2 - 4 July 2019

3rd Choral Conducting Workshop & Seminar

Mentors

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.

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.

Marco Antonio García de Paz

Marco Antonio García de Paz graduated with the best grades in choir direction at the Superior Music Centre of the Basque Country (Musikene). Founder and leader of the choir El León de Oro, in the choir's twenty-two years of existence García de Paz has developed an extensive international career with his group, carried out in a large number of concerts in the USA, Africa and several European countries, important prizes and recordings with prominent record companies. Currently, García de Paz also takes part as a judge in the most important choir singing contests in Spain and Europe. In addition, he gives masterclasses and workshops about choir direction and “open singing” both at national and international level, in many European countries. In 2015 he was invited to conduct the Choir of Radio Televisión Española (OCRTVE) in a concert at the Monumental Theater of Madrid, which was broadcast live by Radio Clásica of Radio Nacional de España. Throughout this year he has worked with other professional choirs of his country, such as the Community of Madrid Choir (ORCAM) and the National Choir of Spain (CNE). He is a principal guest conductor of the Young Choir of Andalusia (JCA). His immediate projects include commitments in Spain, Italy, France, Bulgaria and Greece.

Demonstrative Choirs

“Chamber Choir of the Music and Ballet Conservatory Ljubljana“

The choral activities at Ljubljana Conservatory of Music and Ballet started progressing after composer and conductor Ambrož Čopi assumed leadership of the choir in 2010 , knowing how important and fulfilling it is for young musicians to sing in a choir, to discover the beauty of vocal music and the joy of singing together with others, feeling the energy and power of choral art and getting inspired for future work. After four years of growing quality and various achievements at competitions: first place at International choral festival Samoborsko zborsko protuletje (Croatia, 2011), first place in mixed choirs and chamber choirs categories at International choral festival in Gdansk (Poland, 2012), Grand prix at Festival of contemporary music Canti veris Praga (Czech Republic, 2013), first place at National competition of children’s and youth choirs Zagorje ob Savi (Slovenia, 2012), second place at International Choral competition ''Gallus'' Maribor (Slovenia, 2013), third place at International Choral competition Montreux (Switzerland, 2014), the decision was made to split the choir into two groups - one choir consists of all the students of the conservatory not included in school orchestras, the other choir (Chamber choir) consists of about 40 singers who are willing to improve their vocal technique, to sing a more difficult range of choral music and reach higher performing standards.

The Chamber choir KGBL, led by Ambrož Čopi and two assistants Tine Bec and Evgen Bibianko, embraces a wide range of music genres and styles, from the Renaissance to modern music. Special attention is given to compositions by contemporary Slovene composers. In the past three years the choir had commissioned many prominent composers such as Lojze Lebič, Tadeja Vulc, Damijan Močnik, Črt Sojar-Voglar, Peter Šavli, Andrej Makor for their choral works and encouraged the youngest generation of composers Tine Bec, Matej Kastelic to create new compositions, which the choir successfully promotes at concerts and competitions in Slovenia and abroad.

In the past three years the choir earned second and third place at International Choral competition Tallinn (Estonia, 2015), won Grand prix at International festival in Moscow (Russia, 2016), first place at National choral competition ''Naša pesem'' (Our song), Maribor (Slovenia, 2016), second place at International Choral competition ''Gallus'' Maribor (Slovenia, 2017). The latest achievement is first place in Polifonia and second place in Folklore category at International choral competition in Tolosa (Spain, 2017). The choir successfully performed concerts in various cities: Stockholm (Sweden, 2016), Borja, Ordizia, Getxo, Doneztebe (Spain, 2017) and at a variety of concert cycles in Slovenia.

The conductor's idea to make synergy between a new generation of young singers, composers and conductors became true. In collaboration with Slovenian music publisher Astrum new compositions by Slovenian composers are successfully promoted. After three years the Chamber Choir KGBL has become one of the most prominent Slovenian choirs.

In the frame of the 37th International Choral Festival of Preveza a seminar for choral conductors will be held in Preveza from 2nd to 4th July 2019

The topics of the seminar are:

Conducting technique with an emphasis on choral conducting
Intonation in choir
Interpretation of various musical styles
Group vocal technique
Organization of the rehearsals
Vocal technique
Score analysis
Conducting exercises
Individual preparation of the scores with active participants
Presentation of new choral works from Slovenia (interesting also for composers)

Schedule

Tuesday, July 2nd, 2019

09:00 - 1:00 p.m. Lectures along with practical work: Conducting technique - exercises for active and passive participants (with piano)
05:00 - 07:00 p.m. Masterclass with the demonstrative ensemble ( active participants are conducting, while the passive ones are observing and rehearsing / learning ) Preveza.
08:00 - 10:00 p.m. Individual lessons for active participants

Wednesday, July 3rd, 2019

9:00 - 01:00 p.m. Lectures along with practical work
03:00 - 07:00 p.m. Masterclass with the demonstrative ensemble (active participants are conducting, while the passive ones are observing and rehearsing / learning)
08:00 - 10:00 p.m. Video evaluation of conducting of the active participants

Thursday, July 4th, 2019

09:00 - 11:00 a.m. Lectures along with practical work
11:00 - 01:00 p.m. Masterclass with the demonstrative ensemble (active participants are conducting, while the passive ones are observing and rehearsing / learning)
03:00 - 05:00 p.m. Individual consults to participants.
05:00 p.m. General rehearsal
08:00 p.m. Concert - Opening Ceremony of 37th ICF of Preveza.

From Friday, 5th July 2019 to Sunday, 7th July 2019, the participants will have the opportunity to attend the 37th ICF of Preveza, in the frames of which the 25th international Choral Competition of Music will take place, but also to meet and discuss with conductors of the participating choirs, while the organizing committee of the festival will provide them with any kind of material they might need.

The seminar is addressed to choir conductors, instructors who conduct choirs as well as students attending music studies and students attending Music Schools- Conservatories who get involved with choir (conducting). The Seminar will be led by the internationally renowned conductors Ambrož Čopi and Theodora Pavlovitch and Marco A. García de Paz from Spain . A lot of time and special attention will be given to practical work with a demonstrative choir; the demonstrative ensemble will be the Chamber Choir of the Music and Ballet Conservatory Ljubljana.( https://www.choirkgbl.eu) The seminar is intended for beginners as well as established choral conductors. Participation can be active or passive. Participants who wish to be active are kindly asked to send their CV with specified experiences in choir conducting.