4 - 10 July 2022

40th International Choral Festival of Preveza

The festival's 40th edition — a week of choral music in Preveza.

Mark your calendar for July 2022 to be part of the 40th International Choral Festival of Preveza. The festival will be held from 4 to 10 of July 2022 in Preveza. The International Choral Festival of Preveza counts 39 interesting and exciting years of high-quality choral music, challenged by excellent choirs which are continuously raising its standards and a great variety of intercultural experiences with participants from all over the world. The festival includes numerous concerts given at idyllic locations of the area like the seaside fortress of Preveza and the historic Ancient Auditorium of Nikopolis “Odeon”. For visiting choirs, Preveza provides an opportunity not only to perform; but also, to experience some of the world’s best choral music, soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the mingling, singing and fun, and explore the picturesque city of Preveza and its surrounds. The festival will be managed by the Choral Society "Armonia" of Preveza, under the patronage of the city of Preveza. Choirs are eligible to join the festival as non-competitive choirs participating in all the performances of the festival.

International Jury Committee I.J.C.

Ambrož Čopi

Ambrož Čopi (born 1973) studied composition under the tutelage of Dane Škerl and Uroš Rojko, and piano, at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana. He is recognized as a composer, conductor, lecturer, and the artistic director of the International Youth Choirs Choral Festival Aegis Carminis in Koper. Presently, he is a leader of choral activities at the Conservatory of Music and Ballet Ljubljana (KGBL) and teaches at the Artistic High School in Koper. From the inception of his teaching career, he has fostered his students' creativity in choral music, emerging as a mentor to Slovenia's youngest generation of composers. Through his leadership, new compositions have been inspired and performed worldwide. His original compositions, recorded on five CDs, regularly grace stages worldwide. His works are published predominantly by Astrum Music Publisher, with select works featured by Sulasol, TICF and Hinshaw Music. Čopi has guided numerous Slovenian choirs to remarkable achievements in both national (15 gold plaques) and international competitions (29 first places). He has been awarded many times for outstanding performances and as best conductor. Presently, he conducts the KGBL Chamber Choir and the University of Primorska Academic Choir, both esteemed among Slovenia's premier choral ensembles. In 2014, he was honored with the Gallus Plaque, Slovenia's highest recognition in the realm of musical endeavor, alongside the prestigious national award, the Prešeren Fund Prize, Marjan Kozina Prize and Republic of Slovenia Prize for Education. He is regularly invited to act as a jury member at choral competitions worldwide; he also actively engages in choral music seminars and masterclasses for conductors and composers alike, offering his expertise as a lecturer.

Vytautas Miškinis

Vytautas Miškinis (1954) is the Artistic Director of the Azuoliukas Boys’ and Men’s Choir, as well as the Professor at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre. He is also the President of the Lithuanian Choral Union past 20 years. He graduated as Choral Conductor from the Lithuanian Academy of Music in 1976. He began his career in Azuoliukas at the age of seven as a vocalist, and continued as Artistic Director from the age of 25. Vytautas Miškinis conducted the Kaunas State Choir and Vocal Ensemble of the Museum Musicum. Prof. Miškinis is the Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the all Lithuanian Choir Festival. He has led the choral performances of this choir in some 25 different countries. He has conducted a great number of compositions for choir with symphonic orchestras. He also lectured and held seminars on the subject of ‘musical education and conducting’ in numerous countries all over the world. He has participated in numerous national and international choral events as composer and advisor. He also has conducted workshops in several Europa Cantat Festivals, World Choral Symposiums, World Choir Games. He is a member of World Choir Council. Prof. Miškinis worked as a member of numerous adjudicating panels in international Choir and Choral Composition competitions all over the world ( over 200 events ), amongst which one must mention the World Choir Games 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016. He has led workshops in China, Singapore, Philippines, Italy, Spain, Russia, South Africa, USA, Canada, Estonia, Latvia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Malta, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Kazakhstan, Yakutia, Japan, Czech, Netherlands, Poland, UK, Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong, France, Costa Rica etc. Prof. Miškinis has composed approximately 400 religious motets a cappella, 18 Masses, Magnificat, St. John Passion, 4 Cantatas, 2 Musicals with orchestras and about 400 secular songs, which are performed and recorded by choirs throughout Lithuania and the rest of the World. A great number of his compositions have been published not only in Lithuania but also in France, Germany, Slovenia, Italy, Spain, Japan, Singapore, Latvia, Russia and USA. He is awarded by many Governmental and National prizes.

Javier Busto

Javier Busto (b. 1949) was born in Hondarribia (Gipuzkoa – Basque Country). He has been a choir singer since childhood. In his youth he was a member of various rock and folk music groups. He graduated in Medicine from the Valladolid University, practicing his profession nowadays. He works as family doctor in Lezo (Gipuzkoa). Busto was initiated into choral conducting by Maestro Erwin List. During his university period, he became conductor of Ederki Basque students’ choir in Valladolid (1971-1976), starting to write his first choral songs, which won third prize in the Tolosa (1975) competition. Busto is Founder-Conductor of Eskifaia Choir in Hondarribia (1978-1994), winning first prizes in Ejea de los Caballeros, Tolosa, Avilés, Tours (France), Gorizia (Italy), Spittal an der Drau (Austria), Mainhausen and Marktoberdorf (Germany). He is also Founder-Conductor of Kanta Cantemus Korua (1995), in Gipuzkoa, which has received first prizes in Tours, France 1997 – 2007 and Tolosa 1999. His works have received composition prizes in Bilbao, Igualada, Madrid and Tolosa. His scores are being published in Basque Country (bustovega), France (A Coeur Joie), Great Britain (Oxford University Press), Germany (Carus Verlag and Ferrimontana), Sweden (Gehrmans Musikförlag) and the USA (Walton, Alliance Music Publishing, and Santa Barbara). Javier Busto is nowadays in demand throughout the world as a guest conductor and as a member of the jury in choral and composition contests. He has been requested in Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, the USA and Venezuela. He is also a member of the technical committee of the Tolosa choral contest.

Ko Matsushita

Composer and conductor born and raised in Tokyo in 1962. Matsushita currently serves as conductor and artistic director of 13 choirs, which are regularly invited to perform in Japan, Europe, America, Canada, and across Asia. His ensembles have achieved outstanding results in the international choral scene, winning numerous awards in prestigious competitions. Matsushita is a prolific composer whose works are performed worldwide. His compositions span a wide spectrum, from works inspired by traditional Japanese music, masses and motets, to educational repertoire for choirs. His works are published in Japan by KAWAI, Pana Musica, Ongaku no tomo sha Corp., Edition ICOT, and internationally by Carus-Verlag Stuttgart (Germany), SULASOL Helsinki (Finland), among others. In addition to conducting and composing, he is highly active as a workshop leader and lecturer both within Japan and internationally. He has received numerous distinctions in international choral and composition competitions. In 2005, he was awarded the “Robert Edler Prize for Choral Music” for his outstanding global contribution to conducting, composition, performance, and education in choral music. The Tokyo Metropolitan Choir and Matsushita himself were invited as guest choir and panel participant (“Composers Speak Out”) at the American Choral Directors Association National Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, where he also presented a reading session lecture in February 2015. He was invited to Stuttgart, Germany, in March 2016 to lead a workshop dedicated to his works, during which his composition “De profundis clamavi” received its world premiere performed by KammerChor Saarbrücken at the State University of Music and Performing Arts Stuttgart. He served on the artistic committee of the 11th World Symposium on Choral Music in Barcelona in 2017, where his work “Salva me” was also premiered by KammerChor Saarbrücken. In Taipei, Taiwan, his work “Te Deum” for four male choirs, organ, string quartet, and percussion received its world premiere in 2017. In 2019, he delivered the keynote address at the International Kodály Symposium (Kuching, Malaysia). He currently serves as CEO of the Tokyo International Choral Organization, Artistic Director of the Karuizawa International Choral Festival and the Tokyo International Choir Competition, Founding Director of the Asian Choral Association, Honorary Member of the Italian Choral Directors Association, member of the World Council of the Interkultur World Choir Games, Vice-President of the Tokyo Choral Association, member of the Youth Choir Committee of the Japan Choral Association, member of the Japan Association of Composers and Arrangers, and Special Professor at Kobe College.

Theodora Pavlovitch

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.

Angeliki Ploka

Angeliki Ploka is a dynamic Greek choral conductor with a flourishing international career. She has led ensembles and choirs in Greece, Hungary, Spain, Ireland, and the Netherlands, where she is currently based. In the Netherlands, she serves as Artistic Director of The Hague Vocal Ensemble and Kamerkoor Lux. A member of the TENSO team of young conductors, she has collaborated with some of Europe's top vocal ensembles, including Cappella Amsterdam, the Helsinki Chamber Choir, and the Norwegian Soloists’ Choir. From 2020, Angeliki took on the role of Chief Conductor of the Greek Radio Choir, where she introduced innovative programming and memorable performances. Despite the limitations of the COVID-19 pandemic, she created new avenues for the ensemble through both live concerts and broadcasts for radio and television. She is a faculty member at the Royal Conservatoire The Hague and teaches at its School for Young Talent, where she instructs students in music theory, aural training, analysis, and choral singing, all grounded in the Kodály methodology. Angeliki is in frequent demand as a jury member at choral competitions and as a guest teacher in workshops and masterclasses across Europe, focusing on conducting, voice, and music education. As a vocalist, Angeliki has performed with esteemed groups such as the Dutch Radio Choir, Meesters & Gezellen, and Orkest de Ereprijs, under the baton of renowned conductors including Daniel Reuss, Sigvards Klava, Michael Gläser, and Bernard Haitink. She studied singing, choral conducting, pedagogy, and musicology at the Royal Conservatoire The Hague, the Liszt Academy in Budapest, and the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. She also holds diplomas in piano and theory and has been honored with prestigious awards, including the Sarolta Kodály Scholarship, the A. Onassis Foundation grant, and scholarships from the State Scholarships Foundation of Greece.

Gary Graden

Gary Graden was born in the USA and studied at Clark University, the Hartt School of Music, the Aspen Summer Music Festival, and with Eric Ericson at the Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm. Gary Graden is a former member and tenor soloist with the Eric Ericson Chamber Choir, as well as the vocal ensemble Lamentabile Consort. He is presently Director of Music in the Stockholm Cathedral (Storkyrkan) and S:t Jacob´s church. He has also been on the faculty of Stockholm´s Musikgymnasium where he founded and conducted the Stockholm Musikgymnasium´s Chamber Choir. With this choir and the S:t Jacobs Chamber Choir he has won grand prizes and first prizes in several of Europe´s most prestigious competitions, including the European Grand Prize. He has also participated in a wide array of national and international festivals including the Tolosa Festival in Spain, the IFCM World Symposia in Minneapolis and Kyoto, Sagra Musicale Umbra in Italy, Debrecen Festival in Hungary, Koorbiennale in Holland, the ACDA National Convention in USA, and is currently artistic director of the international choral festival La Fabbrica del Canto in Legnano. Graden has commissioned and premiered more than 90 works by such composers as Sven-David Sandström, Anders Hillborg, Nana Forte, Thomas Jennefelt, Steve Dobrogosz, Bo Hansson, Agneta Sköld, Gabriel Jackson, Anders Paulsson, Javier Busto, Vytautas Miškinis, Urmas Sisask, Georg Riedel, Carl Unander-Scharin, Stephen Leek, Damijan Močnik, Corrado Margutti, Giovanni Bonato, and Michael Waldenby. He has conducted several orchestras including the Uppsala Chamber Orchestra, the Stockholm Royal Opera Orchestra, Stockholm Rebaroque, the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, Ensemble Philidor, France, and Camerata Strumentale Città di Prato as well as Orchestra da Camera Perugia in Italy. Above and beyond his specialisation in the performance of contemporary music, he has performed such larger works as Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Requiem and Mass in c-minor, Bach’s passions and Mass in b-minor, as well as the Requiems of Brahms, Duruflé, Fauré and Michael Haydn.

Dr. Maria - Emma Meligopoulou

Dr Maria Emma Meligopoulou, LB, MusM, PhD, PostDoc, is Assistant Professor of Choral Conducting in Macedonia University of Thessaloniki School of Music Science & Art (Greece), where she teaches choral conducting techniques and directs the University choirs. She also teaches in the master’s programs of Macedonia and Ionian Universities and is visiting Professor at Aegean University. She holds a Master Degree in Choral Conducting from Boston University CFA and a PhD and Post-Doctoral in Choral Conducting and Choral Pedagogy from Ionian University SFA. She also holds a Bachelor in Law, from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. In 1992 she founded and directs the SS. Cyril & Methodios Choir of Thessaloniki, which today has over 250 singers at the ages of 6 – 25 years and is regarded to be the largest choral association of Northern Greece for Children and Youth. She has performed numerous concerts in Greece, Europe, Asia, Africa and America (USA, Canada) and is recipient of many international distinctions as choral conductor. Dr. Meligopoulou is International lecturer on demand, adjudicator and guest conductor in Greek and International festivals (China, USA, Canada, Italy, Germany, Turkey, South Africa etc.). She is also author of the textbooks Introduction to the Art of Choral Praxis (2011 & 2013 3rd edition), and “Choral Method for Young Singers” and has also published the score editions 42 Choral Works by Greek Composers for Equal Voices (2014), both available by Nakas-Papagregoriou Editions, Athens.

Rosie Mastrosavva

She was born in Rhodes. She studied piano, monody and music theory at the Greek National Conservatoire of Athens. She attended orchestra conducting lessons under A. Kontogeorgiou and M. Logiadis. She continued her studies at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Munich, with specialization in orchestra conducting and graduated with honors. She has attended masterclasses under renowned conductors Eric Ericson, Helmuth Rilling, Er. Ortner and Frieder Bernius. She has conducted choirs in Germany and Greece such as: Melismachor, Vocal Kreis Cantabile, Singtonics, Amasingers, Mixed Chorus Con Anima, the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (ERT) Chorus, Children’s Chorus of the Third Program (ERA), the Athens Municipality Children’s Choir (gold medal - Choir Olympics, Graz 2008). She taught at the Faculty of Primary Education of the Aegean University in Rhodes. In 2008 she founded and has since directed the Children’s Choir Rosarte, which encompasses about 260 members aged 5 to 20 years old. The Rosarte choir has performed in chorus festivals, concerts at Herodeion, the Athens Concert Hall, the Onassis Cultural Center, the “Demetria” Festival and more. The choir has collaborated with renowned conductors, such as Philip Ogden, Lucas Karytinos, Alkis Baltas, Myron Michailidis, Vyron Fidetzis and others. It has also worked with the orchestras and choirs of the GNO, ERT, the City of Athens, the Athens State Orchestra and the Camerata Orchestra, while it has also taken part in documentaries, television shows and recordings.

She worked with the GNO as director of the Rosarte choir in the productions of Rustic chivalry [Cavalleria rusticana] and Pagliacci (Herodeion, Athens Festival, 2011), Tannhäuser (Athens Concert Hall, 2008-09), Carmen (Olympia Theater, 2010, 2011), Tosca (2011, 2012), as well as in the presentation of Nikos Xanthoulis’ children’s opera The Magic Violin (2013).

Choir's Participations

“Cantanti” Children’s Choir, Timisoara, Romania

“Cantanti” Children’s Choir was founded in February 2014 in Timisoara, one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, which is why it is called “Little Vienna”. Its members are aged from 7 to 14 years old. The choir has participated in the International Project “Cantus Mundi”, funded by the National Cultural Fund Administration, and it has also performed in choral events and festivals both in their country and abroad (Austria 2016, Croatia 2017). In July 2015, they won the 3rd Prize at the “Gavriil Musicescu” International Choral Festival in Iasi, while in August 2018 they won the 2nd prize at the Ohrid International Choral Competition. The choir is directed by Mrs Maria Gyuris.

“Trakiiska Lira” Choir, Pazardjik, Bulgaria

“Trakiiska Lira” Choir was founded in 2003 as a part of the Singing Society “Lira” in Pazardjik, Bulgaria. The choir develops simultaneously concert and educational activity. In 2007 and 2008, it was twice awarded with a Special Prize for being among the best army choirs in Bulgaria. It has successfully participated at international choir festivals and other events both in Bulgaria and abroad (the Netherlands, Turkey, Austria, Italy, the Czech Republic, Serbia, etc.). Its repertoire includes works from all styles and periods, but a special priority is given to works by Bulgarian composers. The choir is directed by the conductor and composer, Mr. Angel Tsenov.

Academic Choir of the Rzeszówski University of Technology, Rzeszów, Poland

The Academic Choir of the Rzeszówski University of Technology started its activity in April 2017. It works under the premises of the University of Technology as well as the support of the local authorities of Rzeszów. It has participated in many academic events, while it was awarded at the National Polish Choral Festival “Saint Cross” in Kielce, in July 2018. Also, they have recorded a CD. The choir is directed by prof. Lidia Chalińska.

Chamber Choir of the East Sarajevo's University Music Academy, East Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina

The Chamber Choir of the Course of Church Music and Chanting at the Academy of Music, University of East Sarajevo was founded in 2001. It has taken part in divine services in numerous churches and monasteries at home and abroad, and also performed at music festivals and concerts in Italy, Russia, Germany, Slovakia, Sweden, Denmark, Poland, Slovenia, Montenegro, Serbia, Croatia, etc. The ensemble was the laureate at numerous international choir competitions, such as Helsingborg, Sweden (2004), Rome, Italy (2005), Moscow, Russia (2006), Nis, Serbia (2004, 2010, 2016 and 2018), etc. Their latest success, though, was the Grand prix in the International Choral Festival of Niš, Serbia, in 2018. The ensemble has recorded 5 CDs and it has been recorded for documentaries, concerts and shows on the radio and television. Its repertoire is diverse and consists of Orthodox spiritual music and secular choral music, mostly works of Serbian composers, including the premiere performances of compositions, among which some have been dedicated to this ensemble and its director. Since its establishment, the choir has been directed by prof. Rade Radović.

Chamber Choir of the Music and Ballet Conservatory, Ljubljana, Slovenia

The KGBL Chamber Choir was established in 2014 following a decision to rearrange the former choir at Ljubljana Conservatory of Music and Ballet into two separate groups. The Chamber Choir, consisting of about forty singers, gives its members the opportunity to improve their vocal technique, sing challenging and demanding choral repertoire, and perform to high standards. It regularly collaborates with vocal educators Edita Garčević Koželj and Tatjana Vasle, and has been assisted by conductors Petra Jerič, Tine Bec and Evgen Bibianko. It embraces a wide range of musical styles and genres, from the Renaissance to contemporary music. Over the past few years, the choir has commissioned new compositions from several prominent composers such as Lojze Lebič, Tadeja Vulc, Damijan Močnik, Črt Sojar-Voglar, Peter Šavli, Andrej Makor, Tine Bec and Matej Kastelic, performing their music at concerts both in Slovenia and further afield. Recent successes include second and third place at the 2015 International Choral Competition in Tallinn, Estonia; the Grand Prix in Moscow in 2016; first place at the National Choral Competition “Naša pesem” (“Our Song”) in Maribor, Slovenia, in 2016; and first place in the polyphonic category at the 2017 International Choral Competition in Tolosa, Spain. International engagements have included performances in Stockholm, Basel, Taipei and Beijing. Their latest success was the 1st place and a special award for Ambrož Čopi for the best performance of an imaginative and artistic programme at Fleischmann International Trophy Competition of the 65th Cork International Choral Festival, Ireland (2019). The choir is directed by the conductor and composer, Mr. Ambrož Čopi.

Chamber Choir of the Faculty of Pedagogy and Fine Arts of the University “Adam Mickiewicz” of Poznan in Kalisz, Kalisz, Poland

The choir was established in 1996 by Beata Szymańska, who is also its director. The group consists of students and graduates of the Educational-Artistic Department in Kalisz - of Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan. It performs in Poland and abroad (Germany, Italy, Sweden, North Macedonia and Spain). During its activity, it has participated in many international and local artistic events. They have also taken part in various symphonic projects. Its repertoire includes both a cappella pieces from various periods as well as vocal - instrumental music. In 2012 the choir recorded an album along with the bassoonist, Nikodem Antosik - AGNUS DEI - concert for the bassoon and choir (opus 167) – by Egil Hovland (Polish first performance). The choir is directed by Beata Szymańska.

Chamber Vocal Ensemble “Solartissimo” of the Modern Conservatory of Larissa, Larissa, Hellas

The Chamber Vocal Ensemble “Solartissimo” of the Modern Conservatory of Larissa was established in September 2013, and it is one of the choral ensembles of the Conservatory. Its repertoire consists of sacred and secular works ranging from medieval to modern music. It has successfully performed in choral festivals and concerts in Greece and abroad and it has collaborated with Greek and foreign orchestras. It is directed by Mr. Nikos Stef. Efthimiadis.

The Choir named after Vadim Serebrovsky in Ural Federal University, Yekaterinburg, Russia

The Choir named after Vadim Serebrovsky in Ural Federal University was founded in 2001. There are more than 40 people in the choir, who are students of the above University. Its repertoire contains more than 200 works of Russian and foreign choral classics as well as works by contemporary authors. Over the years it has been awarded numerous prizes in different competitions and festivals. In 2017, they won silver and golden awards in the International Choral Festival “Preobrajenie” in Saint Petersburg, Russia, while in 2018 they won a golden medal in the International Choral Festival of Academic Choirs IFAS in Pardubice, Czech Republic. The choir is directed by Mrs. Julia Polyanovskaya.

Chór Pueri et Puellae Cantores Plocenses, Płock, Poland

Pueri et Puellae Cantores Plocenses is a continuation of Pueri Cantores Plocenses boys’ choir founded in 1998 by Anna and Wiktor Bramscy for Płock’s cathedral basilica. Together with a girls’ ensemble established in 2006, it consists of over a hundred members aged between 7 and 25, and is a cultural institution of the city of Płock. The Choir’s extensive repertoire is full of the finest pieces of music, ranging from medieval Gregorian chants to contemporary compositions. It has been honored with more than 60 awards and accolades in countless competitions and festivals, with the most recent ones in Singapore and Bali in 2018. The choir is directed by Mrs. Anna Bramska.

Chorus Iglovia, Spišská Nová Ves, Slovakia

The choir Chorus Iglovia from Spišská Nová Ves (Slovakia) has been on the choral scene for 31 years. Its repertoire is truly rich and wide, and the choir is dedicated to polyphonic music, folk songs and dance-like compositions. They have successfully performed in competitions both in Slovakia and abroad. Their latest success was the silver medal and an award for the best artistic presentation of their programme at the 3rd national choral competition “Viva il Canto” in 2017 in Spišská Nová Ves. It has participated in choral festivals and events in 11 European countries (Poland, Latvia, Russia, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Italy, etc) as well as at home. One of the highlights of its activity is “Christmas Silent Night”, a choral event they have been organizing for the last 30 years. Since 2012, the choir’s conductor has been Mrs. Marta Nováková.

Female Vocal Ensemble «Vox Angelica», Sveta Trojica, Slovenia

The Female vocal ensemble Vox Angelica comes from a small Slovenian region, called Slovenske Gorice. This is a part of Slovenian Styria which is known as wine land. The group was established in 2016 and it consists of young girls aged 15 to 30. They all enjoy singing together and the friendship which is very special. They have organized a lot of cultural events and different concerts in the local area with great success. The choir is directed by Mrs. Anita Pavkovic who owns a master's degree in music art and works as a piano and organ teacher in a music school in Ptuj.

Greek Catholic Church choir bl. P. P. Gojdič, Vranov nad Topľou, Slovakia

Greek Catholic Church choir bl. P. P. Gojdič was founded in 1990. It is based at the church of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Vranov - Čemerné. It brings together a community of Christian believers of the Greek Catholic and Roman Catholic rites. The choir has a wide repertoire of Church-Slavonic chants consisting of liturgical and religious songs, while on a regular basis they sing Slovak and Church-Slavonic saint liturgy. They have released 3 tape recordings while in 2013 they released the CD "V načale bie Slovo" with Old Slavonic chorals with the aim of spreading the cultural beauty heritage of their ancestors. They have performed in Austria, Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Italy, Hungary, Ukraine, France, Croatia, Greece and Bulgaria, as well as on the radio and television. The choir has participated in many choral competitions, winning a lot of awards, the most recent of which were: 3rd place at the International Choral Festival of Sacred Music "Psalite Deo" (2013) in Poland and a gold medal at the Choral Festival in Banská Bystrica (2014) in Slovakia. The choir is directed by Mrs. Mária Šandorová.

Hadar Singers of Rehovot, Rehovot, Israel

The choir has been operating for 27 years under the direction of Mrs. Hadar Zlatin. It consists of 25 amateur adult singers. It represents the inland city of Rehovot, which is well known as a leading academic and research center - home to the famous Weizmann Institute of Science and the Agriculture Faculty of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The city of Rehovot is surrounded by lush groves of the "Jaffa Oranges" exported to countries all over the world. They have honorably represented the city of Rehovot at festivals and concerts in Spain, Italy, Portugal, Latvia and England. The Choir has also performed successfully in numerous domestic concerts and choir conferences around Israel. Its repertoire is based on folklore style, Israeli original folklore and translated folk songs from around the world. The choir is directed by Mrs. Hadar Zlatin.

Male choir NAPEV, Batuje, Slovenia

The Male choir NAPEV from Batuje, SLOVENIA, was founded in 1996. Its repertoire consists of Slovenian folk songs, spiritual, Dalmatian, romantic and contemporary songs. They perform regularly at the national Choir festivals PRIMORSKA POJE and NAŠI ZBORI POJO as well as in some non-competitive festivals abroad, such as in Dubrovnik and Prague. Their biggest achievement, however, was winning the Golden medal at the Malta International Choir Festival in 2011 and obtaining the 1st place in their category. In spite of the hard training, its members sing and participate with great enthusiasm, while the activities of the choir have formed the basis of a very close and sincere friendship among them. The choir is directed by Mr. Luka Vetrih.

Mixed Choir “Crescendo”, Škofja Loka, Slovenia

Mixed Choir “Crescendo” was founded at the beginning of 2015. The choir boasts over 40 young singers from Škofja Loka and beyond, and is led by Žiga Kert, who is also the choir's “founding father”. They are all brought together by their love for quality choral music. The choir’s repertoire consists of choral music by Slovene and foreign composers, as well as popular songs adapted for choirs. They have performed at concerts all over Slovenia and its neighbouring countries. They also enjoy the challenge of participating in choral competitions at home and abroad, which brought them to participate in the Grand prix at the International Baltic Sea Choir Competition in Latvia in 2017. One of their first important projects and a great honour for the choir was performing their conductor’s MA concert in May 2016. Mixed Choir “Crescendo”, together with the “Crescendo” Symphony Orchestra, forms the “Crescendo” Musical Society, which organised an open-air gala concert at the Škofja Loka castle in June 2017. This has now become their yearly tradition, organising the third consecutive one in June 2019. The choir is directed by Mr. Žiga Kert.

Mixed Choir “Nikos Astrinidis”, Thessaloniki, Hellas

It was founded in 2003. Its repertoire includes works of Modern Greek composers and European ones of the classic and pre-classic period, also arrangements of folk songs, Byzantine hymns and spirituals. Its main task is the promotion of all choral work of the world – renowned composer Nikos Astrinidis. The choir has cooperated with several symphonic orchestras (New Symphonic Orchestra of Thessaloniki, the Symphonic Orchestra of Sofia’s broadcasting, etc). Also, it has participated in numerous concerts in Greece and abroad presenting great works, such as ‘’Stabat Mater’’ by Pergolesi in 2003, ‘’Requiem’’ by W.A. Mozart, Oratorio ‘’Alexander the Great’ s Youth’’ by Nikos Astrinidis in 2009, etc. It was awarded a bronze medal in the category of chamber choirs in the 18th ICCSM in Preveza, 2012, while it got the 3rd place in the International Choral Festival ‘’Music and Sea’’ in Paralia Katerinis in 2018. The choir is directed by Mrs. Vassiliki Katsouka – Samara.

Mixed Choir SPD "Jedinstvo", Banja Luka, Bosnia & Herzegovina

Mixed choir SPD “JEDINSTVO” Banja Luka is one of the oldest choirs in Republic of Srpska and Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was founded in 1893 and throughout its history it has carried out more than a thousand performances in many concerts and other cultural events. It has confirmed its high artistic domains participating in contests in former Yugoslavia as well as abroad, winning numerous awards and prizes, such as: The first prizes at the Yugoslav Choral Competition in Nis in 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2010 and in 2012. Golden medal at the 4th Choir Olympics in Xiamen, China, 2006. Golden diploma at the “Musica Sacra” Competition in Valletta, Malta, 2009. Two 1st prizes at International Choral Competition “Venezia In Musica” in Venice, Italy, 2014. The first prize by the audience in the “Zlatna vila” Competition in Prijedor, Bosnia & Herzegovina, 2017, etc. The choir has performed in several festivals and it has also realized great tours in different parts of the world (Switzerland, the USA and Australia). Its repertoire is very broad and it includes spiritual and secular works of the native and other composers from the medieval to the contemporary period. It has recorded many radio and television broadcasts and four CDs till now. The choir is directed by Nemanja Savić.

Polyphonic Choir of Patras Youth Choir, Patra, Hellas

The Polyphonic Choir of Patras Youth Choir was founded in September 2010, as a result of the Organization’s need to meet the quest of young choristers after the children’s choir. It consists of members aged 18-26 years old, with special experience and vocal skills. Since its establishment, the choir has had a really rich activity, giving concerts in great venues (Megaron in Athens, Odeon of Herodes Atticus, etc), participating in festivals and choral events all around Greece (Corfu, Thessaloniki, Zakynthos, Athens, Tripoli) and in Cyprus (Limassol) and collaborating with famous Greek composers (Mimis Plessas, Stefanos Korkolis, Dionyssis Savvopoulos) as well as the Plucked String Orchestra of the Municipality of Patras. In October 2015, they won a Gold medal in the 1st International Choral Competition in Kalamata, Greece. The choir is directed by Mrs Dimitra Pitsou - Diamantopoulou. On the piano: Mrs Marina Mylona.

The Charité Chor, Berlin, Germany

The Charité Chor Berlin (CCB) consists of approx. 35 musically enthusiastic singers and was founded in 2013 by conductor Adrian Emans. The choir was originally intended for the students of the medical school “Charité” in Berlin, but in the following years, students and young professionals from many other disciplines joined the group. Since its establishment it has been an important part of the Berlin choir scene. Its repertoire spans the choral literature from the 16th to 20th century, with pieces from the Renaissance to modern compositions. The highlights of the choir’s calendar are its own concerts, which are organized at least two times a year. Past major achievements have included a concert in the Berliner Philharmonie and numerous awards in several choir competitions. It is directed by Mr. Adrian Emans.

Tung-Hsin Choral Society, Rockville - Washington, D.C MD, USA

In 1979 Ms. Lucy Lin and Ms. Ling Tang founded Tung-Hsin Choral Society in Washington, D.C., the first full-fledged Chinese-American chorus in the region. Literally, “Tung-Hsin” means young at heart, and connotes more closely to purity and vitality. Over the forty years, the group has performed on 136 occasions at such venues as the Kennedy Center, the Lincoln Center, and the National Theater, the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre, the local museums, churches and high school auditoriums. In addition to the 2016 concert tour in Ireland during the 62nd Cork International Choral Festival, the group has performed in Boston, New York, Seattle, Los Angeles, and Ottawa, Taiwan, Quemoy, Hong Kong. Special topical concerts include: A Concert Celebration of Ancient Chinese Poetry, A Concert of Healing (at Johns Hopkins University Hospital,) and A Concert Celebration of the Theme Songs of films and musicals. Tung-Hsin’s repertoire encompasses a well-rounded domain - from the composers of the 16th century to the contemporaries, from the Western music to the Chinese – including sacred pieces, art songs, choral works from opera, theme songs from films, and the Broadway musical hits. The incumbent president is Dr. Keh-Ming Lu. The current conductor is the choir’s founder, Lucy Lee Lin.

Yamuger Music School Children Choir (YMSCC), Rawamangun, East Jakarta, Indonesia

Yamuger Music School Children Choir (YMSCC) was established in September 2017. It consists of Indonesian children and adolescents, ranging from elementary to high school and attending the Yamuger Music School. The choir’s aim is to raise the artistic values of their nation as well as of the whole world through music and the beauty and harmony of singing. The choir has performed with the Nusantara Symphony Orchestra at the Jakarta Symphony Hall in the frames of the celebration for the 50 years of Yamuger Music School. In November 2018 the choir won a silver medal in folklore and a bronze medal in the Children choirs’ category, at the International “Prague Cantat” Festival, in the Czech Republic. The choir is directed by Mrs. Delima Simamora.

Polyphonic Choir of Patras Children Choir, Patra, Hellas

Polyphonic Choir’s Children Choir, was founded in 1983, as the second department of the Organization. The choir has performed in more than 200 concerts in Greece and abroad, participating in international festivals and choir meetings winning a number of gold, silver and bronze medals, first and second prizes and special rewards. Amidst the choir’s most memorable performances, were singing at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Athens 2004 and also singing at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus with the Greek famous composer, Dionissis Savvopoulos in 2012. Moreover, it has collaborated with famous composers such as Thanos Mikroutsikos, Thanassis Nikolopoulos and Stephanos Korkolis, and well-known soloists as Zahos Terzakis and Sonia Theodoridou. Finally, it has also collaborated with the orchestra of Patras as well as the Summer Academy of the Music Studies Department of the Ionian University of Corfu. The choir is directed by Mrs. Aretousa Nikolopoulou. Marina Mylona is the pianist of the choir.

It is universally accepted that in the last two years we are going through a health crisis, unprecedented for all of us. Major music events were postponed or sought to keep pace with other forms of events, such as online events, etc. The Choral Society “Armonia” of Preveza with a particularly high sense of duty to protect public health, adapted the last 2 festivals accordingly, both in 2020 and 2021, maintaining on the one hand the high level of its events, and on the other hand paying attention to giving special importance to the health protocols, wanting to protect the health of the inhabitants of our area, as well as of the participating choirs. And so, we reach 2022 and our festival will celebrate 40 years of continuous supply in our city, in our country, in the global choral development.

For this reason, we decided to complement it with two more events, thus completing the package of our choral events. So, this year we plan and will organize the following events within the framework of Preveza International Choral Festival:
The 40th International Choir Festival of Preveza, in which all kinds of choirs can participate, without repertoire restrictions, while concerts will be given in various cultural places in the region. It is an opportunity for participants to combine the enjoyment of a beautiful artistic event, while combining their vacation in an area that Forbes, as well as other international media rank in the top ten travel destinations for leisure.
The 26th International Choir Competition, which was canceled 2 years ago due to the pandemic. One of the most prestigious competitions in the world, which is famous for its reliability and validity internationally. The guarantors of this are the members of the international jury committee that make them up, musicians of world-renowned value and prestige, who, in addition to their appreciation for the level of each choir, constructively advise the choirs for their further development and advancement in the choir.
The 5th Seminar for Choir Conductors, where the participants are given the opportunity to further specialize their knowledge in choral practice, gaining new knowledge and practices from renowned conductors worldwide. At the same time, they are given the opportunity to practice this new knowledge, conducting the seminar choir, which is usually among the best choirs in the world.
This year for the first time we are organizing the 1st Choral Composition Competition and we invite all choral music composers from all over the world to participate. Our goal is to highlight new musical works, where the middle choir will be able to perform them. The winners, in addition to the joy of presenting their works at the festival, as well as a few other choirs at various events, will have the opportunity to publish their work in collaboration with a specific music production company, specialized in choral compositions. Also, the jury consists of the global best team of composers of choral music and choir conductors, which is a great honor for our organization.
Finally, we will organize just before the festival and the seminar and the 1st Competition for Choir Directors, a competition that will enable the participants to measure their strengths in real conditions, to work with renowned choirs in the area, and, above all, to take a step towards their further development and promotion.

From the above, it is understood the great effort that will be made this year as well. We invite you to participate in the events and we will be happy to meet you up close in our beautiful city. Finally, we remind you that our festival is not for profit, it does not claim revenue from anywhere and all its events are free for the public. We are looking forward to hearing from you! Greetings to all! The Organising Committee

Medals

Category A ( Mixed Choirs )

Chamber Choir of the East Sarajevo's University Music Academy, East Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina Conductor: Rade Radović 91.00 Points Gold Medal, 1st prize and money award 500€
Mixed Choir “Crescendo”, Škofja Loka, Slovenia Conductor: Žiga Kert 90.50 Points Gold Medal
Charité Chor, Berlin, Germany Conductor: Adrian Emans 86.50 Points Silver Medal
Mixed Choir “Nikos Astrinidis”, Thessaloniki, Hellas Conductor: Vasiliki Katsouka Certificate of Attendance

Category C (Children’s Choirs)

“Cantanti” Children's Choir, Timișoara, Romania Conductor: Maria Gyuris 90.63 Points Gold Medal, 1st prize and money award 400€
Yamuger Music School Children Choir (YMSCC), Rawamangun, East Jakarta, Indonesia Conductor: Delima Simamora 83.00 Points Silver Medal Ex-Aequo
Chór Pueri et Puellae Cantores Plocenses, Płock, Poland Conductor: Anna Bramska 83.00 Points Silver Medal Ex-Aequo

Category D (Chamber choirs / Vocal ensembles)

Chamber Choir of the Faculty of Pedagogy and Fine Arts of the University “Adam Mickiewicz” of Poznan in Kalisz, Poland (D1) Conductor: Beata Szymańska 90.00 Points Gold Medal, 1st prize and money award 300€
Mixed Choir SPD "Jedinstvo", Banja Luka, Bosnia & Herzegovina (D1) Conductor: Nemanja Savic 83.75 Points Silver Medal
Vocal Ensemble “Solartissimo” from Modern Conservatory of Larissa, Larissa, Hellas (D1) Conductor: Nikos St. Efthymiadis 81.00 Points Silver Medal
Male choir NAPEV, Batuje, Slovenia (D2) Conductor: Luka Vetrih 80,00 Points Silver Medal
“Chorus Iglovia”, Spišská Nová Ves, Slovakia (D1) Conductor: Marta Nováková 71.75 Points Bronze Medal

Category E (Youth choirs)

Choir named after Vadim Serebrovsky in Ural Federal University, Yekaterinburg, Russia Conductor: Julia Polyanovskaya 81.75 Points Silver Medal

Category F (Spiritual, Gospel, Jazz, Pop Choirs, Pop Ensembles, Folklore, Byzantine chant)

Chór Pueri et Puellae Cantores Plocenses, Płock, Poland Conductor: Anna Bramska 90.25 Points Gold Medal, 1st prize and money award 400€
Vocal Ensemble “Solartissimo” from Modern Conservatory of Larissa, Larissa, Hellas Conductor: Nikos St. Efthymiadis 87.50 Points Silver Medal
Mixed Choir SPD "Jedinstvo", Banja Luka, Bosnia & Herzegovina Conductor: Nemanja Savic 86.75 Points Silver Medal
Choir named after Vadim Serebrovsky in Ural Federal University, Yekaterinburg, Russia Conductor: Julia Polyanovskaya 83.75 Points Silver Medal
Academic Choir of the Rzeszówski University of Technology, Rzeszów, Poland Conductor: Lidia Chalińska Certificate of Attendance

Category G (Free programme of original choral music)

Mixed Choir “Crescendo”, Škofja Loka, Slovenia Conductor: Žiga Kert 91.50 Points Gold Medal, 1st prize and money award 400€
Chamber Choir of the East Sarajevo's University Music Academy, East Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina Conductor: Rade Radović 90.75 Points Gold Medal
Charité Chor, Berlin, Germany Conductor: Adrian Emans 90.00 Points Gold Medal
Yamuger Music School Children Choir (YMSCC), Rawamangun, East Jakarta, Indonesia Conductor: Delima Simamora 83.00 Points Silver Medal
Polyphonic Choir of Patras – Youth Choir, Patra, Hellas Conductor: Dimitra Pitsou – Diamantopoulou 80.00 Points Silver Medal
Female Vocal Ensemble "Vox Angelica", Sveta Trojica, Slovenia Conductor: Anita Pavkovič 78.50 Points Bronze Medal

Special Prizes

For the best performance of Orthodox Music is awarded to Chamber Choir of the East Sarajevo's University Music Academy, East Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Conductor: Rade Radović for the performance of “Pričastno”, by Marko Tajčević (1900 – 1984).
For the best stage performance is awarded to Yamuger Music School Children’s Choir (YMSCC), Rawamangun, East Jakarta, Indonesia, Conductor: Delima Simamora.