Heart of Europe Choir Competition Gelnhausen, Germany 14-18 Aug 2013

With the 2nd Heart of Europe we would like to provide a platform for this artistical and cultural exchange. A place of integration and tolerance for the good intentions of european and worldwide community. A stage for outstanding choral performances. Located in a particular place, regarding the symbolic get-together of nations, cultures and societies: Gelnhausen, the german city in the geographical hotspot of the European Union. Right in the Heart of Europe. There will be gala- and meeting- concerts, ceremonies for the opening and closing event, workshops as well as choir-parties. The picturesque old town of Gelnhausen with the „Obermarkt“ as the festival center provides perfect conditions for all activities. Another important fact: the connection to Gelnhausen is quite economical for the reason that participating choirs fly to the near-located Frankfurt (City) Airport. The competition is divided in four categories. Each choir may participate in one or two of the following four categories: sacred music, secular music and folklore. Heart of Europe is proud to announce 10 excellent choirs coming from Europe, Asia and South America. The choirs will be assessed by an international jury of the following five members: Gudrun Schröfel (Germany), Karmina Silec (Slovenia), Ingrid Körvits (Estonia), Mr. Jürgen Fassbender (Germany) and Vytautas Miskinis (Lithuania). The male choir „DelicaTon“ from Freigericht wanted to assimilate the extraordinary atmosphere of an international competition where you can listen to incredible sounds every once in a while. DelicaTon ist happy that the festival will take place not only for the participants, but also for the people in this area again as a great enrichment in their cultural life.    more...

Vaison-la-Romaine XXth Choralies, France 2-10 August 2013

For the 20th time the Choralies will bring together more than 4,000 musicians from the 2nd to the 10th August 2010, in a magnificent musical festival devoted to choral singing. A Coeur Joie, an international organisation, will invite people of all ages and of all levels, from France and from abroad, to take part in this songfest. The passionate intimacy of an exceptional location and vocal art have sown the seeds of this international choral festival which has never yet been equaled. Genuine craftsmanship shapes this unique event where the combination of voices, be it in modern or classical polyphony, shake the ancient columns of Vaison-la-Romaine’s Antique Theatre, in the south of France. About 40 workshops where choristers, choirs, occasional singers and conductors are sure to find a workshop that will fit in with their taste, their musical level and the length of their stay. There will be about 100 concerts among eight evening concerts in the Antique Theatre with professional ensembles as Sequenza 9.3, the Calliope women’s choir, the group Tenebrae, the Solistes de Lyon, the Percussions à Claviers de Lyon, the superb Schola Juvenil of Caracas, the Real Group, the humour of the vocal quintet Witloof Bay with the beatboxer Roxerloop, the astonishing cantata Dogora for choir and orchestra, workshop concerts for the final two nights (Saül, Faust, Robert Ray’s Gospel Mass…) and other surprises which will brighten the Theatre. Sixty afternoon concerts in the cathedral, the Saint-Quenin chapel, the gymnasium and the new multi-purpose hall will welcome more than 70 groups during the Choralies. The Medieval Town Stage will welcome vocal ensembles, instrumentalists and even storytellers to serenade and entertain you each day at 18h. And last but not least the concerts surrounding Vaison-la- Romaine. It will be a brilliant anniversary with numerous animations for singers, conductors or passengers.    more...