34th International Choral Festival of Preveza
4 - 10 July 2022
5 - 11 July 2021
4 - 7 July 2019
5 - 8 July 2018
2 - 5 July 2015
Ambrož Čopi has studied composition, piano and vocal music. His
compositions have been published by Astrum, DSS, and Sulasol in
numerous CDs and he has won plenty of prizes for his
compositions in several composer competitions. He was awarded:
the Young Musician Award in (1995) for the outstanding
achievements during his study, the “Prešeren” Prize of the
University of Ljubljana and the award of the Municipality of
Bovec (1997), Gold Medal of the University of Primorska for the
achievements with the APZ UP choir (2009) and two important
awards by the Municipality of Koper (2014), the “Gallus” Medal,
the highest award in the field of musical activity at national
level in Slovenia (2014).
Since 1999 he has been a music teacher at the Art Grammar School
in Koper and since 2010, he has been directing the Choir of the
Music and Ballet Conservatory Ljubljana.
In the past years, he also conducted the Youth Mixed Choir of
the Art Grammar School Koper (1999 –2002, 2007 – 2013), the
“Vladimir Lovec” Chamber Orchestra (2005 – 2007), the Chamber
Choir “Iskra”, Bovec (1992 – 2001), the Nova Gorica Chamber
Choir (1998 – 2004), the Mixed Choir “Obala” Koper (1998 – 2007)
and the Academic Choir of the University of Primorska (2004 –
today). With his choirs he has won many prizes and he has been
awarded as the best conductor in numerous competitions. He is
regularly invited as a member of jury at various choral events
and competitions, and he is often involved in choral music
seminars at home and abroad as a lecturer.
Theodora Pavlovitch is a Professor in choral conducting and Head
of Conducting Department of the Bulgarian National Academy of
Music. As a conductor she has worked with the Bulgarian National
TV-choir (1986-1991) and “Vassil Arnaudov” Sofia Chamber Choir
(from 1991 and recently). Since 2005 she has been directing the
Classic FM Radio Choir performing concerts with Classic FM Radio
Orchestra and world-famous soloists such as Andrea Bocelli,
Anna-Tomowa Sintow and others. In 2007/2008 she conducted the
World Youth Choir, honored by UNESCO with the title Artist for
Peace. She is frequently invited as a member of Jury-panels at a
number of international choral competitions, as a conductor and
lecturer at prestigious international events all around the
world.
In 2005 she led a Master class for choral conductors in the
program of the 7th World Symposium on Choral Music in Kyoto,
Japan. She has been representative of Bulgaria in the World
Choral Council since 2012, Vice-President of the International
Federation for Choral Music (2008-2014), Chair of the Artistic
Committee of the World Youth Choir (2010-2014), Chair of the
Music Commission of the European Choral Association Europa
Cantat (2003-2006)
For her artistic achievements, she has been awarded The Golden
Century National Award bestowed by the Minister of Culture of
Bulgaria (2016), The Golden Lyre by the Union of Bulgarian
Musicians (2010), several Special Prizes by the Bulgarian
Choir’s Union, Classic FM Radio, Sofia Municipality and other
institutions.
Ragnar Rasmussen is conductor, university professor and
composer, situated at NTNU - The Norwegian University of Science
and Technology (Trondheim, Norway). He was born and raised in
the north-east region of Norway, surrounded with many cultural
traditions of indigenous people and other peoples of the Arctic.
This fact has heavily influenced his music-making, both as
performer and composer.
e is on regular basis visiting academies, choirs and orchestras
all over the world as guest conductor, such as BBC Singers, The
Slovene Philharmonic Orchestra and choir, Turkish State Choir
and many others.
Rasmussen is currently artistic leader of Nidaros Vokalensemble,
and the international Utopia & Reality Chamber Choir (which he
share with Urša Lah).
Miguel Ángel Felipe is the Director of Choral Activities and
Associate Professor of Music at the University of Arizona. He
has also held similar positions at various other universities
and served as President-Elect of the National Collegiate Choral
Organization.
Felipe is a supporter of new music and lesser-known masterpieces
and has commissioned extensively, focusing on choral innovations
in Indonesia and Southeast Asia. He has also established the
Boston Choral Ensemble Commission Competition, the Northeast's
largest choral commissioning project.
Felipe's research areas have expanded to new choral pedagogies
in higher education, addressing justice and the influence of
choral societies in cultural development. Felipe is a proud
member of various music organizations and has studied with
renowned conductors and educators.
USC Thornton Choral & Sacred Music alumnus David Means (DMA ’97,
choral music) is the founder of the Valley Choral Artists, South
Texas’s first semi-professional chamber choir. He formed the
ensemble in 2013 after he was appointed Director of Choral
Studies at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.
Following a highly successful 2015 performance of selections
from Handel’s Messiah, the Valley Choral Artists raised
sufficient funds to repeat the program in 2016. This year, it
hopes to raise $20,000 to fund its first full season. If
successful, the Valley Choral Artists will officially become a
professional ensemble in South Texas. According to Means, “It
will be the beginning of what I hope will become the area’s
premier music making ensemble.”
