The 12th International Choir Festival “Tallinn 2011”
April 14 – 17, 2011
Artistic Director of the Festival is Hirvo Surva.
The festival is organised by Estonian Choral Association.
The contest will be held in Estonia Concert Hall (Estonia Blvd 4, Tallinn).
ARTISTIC COMMISSION OF THE FESTIVAL
Heli Jürgenson
Triin Koch
Maarja Soone
Ants Soots
Triin Koch
Maarja Soone
Ants Soots
Registration form HERE!
Rules
1. The contest is open to amateur choirs in all choral categories (mixed, chamber, female, male, children's and youth choirs) and vocal ensembles.
2. The contest is held in the following categories:
Mixed choirs: at least 30 singers
Chamber choirs: 16-32 singers
Female choirs: at least 20 singers
Male choirs: at least 20 singers
Children’s choirs: at least 24 singers (born after 13.04.1995)
Youth choirs: at least 24 singers (born after 13.04.1991)
Renaissance and baroque music: at least 16 singers
Contemporary music (composed after 1960): at least 16 singers
Vocal ensembles: 4-12 singers
3. Category held with the minimum of 3 participant choirs.
4. Each choir may participate in several categories, with the approval of the Festival Artistic Commission.
5. Performing time in each category is 9-12 minutes.
6. Competition program in the categories of mixed, chamber, female and male choirs:
- Compulsory piece
- A song by a composer of the choir’s native country, composed after 1970
- Any piece(s) of the choir’s own choice
One song in the program allowed with accompaniment. Percussion instruments (without tuned pitch) may be used also in other pieces.
7. Competition program in youth choirs’ category:
- A freely chosen piece from Classical or Romantic Period
- A song by a composer of the choir’s native country, composed after 1970
- Any piece(s) of the choir’s own choice
At least one song in the program a cappella.
To enter the competition, choir singers need to be equipped with a document of identification (including a photograph) issued by a competent authority. This document must be shown before appearing on stage.
8. Competition program in children’s choirs’ category:
- A song by a composer of the choir’s native country, composed after 1970
- Any piece(s) of the choir’s own choice
At least one song in the program a cappella.
To enter the competition, choir singers need to be equipped with a document of identification (including a photograph) issued by a competent authority. This document must be shown before appearing on stage.
9. Competition programm in ensembles’ category:
- A freely chosen piece from Renaissance or Baroque Period
- A song by a composer of the choir’s native country, composed after 1970
- Any piece(s) of the ensemble’s own choice
10. Piano and organ will be available on the stage. If your choir will use any other instruments for accompaniment, please inform the organisers about that in the registration form.
11. The Festival has the right to use radio and TV recordings at their own discretion excluding any fees to the participants.
12. All rounds are open for audience.
13. Grand Prix
13.1 Choir performs a program of their own discretion excluding pieces performed in the 1st round.
13.2 The performance time is 12 - 15 minutes.
13.3 The contestants (no more than 6 choirs) will be chosen by the jury from amongst the choirs who have received at least 90 points of the total of 100 in the style category round.
13.4 However, all choirs are expected to have prepared for the Grand Prix. The refusal to participate will result in disqualification.
14. Jury and assessment
14.1. The choirs will be assessed by a 5-member international jury.
14.2 In the 1st Round, the jury will assess interpretation, technical acuity and the difficulty of the program (max 100 points).
14.3 Jurors will give written comments for each choir, which participants will get during 1 month after the competition, with their points.
14.4 The jury has the right to award the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Prizes in each category, with the respective scores of 90, 80 and 70 points of the total of 100.
14.5 In case a choir exceeds the time limit for more than 30 seconds, each extra minute will equal to 1 minus point in the total score. The same rule applies in case of shorter performance time.
14.6 The winner of the Grand Prix round will be chosen by simple majority.
14.7 The jury has the right to award special prizes and/or redistribute the prizes at their own discretion. The decision of the jury is final and will not be submitted to further discussion.
15. Participation conditions
15.1 All singers have to be amateurs, i.e. they cannot have singing as a professional job. The choristers must be the permanent members of the group.
15.2 Each choir will submit the following documents by 18 October 2010 at the latest:
- short annotation (1900-2006 characters) of the choir and the CV of the conductor(s) in English
- photos of the choir and the conductor(s)
- a completed registration form
- a recent (recorded not earlier than 01.01.2009) CD or video recording of a concert (minimum length 15 minutes), not to be returned.
- a copy of the participation fee payment receipt
Please send annotation and photos by e-mail!
15.3 Each choir will cover their travel and accommodation expenses.
15.4 Each choir will transfer the registration fee of 200 € / 3100 EEK for first category and 150 € / 2300 EEK for each following participation category onto the account of Estonian Choral Association. Returnable if the choir should not be chosen to participate. The bank fees will be covered by the payee.
15.5 The final date of registration is 18 October 2010 (date of postage). The artistic board will announce the final list of participant choirs by 21 November 2010 at the latest.
15.6 By March 15, 2011, each choir is requires to submit the scores of the works which will be performed in the competition (5 copies, not to be returned).
The sets of scores should be filed in the order they are going to be performed. The Estonian Choral Association will not be held responsible for the authenticity of the scores.
15.7 The choirs have also opportunity to give a concert (program about 15 minutes) with sacred or secular program.
15.8 It is also possible to participate in the festival and give concert(s), without participating in the competition.
15.9 To enter the competition, singers of children’s and youth choirs’ need to be equipped with a document of identification (including a photograph) issued by a competent authority. This document must be shown before appearing on stage.
Prizes in children’s and youth choirs’ and ensembles’ categories
I koht / 1st Prize 1000 €
II koht / 2nd Prize 700 €
III koht / 3rd Prize 500 €
Prizes in other categories
I koht / 1st Prize 1300 €
II koht / 2nd Prize 1000 €
III koht / 3rd Prize 600 €
Grand Prix: 3000 €
Compulsory pieces
Male choirs: Franz Burkhart "Dies sanctificatus" (2nd part from Zwei Motetten), Doblinger
Female choirs: Knut Nystedt "Sancta Maria" op 138, Norsk Musikforlag
Chamber choirs: Einojuhani Rautavaara "Credo", Fennica Gehrman
Mixed choirs: Pablo Casals "O vos omnes", Tetra Music Corporation (USA)
Contact:
Eesti Kooriühing / Estonian Choral Association
Roosikrantsi 13
10119 Tallinn
Eesti / Estonia
Tel. (372) 627 44 51
GSM (372) 51 44 301
Fax: (372) 627 44 50
e-mail: kooriyhing@kul.ee
Pank / Bank information
Bank Name: SEB Pank
Code: 401
Account name: Estonian Choral Association
Account No: 10 0220 0252 0006
IBAN: EE3910 10 0220 0252 0006
SWIFT: EEUHEE2X
COMMENTS FROM PARTICIPANTS of Tallinn 2009
Thanks and congratulations for a fine festival!
Kaare Hanken (Norway), jury member
Thank you so lot for last time.
Chifuru Matsubara (Japan), jury member
Thank you for inviting me to the festival in Tallinn! It was absolutely great, and one of the most enjoyable events of this kind I have done.
Bob Chilcott (UK), jury member
Thank you very much for the great festival you and your team had organised for us and other choirs - it was a real honour for us to participate in this distinguished event. The organisation of the festival was very professional and we are very satisfied with everything.
Zemgale Mixed Choir, Latvia
Thanks a lot for great competition, you have great organization!
DeCoro Mixed Choir, Latvia
Thank you for a very well organized choir festival in Tallinn! The members of Mariakören have brought with them memories of a lovely Tallinn, friendly people and excellent choir singing in the competions and, not least, in the closing concert. And the arrangements for the closing party was very much appreciated by everyone. Thanks a lot!
Mariakören, Sweden
Thank you very much for the great festival! Thank you for the cordial reception of our choir!
We are very satisfied with the journey to your nice town! We were very contented as well with the hotel, food and festival concerts.
It was a great pleasure, honour and responsibility to sing in the famous Estonia Concert Hall and to compete with the best choirs of Europe.
We were assured once again that the culture of choral singing of Estonia can be taken as one of world benchmarks of the choral singing.
Once more our greatest thanks, embrassing you cordially,
conductor Sergei Ekimov and Female choir of St Petersburg Rimski-Korsakov Musical College (Russia)
conductor Sergei Ekimov and Female choir of St Petersburg Rimski-Korsakov Musical College (Russia)
Thank you very much for a perfectly organized choir competition in Tallinn and also for the recording of our performance!
I think we had a great time in Tallinn and heard some very interesting pieces and choirs.
Foerster Female Chamber Choir, Czech Republic
A wonderful competition with a lot of very good choirs. We enjoyed our stay, and want to come back to Tallinn to see more of the city.
Skedsmo Kammerkor, Norway
Dear Kaie, Dear organisers of the 11th International Choir Festival "Tallinn 2009",
On behalf of the Männerstimmen Basel, I would like to thank you for a wonderful festival. The organisation was just perfect! We had the opportunity to sing in beautiful concert halls and churches and the great fortune to listen to excellent choirs. Thereby we also got the chance to socialise with singers from other choirs.
I am sure our singers will forever treasure Tallinn and the festival in their minds.
Once again, many thanks, and perhaps until soon, since some of us are planning to be back for Laulupidu, the big Estonian song festival in July.
Gregor Beermann, president of the Männerstimmen Basel, Switzerland