World Choir Games: The Opening Ceremony

The World Choir Games feature large-scale events staged in world class venues capable of televised and live stage production.

These spectacular shows create an unforgettable atmosphere for singing a wide spectrum of music ranging from great choral-symphonic works to pop music. The official Opening Ceremony of the World Choir Games includes a stunning stage show, where the hosting countries takes the opportunity to add a very personal face to the event by showcasing its very own traditions and (music) culture.

For the 11th World Choir Games 2020 the talks for the production of the Opening Ceremony in the Sportpalais Antwerp on July 5, 2020 have already started and many creative ideas have been developed. Of course, we can’t unveil any details at this early stage of planning, but the structure of the event always remains the same. So this is what to expect:

The first part of the official Opening Ceremony of the World Choir Games marks the traditional opening of the event: The procession of the flags of participating countries and the ceremonial and solemn hoisting of the Games’ flag, honoring of the World Choir Games’ international competition jury and the special Opening Ceremony with the peace bell of the World Choir Games, augmented by the official music and anthem of the World Choir Games. In this festive atmosphere, the Games are traditionally declared open by Günter Titsch, President of INTERKULTUR and founder of the World Choir Games. In the second part of the official Opening Ceremony the host country presents itself to the international audience through cultural showcase, dance and music performances.

See here some pictures from the Opening Ceremony of the World Choir Games 2018 in South Africa, where the South African culture was reflected by a huge drum, which was used instead of the traditional peace bell for the official opening ceremony, and where the Choral Olympic flame was introduced as new symbol of the World Choir Games for the very first time: