2nd International Choral Conductors' Competition of Preveza.
On the occasion of its 43rd anniversary, the Preveza Choral Festival organized the 2nd biennial International Competition of Choral Conductors (2025). In a wonderful atmosphere and ambience, the selected conductors will showcase their skills of working with two top choirs ‘’Armonia’’ Children’s Choir of Preveza (Greece) and KGBL Chamber Choir (Slovenia). The competition will take place at the Cultural Centre of Holy Metropolis of Preveza and be judged by a jury of eight internationally renowned conductors and composers.
The competition is open for choral conductors born after 6th July 1990.
Competition is organized in two categories: Each conductor can apply for one or both Categories.
Official language of the competition is English. The competition is open to a public audience (except for the afternoon rehearsal with the choir for the final concert). Competitors cannot attend the round in the hall if they are competing.
Deadline for application: April 25th, 2025.
Required documents:
The jury will consist of 8 esteemed members, choral music experts from Greece and abroad.
Every member of the jury will evaluate the conductor with a numerical estimate of up to 100 points in each round. Considered when evaluating:
Each conductor will have a chance to speak with the jury members after the competition about their presentations and receive suggestions for their future work.
The points from the 1st and 2nd rounds shall be added together. The top three candidates will participate in the 3rd round (Finals).
The performance in the finals will be evaluated as follows:
The names of the participants for the 3rd round will be announced two hours after the 2nd round ends. The final results will be announced after the Opening Ceremony of the International Choral Festival of Preveza on Thursday, July 10th, 2025.
The decisions of the jury are final. Appeals are not possible.
The results will be publicly announced after the Opening Ceremony on Thursday, July 10th, 2025.
The decisions of the jury are final. Appeals are not possible.
TUESDAY, July 8th, 2025
WEDNESDAY, July 9th, 2025
THURSDAY, July 10th, 2025
THURSDAY, July 10th, 2025 - 9:00 p.m.
Opening Ceremony of the International Choral Festival of Preveza & Prize Giving Ceremony for Choral Conductors Competition.
The organizer holds the right to make changes in the schedule according to the number of participants. Any changes will be communicated to participants.
All participants will receive a diploma of participation.
The jury evaluates competitors with points from 0 to 80. The assembly evaluates from 0 to 20 points. The final round does not carry over previous scores.
The jury may award the following special recognitions:
The jury may propose additional prizes.
The KGBL Chamber Choir will present a special practical prize for the most charismatic choral conductor at the Final Concert.
Taipei Philharmonic Chamber Choir (TPCC) is a 30-voice chamber choir from Taiwan. Established in 1993 out of the 150-voice Taipei Philharmonic Chorus (founded in 1972), TPCC has performed internationally in over 40 cities across all continents.
The choir has participated in various International Choral Festivals, such as the International Chamber Choir Festival in Latvia (1995), the 4th World Symposium on Choral Music in Sydney, Australia (1996), Festival Vancouver (2000 & 2009), Asia-South-Pacific Symposium on Choral Music in Singapore (2001), the 6th World Symposium on Choral Music in Minneapolis/St. Paul, U.S.A. (2002), Oregon Bach Festival in Eugene, U.S.A. (2006), Zempléni Fesztivál and Cantemus Festival in Hungary (2007 & 2014), ACDA National Convention in Chicago (2011), Polyfollia Festival in Saint Lo, France (2013), Melbourne Festival in Australia and the Next Wave Festival in New York, U.S.A. (2017), among others.
In 2016, TPCC performed in the “Holy Mass and Canonization of Blessed Mother Theresa of Calcutta” in Vatican. In 2023, TPCC was one of 10 international choirs featured in the World Symposium on Choral Music in Türkiye.
The current Music Director of TPCC is Dr. Yu-Chung Johnny Ku, with Professor Dirk DuHei as the Artistic Director. The choir frequently collaborates with internationally renowned conductors such as Helmuth Rilling, Maria Guinand, Gábor Hollerung, Jonathan Velasco, Theodora Pavlovitch, Fred Sjöberg, André Thomas, Jānis Liepiņš, Alexander Solovyev, and Ambrož Čopi.
TPCC's repertoire spans from renaissance to contemporary, including European classics, Asian compositions, and Taiwanese and Chinese heritage music. Since 1993, TPCC has commissioned and premiered over 200 new works. Their albums have been consistently nominated for the “Golden Melody Award,” winning “Best Album” and “Best Singing Performance” awards multiple times.
Dr. Yu-Chung Johnny Ku is the Music Director of Taipei Philharmonic Chorus and TPCC, as well as the Taipei International Choral Festival and Competition. He is an active conductor of choirs, orchestras, operas, musical theaters, and pop concerts. He has led performances, masterclasses, and lectures in over 20 countries and worked as Chorus Master for more than 50 operatic and choral-symphonic productions with the National Symphony Orchestra, National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra, and National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts.
Additionally, Dr. Ku has served as an adjudicator in international competitions such as the World Choir Games, World Choral Festival, Bali International Choral Competition, Singapore International Choral Competition, Penabur International Choir Festival, and Busan Choral Festival and Competition. He holds a D.M.A. from the College Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati and a master's degree from Temple University.
Taipei Philharmonic Chamber Choir (TPCC) is a 30-voice chamber choir from Taiwan. Established in 1993 out of the 150-voice Taipei Philharmonic Chorus (founded in 1972), TPCC has performed internationally in over 40 cities across all continents.
The choir has participated in various International Choral Festivals, such as the International Chamber Choir Festival in Latvia (1995), the 4th World Symposium on Choral Music in Sydney, Australia (1996), Festival Vancouver (2000 & 2009), Asia-South-Pacific Symposium on Choral Music in Singapore (2001), the 6th World Symposium on Choral Music in Minneapolis/St. Paul, U.S.A. (2002), Oregon Bach Festival in Eugene, U.S.A. (2006), Zempléni Fesztivál and Cantemus Festival in Hungary (2007 & 2014), ACDA National Convention in Chicago (2011), Polyfollia Festival in Saint Lo, France (2013), Melbourne Festival in Australia and the Next Wave Festival in New York, U.S.A. (2017), among others.
In 2016, TPCC performed in the “Holy Mass and Canonization of Blessed Mother Theresa of Calcutta” in Vatican. In 2023, TPCC was one of 10 international choirs featured in the World Symposium on Choral Music in Türkiye.
The current Music Director of TPCC is Dr. Yu-Chung Johnny Ku, with Professor Dirk DuHei as the Artistic Director. The choir frequently collaborates with internationally renowned conductors such as Helmuth Rilling, Maria Guinand, Gábor Hollerung, Jonathan Velasco, Theodora Pavlovitch, Fred Sjöberg, André Thomas, Jānis Liepiņš, Alexander Solovyev, and Ambrož Čopi.
TPCC's repertoire spans from renaissance to contemporary, including European classics, Asian compositions, and Taiwanese and Chinese heritage music. Since 1993, TPCC has commissioned and premiered over 200 new works. Their albums have been consistently nominated for the “Golden Melody Award,” winning “Best Album” and “Best Singing Performance” awards multiple times.
Dr. Yu-Chung Johnny Ku is the Music Director of Taipei Philharmonic Chorus and TPCC, as well as the Taipei International Choral Festival and Competition. He is an active conductor of choirs, orchestras, operas, musical theaters, and pop concerts. He has led performances, masterclasses, and lectures in over 20 countries and worked as Chorus Master for more than 50 operatic and choral-symphonic productions with the National Symphony Orchestra, National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra, and National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts.
Additionally, Dr. Ku has served as an adjudicator in international competitions such as the World Choir Games, World Choral Festival, Bali International Choral Competition, Singapore International Choral Competition, Penabur International Choir Festival, and Busan Choral Festival and Competition. He holds a D.M.A. from the College Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati and a master's degree from Temple University.
Tuesday, July 8th, 2025, at 10:00 a.m.
Rehearsal with KGBL Chamber Choir (conductor Ambrož Čopi)
Renaissance music - Max. 8 participants
Tuesday, July 8th, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.
Romantic music - Max. 8 participants
Wednesday, July 9th, 2025, at 3:00 p.m.
Each participant has 70 minutes to prepare two obligatory compositions and two additional compositions drawn by lot.
Wednesday, July 9th, 2025, at 8:30 p.m.
Public concert with KGBL Chamber Choir. Each participant performs the obligatory composition and three rehearsed compositions.
Taipei Philharmonic Chamber Choir (TPCC) is a 30-voice chamber choir from Taiwan. Established in 1993 out of the 150-voice Taipei Philharmonic Chorus (founded in 1972), TPCC has performed internationally in over 40 cities across all continents.
The choir has participated in various International Choral Festivals, such as the International Chamber Choir Festival in Latvia (1995), the 4th World Symposium on Choral Music in Sydney, Australia (1996), Festival Vancouver (2000 & 2009), Asia-South-Pacific Symposium on Choral Music in Singapore (2001), the 6th World Symposium on Choral Music in Minneapolis/St. Paul, U.S.A. (2002), Oregon Bach Festival in Eugene, U.S.A. (2006), Zempléni Fesztivál and Cantemus Festival in Hungary (2007 & 2014), ACDA National Convention in Chicago (2011), Polyfollia Festival in Saint Lo, France (2013), Melbourne Festival in Australia and the Next Wave Festival in New York, U.S.A. (2017), among others.
In 2016, TPCC performed in the “Holy Mass and Canonization of Blessed Mother Theresa of Calcutta” in Vatican. In 2023, TPCC was one of 10 international choirs featured in the World Symposium on Choral Music in Türkiye.
The current Music Director of TPCC is Dr. Yu-Chung Johnny Ku, with Professor Dirk DuHei as the Artistic Director. The choir frequently collaborates with internationally renowned conductors such as Helmuth Rilling, Maria Guinand, Gábor Hollerung, Jonathan Velasco, Theodora Pavlovitch, Fred Sjöberg, André Thomas, Jānis Liepiņš, Alexander Solovyev, and Ambrož Čopi.
TPCC's repertoire spans from renaissance to contemporary, including European classics, Asian compositions, and Taiwanese and Chinese heritage music. Since 1993, TPCC has commissioned and premiered over 200 new works. Their albums have been consistently nominated for the “Golden Melody Award,” winning “Best Album” and “Best Singing Performance” awards multiple times.
Dr. Yu-Chung Johnny Ku is the Music Director of Taipei Philharmonic Chorus and TPCC, as well as the Taipei International Choral Festival and Competition. He is an active conductor of choirs, orchestras, operas, musical theaters, and pop concerts. He has led performances, masterclasses, and lectures in over 20 countries and worked as Chorus Master for more than 50 operatic and choral-symphonic productions with the National Symphony Orchestra, National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra, and National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts.
Additionally, Dr. Ku has served as an adjudicator in international competitions such as the World Choir Games, World Choral Festival, Bali International Choral Competition, Singapore International Choral Competition, Penabur International Choir Festival, and Busan Choral Festival and Competition. He holds a D.M.A. from the College Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati and a master's degree from Temple University.
The Conservatorium of Music and Ballet Ljubljana Chamber Choir (KGBL Chamber Choir) led by Ambrož Čopi consists of about 40 singers who strive to enhance their vocal technique, perform a demanding range of choral music, and achieve high performance standards. The choir collaborates with vocal educators Edita Garčević Koželj and Tatjana Vasle and embraces a wide repertoire from Renaissance to contemporary music.
The KGBL Chamber Choir has commissioned and performed works by composers such as Lojze Lebič, Tadeja Vulc, Damijan Močnik, Črt Sojar-Voglar, Peter Šavli, and Andrej Makor. It has won prestigious awards, including first place in Cork International Choral Competition (Ireland, 2019) and the "Choir of the World" award in 2023. The choir has toured internationally, performing in Sweden, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, China, Italy, Austria, Hungary, France, Malaysia, and Singapore.
Rehearsal with ‘Armonia’ Children's Choir of Preveza (conductor Aneliya Hristova Stefanova)
Founded in 1983, Armonia Children’s Choir of Preveza has won multiple awards in international competitions across Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Switzerland, Hungary, and Poland. It was twice recognized as the best Greek children’s choir at the International Choral Festival of Athens and has participated in festivals across Europe and Russia.
In October 2023, it won the gold medal and 1st place at the 18th International "Gaude Cantem" Competition in Poland. In 2024, it was selected for the Eurochestries International Festival in France, where it collaborated with youth orchestras and performed 10 concerts showcasing Greek repertoire.
Application fee: 100 EUR (non-refundable), paid upon application.
Accommodation, food, and transportation costs are covered by participants.
The organizer is not responsible for accidents, losses, or theft. The official language of the competition is English.