Saturday 2nd May 2009, 3pm & 8pm, Cork City Hall
This prestigious competition yet again sees some of the best choirs from around the world compete for the high-status award. Get ready, as 2009 sees no less than 12 choirs make their trip to Cork, representing Ireland, Finland, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Norway, Poland, Slovenia and U.S.A.
Tickets: €25 / €20 / €15 for 3pm & 8pm sessions combined. €5 For 3pm session only.
Click here for booking information.
Aloys Fleischmann Centenary 2010
The centenary of the birth of Aloys Fleischmann will be celebrated next year. Cork City Council has set up a committee to coordinate the events planned to commemorate the Irish composer, scholar, campaigner, organiser, conductor, professor of music and Freeman of the City of Cork.For more information please click here.
Fleischmann International Trophy Competition Participants 2009
|
Brigham Young University Singers, U.S.A.
The Brigham Young University Singers have built upon the rich choral tradition of the university to achieve a performance style and quality that have drawn enthusiastic responses from audiences all over the world. While firmly rooted in classical choral music, they are known for compelling performances of the best of all kinds of vocal music. The choir’s desire is to share a sense of hope, beauty and goodwill to audiences at home and around the world.Each year the choir brings together approximately 40 multi-talented students from all areas of the United States, representing a broad diversity of educational pursuits. The students agree to a rigorous rehearsal/performance schedule and the memorization of each year’s repertoire list. Their ability and love for music is evidenced in their artistry, expressiveness, commitment and versatility.
|
|
The choir has produced five CD recordings on the Tantara and Arsis labels.
BYU Singers have performed in Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, the Sydney Opera House, the Brahmssaal in Vienna, the Kappella in St. Petersburg, Exeter Cathedral in England, St Matthew’s Cathedral in Auckland and Henry Crown Hall in Jerusalem. In addition, the choir has twice sung series of concerts throughout Israel in collaboration with the Israel Chamber Orchestra. Concert tours have taken the choir to most of the states of the USA, and abroad to Ghana, Togo, Benin, Lithuania, Latvia,
Estonia, Jordan, Egypt, Switzerland, Belgium, South Africa and twice to Canada and Russia.
|
Camerata Vocalis Tubingen, Germany
The chamber choir Camerata Vocalis Tübingen concentrates mainly on a wide range of cappella repertoire. With its numerous concert tours within and outside Europe as well as CD recordings, radio and TV productions Camerata vocalis has acted as a musical ambassador for Tübingen and its university.
In recent years, concert tours led the choir to China (2001), Morocco, Groningen in the Netherlands (both 2003), Poland (2004), Brazil (2005), the U.S. and Canada (2008). In April 2002 the ensemble participated in the International Festival of University Choirs Universitas Cantat in Poznan, Poland.
|
|
In July 2003, at the 40th International Competition for Choirs in Spittal an der Drau (Austria), Camerata vocalis won a third prize in the “Kunstlied” category. In 2007 the ensemble attended the Internationale Koorwedstrijd van Vlaanderen-Maasmechelen in Belgium. Lately Camerata vocalis performed at the ACDA Conference NW Division in Vancouver B.C.
Recent CD recordings include “Engelsgesänge” (2006) and “Liebeleyen” (2008)
CONDUCTOR – Tobias Hiller
Tobias Hiller studied Music Education in Freiburg, Geography, History and later Choir and orchestra Conducting at the Musikhochschule Frankfurt am Main. Since 1997, Hiller has been teaching regular courses in choir conducting and ensemble singing since 2005 also in Brazil and the U.S.
In October 1999, Tobias Hiller was called to the position of University Music Director in Tübingen. Since then, he and his various ensembles have accepted invitations to perform throughout Europe, China, Morocco, Brazil and Northern America. He was also invited as guest conductor for various choirs and orchestras who performed in the U.S., Switzerland, the Czech Republic and France.
|
Cantemus Chamber Choir, Ireland
Cantemus was formed in the autumn of 2004 with the aim of establishing a reputable chamber choir in the East Cork region. The choir rehearses in Midleton, and presents two full length concerts annually at various East Cork venues. The choir now has a large repertoire of shorter choral pieces in a wide variety of styles, along with a handful of larger scale works.
|
|
The choir has undertaken competitive performances at international choral festivals in its third and fourth seasons. It has won the international competition for madrigal singing in Sligo, and has won the National Competition for Chamber Choirs at the Cork festival for the past two years. Cantemus was nominated National Choir of the Festival at the most recent Cork festival, and will take part in the Fleischmann International Trophy competition in May.
The members of the choir, and their conductor Tomás Ó Tuama, are committed to building on their growing reputation as a successful choir that can perform difficult music to a high standard, and present it to the smaller (but no less enthusiastic) audiences outside of the well-served city area.
|
Codetta, Ireland
Codetta is a chamber choir based in Derry, N. Ireland. Its members are all originally from Derry but now live, work and study in towns and cities throughout Ireland, the UK and Europe.
The wide-ranging repertoire of the choir is prepared at intensive weekend rehearsals held monthly throughout the year. Codetta has given many concerts both locally and nationally, participated in the Advent Festival in Prague, successfully competed in a range of international choral festivals, most recently at the prestigious International Choral Competition in Maribor, Slovenia, and broadcast regularly on BBC Radio and Television. The choir is directed by Dónal Doherty.
Future plans for Codetta include recording of a CD in collaboration with Gerard McChrystal (saxophone) and the organisation of a Choralfest in the city of Derry.
|
|
|
Cois Cladaigh, Ireland
Cois Cladaigh, founded in 1982, is a mixed voice choir that specialises in contemporary choral music particularly from Ireland and Renaissance music. They have travelled widely throughout Ireland and have visited several European countries, the most recent of which was to Estonia in October 2007. Poland is their destiny in October 2009.
In May 2008, Cois Cladaigh gave the Irish premier performance of the young U.K. composer Tarik O’Regan’s “Scattered Rhymes” in Galway with the internationally renowned Orlando Consort as part of the Galway Early Music Festival.
Cois Cladaigh takes an active role in commissioning contemporary Irish composers to write pieces for them but has also worked with the New Zealand composer, David Hamilton. The Basque composer Javier Busto wrote a piece to celebrate the choir’s 20th anniversary and the U.S composer Matthew Harris.
As part of their 25th anniversary celebrations, with financial aid from the Arts Council, they invited the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir to give 3 concerts in Ireland. The event was a great success. They have more plans in place to bring choirs of exceptionally high standards to perform in Ireland.
In September 2000 Cois Cladaigh launched its first recording called “Lux Aeterna” which is a selection of the choir’s Renaissance and contemporary spiritual music. They launched 2 others “An Equal Music” and “Beatus Vir” in November 2008.
|
|
|
Coro da Camera, Trentino, Italy
“Coro da Camera Trentino” was founded in 1998 by Giancarlo Comar as a part of Scuola di musica di Borgo, Levico e Caldonazzo” (Trento-Italy).
Besides numerous concerts and musical events in Trentino and in other Italian Regions, the choir attended several polyphonic contests with good results. Among national competitions they received second prize in “Vocal groups” category at “10º Concorso Polifonico” (2000) at Palazzo Pignano (Cremona), the “Golden medal” in “Poliphony” in 2003 and 2006 editions of “Concorso Nazionale di Quartiano” (Lodi), the first prize in “Gospel and Spiritual” category in the edition 2006 of the same contest and the 2nd prize at XXII Concorso Polifonico Nazionale Guido d’Arezzo” in 2005.
|
|
The choir participated also in the International competitions “C. A. Seghizzi” (Italy) and “Florilege Vocal de Tours” (France). In September 2008 the choir won the 3rd prize at the 56th edition of “Concorso Polifonico Internazionale Guido d’Arezzo” (Italy). In December 2006 it was invited to sing at the Italian parliament for the bewitching “Christmas concert of the Mountain Choirs”.
In 2007 the choir had a great experience with the world famous violincellist Mario Brunello and with Moni Ovadia for the musical event “Fuochi in cielo, Fouchi in terra” (“Fires in the sky, Fires on the earth”) promoted by the internationally renowned association “Arte Sella” from Borgo Valsugana.
The repertoire of the choir includes sacred music from Renaissance to contemporary, spirituals and gospels, pop music and Trentino Mountain Songs.
|
Chamber Choir Gallerie, Finland
The Chamber Choir Gallerie (Kamarikuoro Gallerie) was founded in Helsinki in 2003 by its conductor, Victoria Meerson. It was originally known as the Women’s Choir Ensemble Gallerie (Naislauluyhtye Gallerie), but was officially registered in 2006 under the above name. There are at present about twenty female singers in the choir. The choir’s repertoire covers classical music from different periods, sacred music (Orthodox and Western), folk music, high quality popular music and even Gipsy romances.
The Chamber Choir Gallerie aspires to musically ambitious standards, but its members also aim to find joy in singing together and to learn positive social skills in an international context. The choir respects multicultural human values and is dedicated to building equality in society by means of art. It has both immigrants and Finnish women in its ranks.
|
|
In 2008 the Chamber Choir Gallerie participated in the 26th International Choral Festival and the 14th International Choral Competition of sacred Music at Preveza, Greece. The choir was awarded a silver medal in the Category of the Chamber Choirs and a special prize of the whole competition for the best performance of Orthodox Music.
|
Kammerchor 'I Vocalisti', Germany
The KAMMERCHOR "I VOCALISTI" is an amateur choir with professional standards. Its 30 members bring with them previous musical experience and have trained voices.
It is their common interest to perform sacred and secular choir music at the highest possible level. Besides the work of ancient masters such as Bach, Brahms and Mendelssohn they also focus on new contemporary pieces. On these occasions they cooperate closely with composers for example Vic Nees (Belgium), Aleksandar S. Vujic (Serbia) and Bernd Franke (Germany) have specially written pieces for this choir.
Since its foundation in 1991 the ensemble has performed in numerous concert series and has been a prize winner at national and international choir competitions. In addition, the choir has made productions for radio (NDR) and television (ARD) as well as for Carus-Verlag Stuttgart.
|
|
The ensemble performs at important festivals, among other the German “Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival” in France the “Festival des choeurs lauréates” and on Sardiny the Festival “Voci d’ Europe”.
As a guest i.e. in master courses the KAMMERCHOR "I VOCALISTI" works with conductors such as Volker Hempfling, Frieder Bernius and Malcolm Goldring. The choir has also received awards in the following competitions: -
36th International Choral Contest Tolosa, 2004 – 1st prize in “Polyphony” and 2nd prize in “Folklore”.
8th International Chamber Choir Competition Marktoberdorf, 2003 – 2nd prize and special prize for the most interesting competition program.
6th German Choir Competition 2002, Osnabrück – 1st prize.
|
Nidaros Cathedral Girls Choir, Norway
Nidaros Cathedral Girls Choir was founded in 1992 and is one of five choirs at Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim, Norway. The choir is known for its high artistic quality and wide musical range. The choir sings regularly at services and concerts at Nidaros Cathedral, and at other concert venues. They also go on tours, participate in choir competitions, collaboration concerts and missions for the business community.
The choir has 40 members ranging in age from 15 to 21 years. The conductor and artistic leader is Anita Brevik. She has conducted the choir since its establishment in 1992 and she is an important source of inspiration for the girls. Several years of systematic work with the voices has given results of a warm and balanced sound.
Nidaros Cathedral Girls Choir has attended many large national events at Nidaros Cathedral, as the wedding of Princess Märtha Louise in May 2002, the visit of the Japanese emperor in May 2005 and the Coronation anniversary in 2006.
The choir has worked with several important ensembles, orchestras and television companies such as the St. Olaf Choir from Minnesota, U.S.A., New College Choir from Oxford, Trio Mediaeval, the singers Randi Stene, Sissel Kyrkjebǿ, PBS (Public Broadcasting Service, U.S.A.), NRK (Norwegian Broadcasting) and the producer Malcolm Bruno (associated with the Taverner Consort).
Nidaros Cathedral Girls Choir has from the very beginning been engaged in finding its own style and expression, in broadening the repertoire for the girl’s choir and in re-discovering works originally written for girl choirs
|
|
|
The Ptuj Male Chamber Choir, Slovenia
The choir has been working for more than 50 years. Prof. J. Gregorc, in Slovenia famous conductor, established the choir in 1953. B. Rajšter took over the leadership in 1963. F. Lačen succeeds him in 1979. Today’s conductor prof. Ernest Kokot has taken over the choir in year 2005.The greater parts of members are from Ptuj and its surroundings.
Choir program is mainly folk songs and there are some modern compositions too. In program predominates Slovene composers. The choir performs one or two concerts per year and it takes part in a regional singing performance every year. The choir sang in Austria, Germany, France, Hungary, Switzerland, Italy, Holland, Czech Republic, Serbia, Canada, USA, Greece and Croatia.
|
|
The choir has had a lot of international successes. The most important of last ten years are: gold and silver medals on International competition Svátky Písní ( Olomoucu, Czech Republic) in 2001 and 2002, second place on International competition Kathaumixw 2003 (Powell River, Canada), golden medal on Slovenian Regional adult choir competition 2006, silver medals on International Sacral Music 2007 (Preveza, Greece), golden medal on International male choir competition Lipanjski zvuci 2008 (Petrinja, Croatia).
For the cultural work of the choir, the singers have become several national awards and recognition’s.
|
Warsaw School of Economics' Choir, Poland
The choir of the Warsaw School of Economics is made up of its students and graduates. These young people are given an opportunity to improve their singing skills, broaden their minds as well as have fun and make friends. All that makes the members stay in the choir for years.
It is a mixed choir consisting of soprano, alto, tenor and bass voices, each of them is divided into two. In 1993 Iwona Bednarska and Tomasz Hynek, who are both graduates from the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw, started to conduct it. Right now it is directed by Tomasz Hynek and Karolina Trusiewicz.
The present repertoire includes works of classical composers as well as modern and pop music. Compositions of G.G. Gorczycki, W.A. Mozart, G.F. Handel, M. Zieleński, J.L.F. Mendelssohn, negro spirituals and secular music of C. Monteverdi can be numbered among the most often presented pieces. Transcriptions of pop music songs (the Beatles, Bobby McFerrin, Simon & Arundel) prepared by both conductors are a significant showcase of the choir, which also performs Polish and English carols, traditional academic songs and national anthems of different nations.
|
|
It is a really active musical ensemble taking part in many concerts and competitions in Europe. In 2001 the choir won the second prize on the international Choir Competition Rolando did Lasso in Camerino, Italy. The choir has successfully taken part in several prestigious competitions such as “Legnica Cantat”, “Łapskie Te Deum”, C.A. Seghizzi”, “Varsovia Cantus”, winning the top prizes and the Grand Prix in the “Vivat Academia” festival taken place in the Warsaw University of technology. One of the greatest achievements of the choir was performing “Passio Domini nostri jesu secundum Joannem” by Arvo Pärt together with the orchestra and soloists. These ambitious and creative singers make every performance a special event. They sing both during the formal ceremonies and informal get-togethers creating a fantastic and unforgettable atmosphere.
|
