (KLX) is located 11 km away from the center of Kalamata and is regularly approached by the following airlines: Aegean Airlines, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, easy Jet, Ryanair, Lufthansa, NIKI.
Araxos Airport (GPA) is located 188 km away from the center of Kalamata and is regularly approached by the following airlines: Ryanair, TUIfly.
Athens International Airport (IATA: ATH, ICAO: LGAV), commonly initialized as "AIA", is the primary international airport that serves the city of Athens and the region of Attica. It is Greece's busiest airport and it serves as the hub and main base of Aegean Airlines as well as other Greek airlines.
Competition Results
We congratulate all singers to their great results! All in all 28 golden, 14 silver and 2 bronze diplomas were awarded. Many thanks to all choirs and ensembles for participating!
Results(310 KB)