The ICFM World Choral Summit in Beijing from July 15-20, 2012 is a great opportunity to share ideas and thoughts about the future of choral music with thirty leading choral representatives from around the world.
A second reason to visit Beijing is the parallel running 11th China International Chorus Festival, the most prestigious of its kind in China with competitions, workshops and the opportunity to hear many of China´s best choirs and the top five invented choirs from around the world.

Links to more information:

Festival Homepage
Festival Form, Flyers, Brochure

Downloads:

IFCM Homepage
IFCM Broschüre
ICFM World Choral Summit Application form choirs
ICFM World Choral Summit Application form individuals

Participation in this non-competitive event is open to all types of choirs and vocal groups.

Participants will have an opportunity to perform at various venues of cultural interest as well as attending practical, educational workshops with the Maestros Jonathan Rathbone, David Azurza and Josep Prats.

Deadline: The registration form must be sent via email or conventional mail before the 30th of March 2012.

More information: please visit Corearte Barcelona

Choral managers, conductors and singers interested in the promotion and marketing of choral music are invited to share professional experiences and discuss valuable guidelines and key processes to manage the many aspects and challenges of organizing an international choral event, and rooting it in a regional context with a dozen staff members and international experts. Guided tour with insight into all sectors of the organisation:

• preparation of the event
• artistic selection procedure
• technical production (sound and light)
• communication and PR
• crossed artistic and technical perspective on concerts
• looking after invited ensembles, amateur choirs and guests before
  and during the festival
• management of a large group of volunteers
• dealing with audience in the concert halls
• working with local partners
• conferences with international experts of the choral world
• international networking and marketing

Participants can share and learn with colleagues from all over the world, develop their own international network, discover and take part to an unique event in the world from inside.

Practical Information

Date:

October 29th to November 5th 2012

Location:

Saint-Lô (France | Map)

Application deadline:

March 31st 2012

Fee:

from 230 € (depanding on country/organisation)
incl. accommodation, food, local transfers, free access to all concerts

Language:

English (basic knowledge of French might be useful but is not mandatory)

Links:

Program
Details

The International Music Commission has put together an exciting programme which has something to offer for everybody. Male choirs, children’s choirs, female choirs, mixed choirs and vocal ensembles, individual singers, conductors, composers and managers will find a rich and flexible programme on offer.

Almost 50 ateliers with a duration of 4 to 8 days offer vocal music from Gregorian Chant to premieres of commissioned works, from folk to classical music, vocal pop and jazz, gospel and spirituals, renaissance music, classical music and opera. There is something to choose from for every choir, for beginners and those who are already experienced, for normal choirs and auditioned choirs of the highest level, but also for individual singers and groups of friends – they can all learn new repertoire under the direction of renowned and experienced conductors from all over the world and present the results to the audience. In addition they can offer their own repertoire in concerts, participate in the fringe programme or sing in the region, join the Open Singing and many other intitiatives to spread the festival atmosphere and sounds in less conventional ways and places and involve the whole city in a great choral celebration.

Conductors, composers and choral managers will find a separate programme with presentations, workshops, round‐table discussions and practical exercises, enough space for personal contacts and exchange among colleagues as well as the possibility to watch the renowned atelier conductors at work in the frame of a Study Tour.

Those who cannot be there all the time are also welcome for one or two days ‐ for a taste of the festival we offer the so‐called “Discovery Ateliers” in which a different music style can be experienced every day, but singers can also experiment with body percussion, beatboxing or belcanto, get a feeling of what it means to conduct a choir or improve their breathing techniques.

Most of all the EUROPA CANTAT festival offers a lot of opportunities for meeting others, people with similar interests, coming from up to 50 different countries, Italian and Mediterranean culture and atmosphere, and choral music from all over the world which will transform the city into a huge choral platform under the motto “On Stage – Festa – Soul Food”. And you, are you ready TO sing?”

For further information go to www.ectorino2012.it, watch the film on the festival and get an overview on all offers (you will find the list of ateliers on ectorino2012.it/ready‐to‐sing/ateliers), or write to info@ectorino2012.it, the festival office.

Download flyer (klick)

Summer editions of the FICF will be held in the month of July. July and August are the hottest months in Italy – high average temperature is almost 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Visitors cool off inside museums and churches. Nights are warm and many restaurants have outdoor service. Most Italians leave their cities in July and August. There are, however, many tourists during the summer.
July is a big month for festivals in Tuscany, such as Il Palio in Siena and the Puccini Opera Festival in Torre del Lago Puccini, near Viareggio.

CHOIRS AND ENSEMBLES CATEGORIES

A – Mixed Choirs Adults
B – Equal Voices Choirs Adults
C – Youth Choirs
D – Children Choirs
E – Chamber Choirs
F – Vocal and Instrumental Ensembles
G – Sacred Music Choirs
H – Popular, Folk, Gospel, Barbershop Ensembles
I – Jazz and Modern vocal ensembles
L – Early Music
M – Modern and Contemporary Music
Each group will perform 3 pieces. The total performance must be from 9 to 15 minutes

PRIZES

In each category the jury will assign the following prizes:
1st place: Gold Medal, Golden Diploma
2nd place: Silver Medal, Silver Diploma
3rd place: Bronze Medal, Bronze diploma

SPECIAL PRIZES
1 – The Golden David
2 – The Best Conductor
3 – The Best Male and Female Soloist
4 – The Best Performance of Italian Composer’s Work
5 – The Best Contemporary Composer Arrangement
6 – The Best Choreography
7 – The Best Traditional Costumes
The Golden David, a very special prize, will assigned to the best Choir or Ensemble for excellent artistic performance. It consists of a statue of the Michelangelo’s David, the emblem of Florence and our Festival. All choirs which do not receive a prize will get the Diploma of successful participation in Festival.

PROGRAM

1st day: 18th July 2012
- 5 pm Palazzo Vecchio, Salone dei Cinquecento – Opening Ceremony
- 9 pm Basilica of San Lorenzo – Concert of the first group of choirs
2nd day:19th July 2012
- 10 am – 6 pm Saloncino del Teatro della Pergola- Competition
- 9 pm Basilica of Santa Trinita – Concert of the second group of choirs
3rd day: 20th July 2012
- 6 pm Salone dei Cinquecento – Award Ceremony
- 9 pm Basilica of Santa Croce – Final Concert of all the choirs

ENROLLMENT

The Festival enrollment fee for each choir is 200 euros and 150 euros for every supplemental category.

HOTEL ***

The accommodation will be in 3 star hotels in the historical Center of Florence, few steps from the Duomo and Ponte Vecchio.
3 nights  (including breakfasts) from 18/7/2012 to 20/7/2012
180 euro/person in triple room
210 euro/person in twin room
260 euro/person in single room

MEALS

The members of the choirs, the conductors and the accompanying people could choose to have lunches and dinners in the Historical Center of Florence in typical Tuscan Restaurants. A complete meal for only 15 euro per person

All conductors will be our guests for the final dinner after the closing ceremony in a very renowned florentine restaurant

More information, application: www.florencechoirfestival.com

Palazzo Vecchio

A half year ago we wrote about the campaign We Are More – Act for Culture in Europe which wants to help ensure that Culture will have an important place in the new EU-policy and programmes from 2014. National governments and EU policymakers are currently taking decisions on the next EU budget that will influence the next ten years of financial support to cultural activities that benefit everyone who lives in Europe.

Actually the gap between target number of signatures and the current status could be much smaller, as you can see in th table below. So please visit www.wearemore.eu and sign the manifesto to ensure vital support for culture in the next EU budget.

The last year participating nations were: Usa, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Colombia, Albania, Spain, Germany, Taiwan, China, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, Italy and Macedonia.

Beside Choirs and Opera Singing the competition has further sections for Pianoforte, Strings, Woodwind, Guitar, Accordion, Percussion, Chamber music, Lower Secondary school instrument classes, Jazz Combo, Brass Band and  Bands/Windbands.

Closing date for all applications is 5 April, 2012. Entry Fees for soloists are € 50 and for € 200 for choirs. The choir categories are:

1. male or female voices , minimum 8
2. mixed voices , minimum 8
3. children´s or youth , minimum 12 , age limit 20 (10% up to 24)
4. popular or spiritual/gospel (male, female or mixed) , minimum 8

Choir programmes

Categories A and B
Free programme comprising four pieces from the following groups as indicated:
a) One piece by a Renaissance, Baroque or Classical period composer. The jury will assess appropriate performance style.
b) One piece composed after the year 1900.
c) Two pieces of any period. The performance, intended as “pure music”, must last between 11 and 20 minutes. No more than two pieces may have instrumental accompaniment.

Category C
Free programme comprising four pieces from the following groups as indicated:
a) One piece composed before the year 1900 to be sung in any language and with or without instrumental accompaniment.
b) Two pieces composed after the year 1900 by composers of the same nationality as the participating choir. At least one of the pieces must be sung in the original language. At least one of the pieces must be unaccompanied.
c) One unaccompanied piece from any period sung in any language. The performance, intended as “pure music”, must last between 11 and 20 minutes. No more than two pieces may have instrumental accompaniment.

Category D
Free programme comprising four pieces as indicated: A programme of choral arrangements or traditional songs belonging to the repertoire of the country of the participating choir OR negro spirituals and gospel songs. Local folk instruments or instruments which may be justified from a historical or folk point of view are permitted. Stylistically coherent choreography will be appreciated and may lead to the awarding of a special mention. The performance, intended as “pure music”, must last between 8 and 20 minutes. No more than two pieces may have instrumental accompaniment.

Prizes

Overall winners of the Opera Singing section will be awarded the following monetary prizes:
Category A – 300 €
Category B – 500 €
Category C – 1000 €
The overall winners of the Choir section will win the following monetary prizes:
Category A – 1.000 €
Category B – 1.000 €
Category C – 500 €
Category D – 1.000 €

Further information with downloads and application forms: www.associazione-melody.com

See details here:

Overview: Strand 1.3.5: Cooperation projects with third countries
Description & Conditions: Programme Guide

Currently the explanation is for Mexico as year for which it was possible to apply in 2011.
Until May 2012 it will be possible to apply for cooperation with South Africa (projects will have to start end of 2012 or in 2013).

Below you will find a partner search request from a Greek choir looking for partners in this context:

The choir of the Cultural Association “KORAIS”, Thessaloniki, Greece is looking for associate-choirs from countries of the European Union in order to conduct concerts in South Africa, honored country in Europe in 2012, as part of the Program “Culture 2007-2013″ part 1.3.5.
Further info: www.xorodiakorais.com
e-mail: choir_korais@hotmail.com

The invitation to be part of the competition is made to enrich national and international performance and cultural awareness and has been created for the particular possibilities of children within their own cultural and social experiences. The Choral Competition is open to children’s choirs of both sexes; the children must be born after 1st January 1996. The choirs are divided into the following categories: secular and sacred, each group can partizipate in one or both categories. Prizes awarded to the winning choirs go from 500 to 2000 € beside several other special trophies.

The registration should be sent until 31st December 2011, the fee will be 75 €.

Further information:
Flyer (PDF-file)
Website:  Il Garda in Coro

Austrian Choral Association

The European Academy for Choral Conductors 2012 in Graz, Austria organised by ChVÖ, Chorverband Österreich (Austrian Choral Association) in cooperation with KUG, University for Music and Performing Arts Graz, Austria is a project in cooperation with ECA-Europa Cantat offering talented young conductors the opportunity to develop their conducting qualities and to get to know new choral repertoire of a high standard in intercultural dialogue. The EACC12 composition award wants to inspire young composers to create new and innovative choral compositions. The prize winning pieces will be performed and spread internationally by the participants of the European Academy for Choral Conductors.

Composition Requirements

The work must be a new original a cappella composition for mixed chamber choir (minimum 16 singers). Level: for the advanced amateur or semiprofessional choir. The piece must be innovative regarding to the aspects of contemporary choral music in the 21st century. Duration: 3 to 4 minutes. Texts: can be chosen freely but must be free of copyright restrictions. Texts may be in any language, if in other than English, German, Latin or Italian please add translation and phonetic transcription.

Prizes

The winning composition will be awarded EUR 1500. The jury can give further prizes or decide to distribute among more than one composition. Chosen pieces will be performed in a public concert in Minoritensaal in Graz on Saturday, September 15, 2012 by the choir of the European Academy for Choral Conductors 2012 in Graz.

Jury

The jury will comprise five internationally renowned Austrian experts in choral music, conductors as well as composers:
Franz Jochum, Gerd Kühr, Erwin Ortner, Johannes Prinz, Wolfram Wagner.
The decisions of the jury are final and cannot be appealed. The jury will judge blindly, receiving the scores through Chorverband Österreich without composer identification.

Composers Eligibility

Composers of any nationality are invited, but must be under the age of 35 (born later than Oct. 1, 1977). Each composer has the right to enter more than one composition, but each composition must be entered separately.

Entry deadline: March 1, 2012

Homepage: Austrian Choral Association
Submission Form: Download (PDF)