INTERKULTUR delegation in Greece
Press conference regarding the "2nd Kalamata International Choir Competition & Festival"
In order to tie in with the success of the "1st International Choir Competition & Festival" in Kalamata, INTERKULTUR President Günter Titsch, Vice President Wang Qin and the event's Artistic Director Christian Ljunggren took up last week the invitation of the mayor of Kalamata, Mr. Panagiotis E. Nikas.
On the occasion of a press conference held on February 8, 2016 in the Greek seaport, the projected holding of the "2nd Kalamata International Choir Competition & Festival" in 2017 was being announced. The event will be held from October 11-15, 2017 in cooperation with the city of Kalamata and INTERKULTUR and is also being supported by the "Mikis Theodorakis International Foundation".
The city of Kalamata, represented by mayor Nikas, is looking forward with pleasant anticipation and together with INTERKULTUR to a successful cooperation and the participation of numerous singers from all parts of the world. "The Olympic idea, on which our international choir competitions and festivals are based upon, has its origin in Greece. Therefore it is an honor for INTERKULTUR to have the opportunity to tie in with the previous successes in Greece and to establish the event in Kalamata as a constant," Titsch mentioned.
Looking back to the "1st Kalamata International Choir Competition & Festival" in October 2015 – the first INTERKULTUR event in Greece at all – Günter Titsch and Panagiotis E. Nikas expressed their enthusiasm: During the five days of the competition altogether 38 choirs from 13 nations, including 21 choirs from the host country, made Kalamata resound. This multitude and number of participants for a new INTERKULTUR event represented a very good result, the Artistic Director Christian Ljunggren explained.
With its first choir competition in Greece last year INTERKULTUR also strengthened the contact to the "Mikis Theodorakis International Foundation". Theodorakis, the world famous Greek composer, is associated with INTERKULTUR as an Honorary Artistic President already since 2007. His music was being performed during the festivals in Kalamata by thousands of singers from all over the world. During the meeting in Kalamata INTERKULTUR Vice President Wang Qin emphasized the huge interest of the national and international choral community in a continuation of this successful event. The Chinese "South China Normal University Female Choir" received a special mention as it received the highest score in two categories altogether and therefore became double category winner during the first edition of the event in Kalamata in 2015.
INTERKULTUR President Günter Titsch is convinced that the event’s success is also undoubtedly due to the special attractiveness of the seaport located at the South Peloponnesus: "Kalamata is a first-rate economic and tourist center of attraction. It offers our international singers a great combination of the Mediterranean way of life and cultural diversity. Its historic city center, the narrow alleys, the colorful shops and the Greek taverns invite visitors to stroll, linger and sing together."
All information regarding the "2nd Kalamata International Choir Competition & Festival" can be found at the event website.
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