3rd Choral Conducting Workshop & Seminar
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.
He holds a degree in Violin and Chamber Music from the Upper Conservatory of Music of the
Principality of Asturias and in Management by the Music Center of the Basque Country,
«Musikene». He is currently working as a teacher at the Conservatory of Music of the
Principality of Asturias, «CONSMUPA», where he teaches chamber music, choir and management
techniques. As a violinist, he has collaborated regularly with numerous professional
symphony orchestras.
He has been awarded the “Angel Muñiz Toca” End of the Race Prize, the Most Excellent City
Council of Oviedo, and the First Prize in the “Young Soloists of the Principality of
Asturias” Competition. Besides his facet as an instrumentalist, he also possesses a solid
choral formation. He began his studies in the «Escolanía de Covadonga» (Asturias), continued
his studies at the «Schola Cantorum» of the Cathedral of Leon and he was trained as choral
director in the courses of the Federation of the Basque Country with the master J. Duijck.
He has completed his studies of choral conducting with G. Baltés at the Upper Music Center
of the Basque Country, «Musikene». Other fundamental personalities in his formation have
been J. Busto, P. Phillipsamong others.
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 achivements 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 (Swizerland, 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 Talinn (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 successfuly 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.
From Friday, 5th July 2018 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.
