The first NORDIC VOICES Choir Festival officially opened on Thursday evening in the impressive setting of the renowned Sibelius Hall in Lahti, Finland. Choirs, conductors, and guests from six countries came together for a festive Opening Concert that marked the beginning of four days filled with music, cultural exchange, and international friendship.

With 22 choirs taking part in this inaugural INTERKULTUR event in Finland, the festival already represents an important milestone for international choral exchange in the Nordic region.

The musical opening belonged to two choirs from Lahti. The Lahti Symphony Choir and Filianna welcomed the international guests with Finnish choral music and folk-inspired repertoire, creating a warm and authentic start to the festival.

The official welcome greetings to the participants were held by Henna Eskonsipo-Bradshaw, Director of Urban Culture of the City of Lahti, and Fred Sjöberg, Senior Artistic Director of INTERKULTUR. In his speech, he welcomed all participants to the first INTERKULTUR event ever held in Finland and emphasized the power of choral music to connect people across cultures and borders. He also thanked the local partners and organizing team for bringing the festival to life.

The concert then took the audience on a musical journey around the world. Choirs from Türkiye, Sweden, and the United States presented diverse repertoire ranging from folk music to contemporary choral works, reflecting the international spirit of the festival.

A special highlight of the evening was the final combined performance by Kamarikuoro SonorEnsemble, Helsingin Laulu, and Kilven Kuoro. Around 100 singers filled the Forest Hall with works by Estonian composer Pärt Uusberg, bringing the Opening Concert to an emotional and powerful conclusion.

Over the coming days, the NORDIC VOICES Choir Festival will continue with Competitions in various categories, Evaluation Performaces and Individual coachings, as well as numerous Friendship Concerts throughout Lahti. A special highlight is the NORDIC NIGHT Gala Concert on May 16 in the stunning Sibelius Hall, featuring exceptional ensembles from Finland, Sweden, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the USA. Tickets for this evening are available here. 

The festival will culminate on Sunday with the Grand Prize Competition of the best choirs followed by the Awards & Closing Ceremony.

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