24th European Grand Prix for Choral Singing in Maribor, Slovenia April 22nd 2012, 16.00h, Union Hall

The European Grand Prix for Choral Singing commonly abbreviated as European Choral Grand Prix or EGP) is an annual choral competition between the winners of six European choral competitions. It was created in 1988 throught the initiative of the competitions of Arezzo (Italy), Debrecen (Hungary), Gorizia (Italy) and Tours (France). Two others have also been associated: Varna (Bulgaria) in 1989, and Tolosa (Basque Country/Spain) in 1990. In 2008 Gorizia stepped out of the Association and Maribor (Slovenia) joined in. This competition is organized for the Grand Prize winners of the six respective choir contests to compete for the European Grand Prix every year alternately in Arezzo, Debrecen, Maribor, Tolosa, Tours and Varna.Despite its name, the EGP is not limited to European choirs; this is because choirs from any country can join the choral competitions in any of the EGP's member-cities. FINALE 2012 For the first time the finale will be held in Maribor, Slovenia. The event will be included in the program of Maribor, European Capital of Culture. The finalists are : Winner of International Choral Competition Maribor, Slovenia 2011: Sofia Vocalensemble, Sweden, cond. Bengt Ollen, mixed choir. Winner of International May Choir Competition – Varna, Bulgaria 2011: Ateneo de Manila Colege Glee Club, Philippines, cond. Maria Lourder V. Hermo, mixed choir. Winner of Florilège Vocal de Tours, France, 2011: Harmonia Ensemble, Japan, mixed vocal group. Winner of Concorso Polifonico Guido d'Arezzo, Italy, 2011:Vox Gaudiosa, Japan, cond. Ko Matsushita, mixed chamber choir. Winner of Tolosa Choral Contest, Basque Country, Spain, 2011: Oreya, Ukraine, cond. Alexander Vacek, mixed choir.    more...

60th European Music Festival for Young People - Neerpelt, Belgium 27 April – 02 May 2012

The European Music Festival for Young People celebrates in 2012 its 60th diamond anniversary with a participation of 110 choirs, 4500 participants from 25 different countries. Although the European Music Festival for Young People looks a lot different from over half a century ago, the EMJ still knows how to fascinate young vocalists from all over the world. Singing together, across all frontiers and ideologies in a combination of fraternisation and competition, is and will remain one of the festival’s climaxes. Neerpelt wants to be “the place to be” where youngsters from different countries and cultures can meet and appreciate each other through their singing and music. Famous conductors, composers and jury members praise the festival’s values. The combination of fraternisation and competition ensures the presence of the best choirs on stage. The participants know the spirit of the festival also inspires to solidarity in music and to simple border-crossing human contact. All over the world people practise music but nowhere better than in Neerpelt they get the opportunity to develop their talents before an audience of connoisseurs and an international professional jury. The judgement they receive after their jury concert is a standard of value that has built a thorough tradition, appreciated all over the world. The public enjoys all kinds of happenings and evening concerts and as absolute peaks the jury performances, taking place on Saturday April 28, Sunday April 29 and Tuesday May 1. Year after year, visitors are impressed by the unusually edifying performances of the youthful amateurs and learn to appreciate and love music. Further festival information can be read on the festival’s website.    more...