42nd International Choral Festival of Preveza

It is a newly formed vocal ensemble. It was created by amateur singers united by their love and passion for polyphonic singing. The choristers discover their vocal identity and different ways of expressing themselves artistically by experimenting on a wide-range repertoire. It firstly performed at the competitive Festival of Nafpaktos singing works of Greek composers and it achieved the second place and a bronze medal. The choir is directed by Olga Alexopoulou, while it is accompanied on the piano by Myrto Akrivou.

Moraitis School Adult Choir is a community choir which was founded in January 2019 by its conductor Vaia Papayiannopoulou and consists of 42 members. It aims at integrating each member of the community, interaction and socialisation of the choir members and, last but not least, music performance. These goals are fulfilled through choral singing, body percussion and engagement of the whole personality of the choristers. Musical skills such as sight reading are not required. So far, the choir has participated in concerts, choir festivals and meetings all over Greece. It is permanently situated in Moraitis School in Athens.

A Capella Gramofon was founded in 2012 by the choir conductor-composer Türker Barmanbek. It has won 24 awards in 17 festivals across the country. It represented Turkey in the International Polyphonic Choirs Competition held in Ohrid, North Macedonia in August 2022 and won the 2nd Prize, the Best Contemporary Work Choir Award and the Tomislav Zografski Special Jury Award. It has also performed a Symphonic Rap Concert with the symphony orchestra and Turkish rapper Gazapizm, and a concert with Candan Erçetin, accompanied by a symphony orchestra.

It was created in October 2022. It consists of students, employees and supporters of the Jan Długosz University in Częstochowa. Each of the University’s departments has its own representation among choristers. Its first concert took place in December 2022 as part of the University’s Christmas Concert. The choir has achieved its first successes, including: • Silver diploma at the 10th International Festival of Christmas Carols and Pastorals in Rzeszów • Silver diploma at the 19th International Carols and Pastorals Competition in Chełmno • Bronze diploma at the 12th International Choral Festival Canco Mediterrania in Barcelona - Lloret de Mar (Spain). In May 2024, the group participated in the performance of the operetta Die Fledermaus. The choir is directed by Marek Kudra.

Singing Association of Pezinok, the predecessor of Ad Una Corda choir, was founded in November 1867. In the mid-20th century, activities of the choir were hampered by the religious persecution of the communist era. At present, Ad Una Corda is dedicated to popularizing sacred music and has participated in a variety of events from concerts to festivals and competitions. It has toured 17 European countries, Israel, Canada and the USA. The choir also performs at important Church Feasts and regularly cooperates with professional orchestras. Moreover, it organizes a series of concert cycles and charity projects, while it has won numerous prizes at several competitions worldwide (for example: 1st place in the Czech Republic-1998, Malta-2002, Serbia-2008 and 2018, Canada-2018, etc.). It has released two CDs and a number of public recordings for the Slovak Radio.

Founded in Pécs in 2014, it is comprised of young people who are dedicated to performing unique works of choral music. The name of the ensemble expresses the choir’s place of origin (Quinqueecclesiae being the Medieval name of the city) and its intention is to perform and propagate a high-quality repertoire, which includes pieces by lesser known Renaissance and Romantic composers, as well as 20th and 21st century works, with a significant emphasis on contemporary Hungarian choral pieces. Fostering contemporary Hungarian choral music plays an important role in their activity. It is a significant participant in the musical life of Pécs, but also performs in Budapest and other locations, often performing world premieres of newly composed pieces. Since its creation, it has won several prizes. Namely: the qualification “gold with certificate of merit” from the Association of Hungarian Choirs and Orchestras in 2014, a gold diploma at the VII Kodály Zoltán Choir Competition in Budapest in 2015, the 2nd prize and the prize for best conductor at the Vándor-Révész International Choir Competition in Budapest in 2018, and a 2nd prize and the prize for the best performance of Renaissance at the Ohrid International Choir Competition in North Macedonia in 2023.

Since its foundation in 1987, the choir had been led by Agija Pizika. In 2022, Raimonds Gulbis became its conductor, who has raised the choir's artistic quality to an even higher level since then. "Mītava" is a member of the Song and dance Festival movement, whose individuality is formed by a diverse selection of repertoire - from folk songs and original compositions to jazz and contemporary, popular and pop music. It also participates in various international competitions and festivals every year with considerable success. The set of human qualities of the choir is characterized by its prevailing mood and attitude towards work - "Mitavians" are characterized by the fact that the song accompanies them in all moments of being together - not only during rehearsals and performances, but also during trips and leisure activities.

Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart is an all-girls school located in Bellevue, Washington. The choir is dedicated to singing a wide repertoire of music and has cultivated relationships with renowned composers worldwide as well as local composers, such as Alice Parker, Stephen Hatfield, Michael McGlynn, Javier Busto, Eleanor Daley, Rollo Dilworth, Henry Leck and Francisco J. Nunez. The Forest Ridge choirs have performed at St. James Cathedral and perform annually at the Seattle Archdiocese Catholic HS Choir Festival and the Chamber Choir was honored in 2007 and 2013 to participate in the international choir Festival 500 in Newfoundland, Canada. The choir travels nationally and internationally, and as part of travels to New York City, it has worked with the Young People’s Chorus of New York City, where it was subsequently invited to be one of only six choirs nationally to participate in the prestigious Radio Radiance Program which is dedicated to the development and performance of new choral works for young voices by esteemed composers.

It was created in 1946. Its repertoire includes works of various eras, from Renaissance music to contemporary compositions, sacred, secular, patriotic and folk songs. It has performed in Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Ukraine, Lithuania, Russia, Italy, Greece, France, Cyprus and Spain. Its most recent achievements are: • Silver Diploma in three categories and a special prize in category Catalan music during the 7th International Festival and Choir Competition “Canco Mediterrania” in Lloret de Mar and Barcelona – Spain (2017), •1st place in the 19th National Hunting Music Competition in Pszczyna – Poland (2018), • Grand Prix of the 3rd Hunting Song Festival in Lanckorona – Poland (2018), • 1st Prize and special award for the best performance of Renaissance at the Ohrid Choir Festival – North Macedonia (2022). Krzysztof Przemyk has been its conductor since 1991.

It was founded on the 150th anniversary of the birth of the Austrian composer of Slovene origin Hugo Wolf in 2010, as part of “Mostovi”, a society promoting the harmony between Slovenian and German culture in Maribor. Maribor is the second largest city in Slovenia, close to the Austrian border, where Hugo Wolf attended secondary school and composed his first pieces. The choir consists of 30 experienced singers, led by Professor Aleš Marčič, and gives special attention to reviving the memory of forgotten composers, connected with their hometown (Hugo Wolf, Robert Stolz and others). In addition to many concerts in Slovenia and abroad the choir has participated in national and international choral competitions, where singers have received high awards, including the Grand Prix at the Lege Artis competition in Tuzla (2017).

It was established in 1995, and it now comprises more than 180 singers, aged 4 to 19, in four different sections: 3 preparatory children choirs, and the MEDVIDATA Youth Choir, which consists of soprano, alto, tenor and bass singers aged 13+. During its existence, it has organized more than 800 public performances and over 1500 children have taken part in it. Its repertoire covers a wide range of folk and artistic songs from the Renaissance to contemporary pieces with an emphasis on the 20th century Czech composers, as well as Negro spirituals or stylish arrangements of popular music. It has gathered a number of successes at competitions in many European countries (e.g. Toruň, Poland 2023 - 2 gold diplomas / Tampere, Finland 2019 - 2 gold stamps / Preveza, Greece 2018 - 2 silver medals / Llangollen, Great Britain 2015 - 2nd and 3rd prize / Neerpelt, Belgium 2014 - 1st prize Cum Laude / Cantonigros, Spain - 3rd prize) and festivals abroad ( Italy,Hungary, etc.) as well as in the Czech Republic. It has recorded six CDs and has premiered a number of Czech original compositions. Mr Lukáš Holec has been its choirmaster since the beginning, while the choir is accompanied on the piano by Mrs Lucie Smitková.

It was established in 2005 by former members of mixed choir Technik led by Ing. Daniel Vopat. The choir is full of incredible energy, faith and devotion to the idea of making good music and bringing joy and enrichment not only to themselves but also to others. Pavol Procházka is the conductor and artistic director of the choir. Under his leadership the choir has realised several unique and very successful projects, such as EUROKOLEDY, EUROLKLORE, a project of Easter Music, etc. The choir has participated in a number of international concerts and festivals with great success (Praga Cantat-2005, Athens Choir Competition-2007, Istanbul-2010, Verdi's choirs Trnava-2011 together with the choir CANTICA (Z)NOVA and choir and orchestra of Slovak National Theatre Bratislava, Montreux Choir Festival-2012, Project Musica Sacra - Music Without Borders, Austria, and others). It has cooperated with numerous professional bodies, such as the Slovak National Theatre of Bratislava and the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra. Its repertoire includes works of famous domestic and foreign composers.

The choir was formed in 2019 by Dr Justin Smith, Director of Choral Activities at Queens University, as an auditioned mixed choir performing repertoire of all types. In 2022, they were invited to perform at the North Carolina American Choral Directors Association state conference, sang at Carnegie Hall, and collaborated with Bach Akademie Charlotte at their Charlotte Bach Festival. They have also won First Prize in the Mixed Choir competition at the International Choral Kathaumixw in British Columbia, Canada. In autumn 2024, they were invited to perform at the national conference of the National Collegiate Choral Organization (NCCO) in Atlanta.

It is the adult choir of the Escola de Músics i JPC, founded in September 2018 and currently formed by 59 singers. Its initial classical repertoire has been complemented with new proposals, getting a fresh and modern repertoire capable of creating vibrant emotions. It has performed in very important and emblematic venues, such as the Auditori of Barcelona, the Palau de la Música Catalana, the Gran Teatre del Liceu and the Sagrada Família. In October 2022, it participated in the community opera La Gata Perduda at the Gran Teatre del Liceu and in the documentary by TV3 (Televisió de Catalunya) Òpera Prima. TrencaCors grows with the experience provided by its numerous concerts (on average, 10 per year) and the joint effort of all the members that make up this great family.

VeraVoce is a vocal ensemble that has been active since 2023. It is formed by a group of 11 young and crazy people, friends, whose passion is singing together. The ensemble also includes students of the Karol Szymanowski Music Academy in Katowice. It performs mainly sacred music from all eras. Despite its short existence, the choir has already given several concerts with passion and Christmas music. It has also taken part in the premiere of Passion, a contemporary piece composed by Pawel Kruczek.

It is an ensemble formed from students of the Department of Music with a special interest in polyphonic singing. They want to broaden their vocal skills and become more familiar with the choral music repertoire. The quartet participates in student concerts and various university celebrations. It has been directed for years by Dr. Hab. Przemysław Jeziorowski. The current lineup of the Quartet has been operating since October 2023. It has performed in Poland, Slovakia and Spain. In 2023, it won the 2nd prize in the 19th International Interpretation Competition “Student Artistic Activities” in Ružomberok (Slovakia) in the Chamber Singing category (the first prize was not awarded) and a silver diploma and a special prize for the Best Academic Vocal Ensemble in the 1st National Sacred Music Competition in Zgierz (Poland).

It was founded in 1972, by music teachers from the town of Sfântu Gheorghe. Under the leadership of conductor Szilágyi Zsolt, the choir has achieved first prizes at national competitions, successes abroad at Europe's most prestigious choral competitions (Gorizia, Arezzo), various performances and a series of solo concerts. It even made it to the papal audience in 1982, and it has proudly carried the oath of allegiance from Pope John Paul II ever since: “Teach the people of God to sing beautifully and devoutly. My apostolic blessing on you”. Its successes include: bronze medal at Athens Choral Olympiad (1996), gold medal at Barcelona International Choral Competition (1999), bronze medal at Rhodes International Choral Competition (2001), 3rd prize at the Ohrid Choir Festival in 2010. Its repertoire consists of a cappella preclassical to contemporary works, as well as vocal-symphonic pieces by Mozart, Handel, Orff, and even rock opera. The choir plays a key role in promoting choral singing in the region, that already has a long tradition in Covasna County.

The choir was established in 1996 by Beata Szymańska, who has been its director since then. It consists of students and graduates of the Educational-Artistic Department in Kalisz –part of the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan. It performs in Poland and abroad (Germany, Italy, Sweden, North Macedonia, Spain, Hungary). During its existence, it has participated in many international and local artistic events as well as in various symphonic projects. Its repertoire includes both a cappella pieces from various periods and vocal - instrumental music. It has recorded an album, containing AGNUS DEI, opus 167, by Egil Hovland and Da Pacem by Michael Villmow.

It was founded in 1995. It consists of amateurs from Volos and Agria, who are united by their common love for music and choral singing. It plays an important role in the cultural life of the area and it organizes annually the Agria Choral Meeting, with the participation of choirs both from Greece and abroad. Its repertoire combines different kinds of music and songs, from classical, Byzantine and traditional to contemporary music and modern Greek songs. Since September 2022, a new era has begun for the choir, after the COVID pause, under a new artistic director, Nikos Adraskelas, performing demanding works, such as “Telefteos Aspasmos” (Last Kiss) by Miltiades Kassaras in May 2023, while in June, after a three-year break, it organized the 22nd Agria Choral Meeting. In November and December, it participated in the Perama Festival and the choral festivals of Volos, respectively. Entering its 29th year of activity, it goes on its creative course, aiming at contributing to the promotion of choral singing, mainly through Greek works.