© Virginia Bono, Argentina

#WCG2018 - Meet the jury

10 questions with Virginia Bono

World Choir Games 2018

Renowned choral experts from 28 different nations are going to evaluate the competition performances at the World Choir Games 2018 in Tshwane, South Africa. Time to learn more about them! 

10 questions with Virginia Bono (Argentina)

Virginia Bono is founder and artistic director of "Estudio Coral Meridies", an award winning-choir that has represented Latin America in several international festivals. She's also a member of the national board of "Adicora", the Association of Argentinian Choral Conductors. 

Who or what is your greatest inspiration in life?

Choral singing

What would you be doing today, if you were not in choral music?

I don’t know, my life was always with music and I do not know how to do anything else. I like photography very much but it's a hobby, I don’t think it would have been my profession. Maybe medicine ... I thought about studying medicine sometime during high school.

When did you last sing?

10 minutes ago

What is the best (and funniest) story to tell from your choral life?

Once I was selected to participate as a student in a Masterclass in Choral Conducting by great masters. It was in Holland and I was very nervous because the course would be in English and I did not have so much experience in that language at that time. When I arrived in Holland, I had to introduce myself to the manager of a prestigious chamber choir and, of course, it was important for me to appear solvent, respectful and very formal. When I met the man I shook my hand and I was so nervous that my tongue stuck in my dry throat and instead of correctly pronouncing my last name the last O became a D, and I found myself saying:

“My name is Bond, Virginia Bond!”

The situation was very embarrassing for me until the good man started to laugh. From that moment, many people know of my familiar relationship with the secret agent 007, James Bond.

Which song never fails to move you?

Ufff….so many songs. “Va pensiero sull’ ali dorate…” sung by a big choir in ppp, could be an example.

With whom would you like to sing a duet once in your life?

With Juan Carlos Baglietto, a great singer and extraordinary performer of popular music in Argentina.

What is the greatest piece of choral literature that has ever been written?

Ein deutsches Requiem is one, but, there are many great works written for chorus.

Acting as adjudicator at choir competitions, what is your main focus of evaluation?

Sound and musicalily

What is your personal advice to choirs/conductors competing at the World Choir Games?

Bringing to the World Choir Games that music that moves the soul and identifies them, be it their own culture or another. Because, at the end, music is the universal language and can move everyone equally. Only what moves us can be a path of emotion with the audience.

What’s the most useless talent you have?

I can move my ears a little.

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