1.

Takarazuka International Chamber Chorus Contest

Takarazuka International Chamber Chorus Contest(TICC) was
first held in 1984. Since then the contest has been held every year
till today, with the purpose of spreading the Chamber Chorus
widely to the local people, also with the hope of growing
international friendship among choirs through the music. The
participants compete for gold, silver and bronze medals in each
section and the winners will show their wonderful performance at
the special concert held on the next day. All the chorus lovers
gather in Takarazuka, the city of Art, Culture and Music and share
the joy of music across the border of countries at the festival. Clear

2. Busan Choral Festival and Competition (South Korea)

 The intellectually, emotionally and musically rich (Star
Tribune) nine-member mens vocal ensemble Cantus is known
worldwide for its trademark warmth and blend and its engaging
performances of music ranging from the Renaissance to the 21st
century. Working without a conductor, the members of Cantus
rehearse and perform as chamber musicians, each contributing to
the entirety of the artistic process. The Washington Post hails the
ensembles sound as having both exalting finesse and
expressive power and refers to their music-making as
spontaneous grace. Cantus performs more than 60 concerts
each year both in national and international touring, as well as in
its home of Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota and has released 17
albums on its own self-titled label. Past performances have
brought Cantus to the stages of Lincoln Center, the Kennedy
Center, UCLA, San Francisco Performances, Atlantas Spivey Hall
and Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival. The 2015-2016 season sees
Cantus perform twice in New York with the Carnegie Hall
Neighborhood Concerts and Music Mondays, and in Denver,
Tucson, Detroit and Washington D.C. at the National Gallery of Art
among numerous other North American engagements. The
ensemble will make its first visit to Colombia, South America in
September 2015. Each year the artists of Cantus share their own
love of singing with thousands of students through workshops
and master classes to ensure the future of choral arts
3. Singapore International Choral Festival (Singapore)
The inaugural Singapore International Choral Festival will be
held from 21 - 24 August 2014. This festival provides a platform
for cultural exchange through choral music, allowing us to teach,
to touch and to transform through a common passion and love
for singing. We envision that this festival and her future
iterations will allow participants to immerse in the vast cultural
richness of the international choral scene, as well as forge
friendships and exchange ideas among fellow choral enthusiasts.
For the nation, this festival will also add vibrancy to our local
music scene and inspire greater participation in the arts. We
sincerely hope to see you at the festival!
4. Andrea Veneracion International Choral Festival
(Philippines)
Following the huge success of the 1st and 2nd Andrea O.
Veneracion International Choral Festival, Manila held in August
2013 and July 2015, respectively, the Cultural Center of the
Philippines (CCP) is pleased to announce the 3rd Andrea O.
Veneracion International Choral Festival, Manila, 2017 which will
take place on July 20-23, 2017.
The festival is named after the founder of the world
renowned Philippine Madrigal Singers, the late National Artist
for Music Professor Andrea O. Veneracion, an esteemed
choirmaster and choral clinician who was instrumental in the
promotion of choral music all over the country.
5. Bla Bartk International Choir Competition (Hungary)
GPE 2014
2014 is an important milestone for the Bla Bartk
International Choir Competition. From 21 to 23 March Debrecen
will yet again be the host of the well-known European
competition of grand prize awarded choirs. The European Grand
Prix for Choral Singing is often referred as the competition of
competitions among the worlds choir events.
Since its inauguration in 1989, the Grand Prix (commonly
abbreviated as European Choral Grand Prix or GPE) has been an
annual choral competition between the winners of six European
choral competitions (Arezzo, Debrecen, Gorizia, Tolosa, Tours
and Varna).
In 2008 Gorizia stepped out of the Association and Maribor
(Slovenia) joined it. Despite its name, the GPE is not limited to
European choirs as choirs from any country can join the choral
competitions in the GPE's member-cities. As of 2007, one choir
from Japan and two choirs from the United States have won the
GPE, while a choir from the Philippines has won the GPE twice. In
addition, the contest is not limited to adult choirs; two of the
grand prize-winning choirs are children's choirs.
 Last time it was in 2008 that this prestigious final was
hosted by Debrecen, but it is our turn again!
The most prominent choirs of the world will perform their
programme in the Klcsey Centre to find out who will deserve
this exclusive title in 2014.

6. International Choral Competition Gallus Maribor

(Slovenia)
A new era began after 2002 for the International Choral
Competition Maribor: the form of the competition and its
contents have settled, and foreign experts and organizers of
competitions abroad have been invited to participate. Especially
important were the visits of artistic and organizational directors
of the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing Association. For
the first time in almost 20 years, they have recognized a
competition that would have been suitable for membership in
this prestigious association. It had met all the conditions:
-at least five realizations of the competition,
-quality organization,
-non-commercial,
-a jury of no less than five members,
-consisting of internationally acclaimed experts,
-competition cathegories have to be strictly defined,
-the competition has to receive at least two recommendations
from the association,
-the competition can not take place during another association
competition,
-the competition has to be at a topmost musical level,
-majority of the program must be performed a capella.
After a couple years of verifying the Maribor competition
was admitted in 2002 as the new member of the association. The
European Grand Prix for Choral Singing Association was
otherwise formed in 1988 on the initiative of the competitions
Concorso Polifonico Guido d'Arezzo, Arezzo, Italy, Bla Bartk
International Choral Competition, Debrecen, Hungary, C. A.
Seghizzi, Gorizia, Italy, and Florilge Vocal de Tours, France. The
G. Dimitrov May Choir Competition, Varna, Bolgaria joined in
1989, and Certamen Coral de Tolosa, Basque Country, Spain a
year later. In 2008 the Maribor competition was admitted,
whereas the competition in Gorizia is no longer a member.

7. Concorso Polifnico Guido d'Arezzo (Italy)

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8. Certamen Coral de Tolosa (Tolosa Choral Competition)
Spain

9. Florilge Vocal de Tours (Tours Vocal Competition) France

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10. International May Choir Competition Prof. G. Dimitrov
(Bulgaria)
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11. Cork International Choral Festival (Ireland)
 Founded in 1954 to be a dynamic force in developing choral
music in Ireland, the Cork International Choral Festival is held
annually over the five days preceding the first Monday in May.
Cork welcomes choirs from across the world for a programme of
Gala concerts, Schools Concerts, National and International
Competitions, and world-class performances, as thousands of
participants bring the city to life for a celebration of choral music
in all its many forms.
One of Europes premier international choral festivals, Cork
is noted for its high standards, eclectic and wide-ranging
programme, and the friendliness of its welcome.
The Cork International Choral Festival is a registered charity
with the Charities Regulatory Authority, promoting choral music
and the arts in Cork and further afield.
12. International Habaneras and Polyphony Contest (Torrevieja,
Spain)
The idea of the Torrevieja Habaneras Contest began in the
summer of 1954, although its first edition was a year later. It was
on the 7th of August of 1955 when the first notes of a habaneras
song began the inaugural contest on the now inexistent stage of
the Vista Alegre Avenue. The first contest ended a week later on
the 14th and so began the second edition of the event that has
interruptedly carried on until today. This summer 2006 will see
the celebration of the 52nd edition of the contest, which through
the years has seen an increase in categories from habaneras to
habaneras and Polyphony as well as having changed its
character from National to International.

Far away are the days when those enterprising Torrevieja

locals of the Fifties imagined a Contest that initially pretended to
take advantage of spreading, amongst other singularities, the
musical image of the city whilst at the same time serving as an
attraction to the growing tourist industry that was beginning to
take over the Spanish Mediterranean Coast, with the basis of the
excellent climate as well as the typical features and clichs of our
city.

Today, the International Habaneras and Polyphony Contest

of Torrevieja has become a reference in the world of Choir Music,
with two quite specific aspects; on the one hand, the national
participation and in recent years the international participation,
which began in the Nineties and its importance was recognised
by the Ministry of Commerce and Tourism. The Ministry also
declared the Contest in its 40th edition as of International Tourist
Interest, which at the same time was a great promotion for the
Contest in particular and Torrevieja in general.

The Habaneras Contest added another category in 1994 with

the Junior Habaneras Contest that is nowadays, as its bigger
brother, reached the status of international.

It is important to mention that along the history of the

Contest more than 90% of the Choir Groups, especially the
national ones, were not professional. This is not the case of the
directors who have been and are acclaimed professional in the
music world. On the other hand, professionalism has been the
dominant aspect of the International Choirs, with distinguished
examples in the groups from countries such as the United States,
Cuba, Venezuela, Argentina, Germany Another curious but
important fact is that choir groups from the five continents have
participated in the International Habaneras and Polyphony
Contest who at the same time has received the full and
unconditional backing of the Government of Valencia.

National choir groups have also been represented by

virtually every province of Spain. Some of the more memorable
performances were given by choir groups that came from
Asturias, Guipuzcoa, Valladolid, Navarra, Barcelona, Santa Cruz de
Tenerife, Murcia, Madrid, Badajoz, Valencia, as well as the
Province of Alicante. Local Torrevieja Choirs have always
participated outside the contest and as all the rest of the choirs
they have invariably received the warmth from the crowds that
every night completely fills the old enclosure of the Eras de la Sal.

One of the latest innovations made by the Commission that

regulates the Contest has been the creation of a Municipal Choir
School, with the aim of educating youngsters the love for music
in general and choir music in particular. These will be without a
doubt the future of the Contest.
13. Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod (Ireland)

The first International Musical Eisteddfod was held in

Llangollen in June 1947. In the following 70 years its celebration
of Peace and Harmony has made it one of the worlds great
music festivals.
It began with a vision that the ancient Welsh eisteddfod
tradition could provide a means of healing the wounds of the
Second World War, and help to promote lasting peace.
Inspired by the British Council, the people of Llangollen
started planning the first event in May 1946. There was a fear
that no one would come, especially given the hardships of the
post-war years. The public managed to raise an impressive
1,100 about 35,000 in todays money with a commitment
that every penny would be invested in that years and any future
events, or else retuned!
The 1947 International Eisteddfod was an unqualified
success: groups from 10 foreign countries braved the journey to
Llangollen, joining some 40 choirs from England, Scotland and
Wales. It was all great fun. Plaudits rang down on the organisers,
the founders, and the competitors. The next few years saw many
more countries participating: by 1953, when Queen Elizabeth II
visited the Eisteddfod as part of her post-coronation tour of
Wales, singers and dancers of 32 nationalities had competed in
Llangollen. A truly international festival had been created,
organised and run by volunteers.
Llangollens place in world music is now immutable. More
than 300,000 competitors from over 100 nationalities have
performed enthusiastically on the Llangollen stage. In 1955 a
young Luciano Pavarotti sang in the choir from his home town of
Modena, conducted by his father. The choir won first prize in the
Male voice choir competition. Pavarotti returned for a
spectacular concert in 1995.
Margot Fonteyn, Alicia Markova, Joan Sutherland, Angela
Georghiu, Kiri Te Kanawa, Jehudi Menuhin, Jos Carreras, Lesley
Garrett, Bryn Terfel, Katherine Jenkins, Dennis ONeil, James
Galway, Nigel Kennedy, Elaine Paige, Michael Ball, and
Montserrat Caball are among the musical stars that have
appeared in our concerts. Placido Domingo confesses that his
first professional engagement in the United Kingdom was at the
1968 International Eisteddfod.

14. Asian Grand Prix competitions

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15. Tokyo competition
July 2018. Finally, a new international choir competition will
start in Tokyo.
Swell the chorus in Tokyo, the metropolis nurtured by history and
tradition!
The Dai-ichi seimei Hall, one of the best music halls in Tokyo,
is located in the area where the Edo spirit still remains. At the same
time, the bay area is also a place of top-running technology. Aim
for the Grand prix of 500,000 JPY at this wonderful hall!
 And after singinggo to eat Sushi? Tempura? How about
enjoying the famous Japanese noodles, Ramen or Soba? Tokyo is
also a city of gourmet. Youll definitely be captured by the appeals
of this city. Fully enjoy this city packed with excite!
Us, choir fans in Japan, are waiting for your arrival from the
depth of our heart. Why not create strong bonds between choirs
in Tokyo? On the final day, we are preparing a huge exchange
party. Lets sing, dance, drink and have fun!

16. European Grand Prix for Choral Singing

The European Grand Prix for Choral Singing (in French,
Grand Prix Europen de Chant Choral, commonly abbreviated as
European Choral Grand Prix or GPE) is an annual choral
competition between the winners of six European choral
competitions. It was inaugurated in 1989.
Despite its name, the GPE is not limited to European choirs;
this is because choirs from any country can join the choral
competitions in any of the GPE's member-cities. As of 2007, one
choir from Japan and three choirs from the United States have
won the GPE, while a choir from the Philippines has won the GPE
twice. In addition, the contest is not limited to adult choirs; two
of the grand prize-winning choirs are children's choirs.
As of 2017, five choirs have won the EGP twice: the
Philippine Madrigal Singers (1997 and 2007), APZ Tone Tomi
(2002 and 2008), Youth choir "Kamr..." (2004 and 2013)
University of Utah Chamber Choir (renamed from the University
of Utah Singers) (2006 and 2015) and Vesna Children's Choir
(2000 and 2017).
As of 2010, only one conductor has won the EGP twice: Stojan
Kuret (2002 and 2010).
17. Makrtiberdorff International Chamber Choir
Competition

Ever since 1989, connoisseurs of the international choral

scene have met every two years in Marktoberdorf to attend one
of the most famous chamber choir competitions in the world. In
the 12 events which have been held to date, almost 200 choirs
from more than 40 countries have demonstrated in exciting
competitons and outstanding concerts the very best of choral
music to be heard in the world today. Choral experts and the
concert public are unanimous in their praise and enthusiasm:
"Many thanks for allowing this to happen and for working so hard
to keep this competition on this very high artistic level." (Maria
Guinand, jury member from Venezuela).

Visitors and representatives from international choral

associations, competitions and festivals in more than 45 countries
have been particularly impressed by the special atmosphere of
the Marktoberdorf competition, a competition which attaches
great importance, not only to high artistic achievement and
musical contest but also to the chance to meet together in a
friendly atmosphere. Here there exists much more than just the
normal competition rivalry. In Marktoberdorf, choirs come
together in a common encounter to present themselves and their
traditions to each other, evening concerts performed together
with other choirs provide an opportunity to experience the choral
traditions of other, different cultures and relaxed evening get-
togethers in the festival tent help to establish friendly
relationships which stretch way beyond national and international
borders.
All this in one of the most attractive areas in Germany, the Allgu
region - already chosen and made famous by King Ludwig as the
site of his world-renowned Neuschwanstein castle.

Future festivals:
16th International Chamber Choir Competition Marktoberdorf
2019 June 7 12
17th International Chamber Choir Competition Marktoberdorf
2021 May 21 - 26
18. International Harald Andersn Choir Competition

The third Competition was held in September 2009, with 1st

prize being awarded to Hymnia Chamber Choir from Denmark,
conducted by Flemming Windekilde. In the second Competititon
in September 2006, no 1st prize was awarded; shared 2nd prize
went to the Sofia Vocal Ensemble from Sweden, conducted by
Bengt Olln, and the Victoria Chamber Choir from Hungary,
conducted by dm Cser. In the first Competition in August 2003,
1st prize was awarded to the EMO Ensemble from Finland,
conducted by Pasi Hykki.
19. Internationaler Chorwettbewerb Spittal an der Drau
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