Professor Peter Erdei, Hungary

Professor Peter Erdei was Director-General of the Zoltan Kodaly Pedagogical Institute of Music, Kecskemet, Hungary between 1974 and 2008. He earned his diploma in 1968 from the Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest and was Associate Professor of Choral Conducting there from 1973 until 2003. In 1969, Professor Erdei co-founded the Kodaly Musical Training Institute in Boston, MA. Now, he is Chairman of the Artistic Board of the Béla Bartók Int. Choral Competitiion of Debrecen, as well as a permanent guest professor of the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing. For years he has conducted the Hungarian Radio Choir, the Kodaly Choir of Debrecen, and the Teacher's Choir of Kecskemét. He also conducted the World Youth Choir in 2000.

Over the last three decades Professor Peter Erdei has won several awards for his premiere performances and recordings of contemporary Hungarian choral works. In addition, Professor Peter Erdei is often invited to adjudicate at international festivals and competitions and loves to do so. Last but not least, he was given the Liszt Prize for Performing Arts in Hungary, and has earned himself a Doctorate Honoris Causa from Capital University, Columbus, OH.

With such an extensive record it should be no surprise that in 1995, the president of the Hungarian Republic awarded him with the Order of Merit (civilian) Officer Cross.

Christian Balandras, France

Christian Balandras studied music with an emphasis on singing and choral conducting with leading French teachers Philippe Caillard, César Geoffray and Jacques Chailley, in Lyon and Paris.

Between 1971 and 2006 he taught music and conducting in Tours (Education Nationale). He is also founder and conductor of the Tours University Orchestra and, between 1971 and 1983, conducted the Grand Theatre Choirs for opera and operetta. Since 1994 Christian Balandras is the Director of the “Florilège Vocal de Tours” Festival, which organizes an international competition bringing up to one thousand singers together.

He is often called upon as an international adjudicator, most recently adjudicating in Greece (Karditsa and Preveza), Bulgaria (Varna), Italy (Gorizia and Arezzo), Ireland (Cork, 1999), Hungary (Debrecen), Belgium (Maasmechelen), Switzerland (Montreux and Neuchâtel), Spain (Torrevieja) and Slovenia (Maribor 2006 and 2008).

Most recently, Christian Balandras became President and Artistic Director of the “Winner Choirs Festival” in Vaison-la-Romaine. In addition, he often also manages a variety of young choirs throughout Europe. To help and encourage young choristers, Christian Balandras has been developing a special choral collection called “Chantador”. In recognition of his teaching, France has awarded Mr Balandras the “Palmes Académiques” decoration

Orla Flanagan, Ireland

Orla Flanagan studied music at Trinity College Dublin and completed her postgraduate training in conducting with Péter Erdei at the Zoltán Kodály Institute of Music, Hungary. She has also participated in conducting courses and masterclasses throughout Europe with Gary Graden, Carlo Pavese, Anders Eby, Celso Antunes and George Hurst.

Orla has conducted the Mornington Singers since 2002. Under her direction, the choir has been awarded numerous prizes at the Cork International Choral Festival. In 2006 she gained the International Jury Award at the Fleischmann International Trophy Competition, and in 2008 the Mornington Singers were awarded Third Prize in the Fleischmann International Trophy Competition. The choir’s performances over the past twelve months have included appearances at Leinster House (as part of Culture Night 2008) and the Electric Picnic music and arts festival, and recent tour destinations have included Italy, Estonia and Newfoundland.

Orla also directs Milltown Chamber Choir, a nine-voice professional vocal ensemble based in Milltown Church, Dublin, and has recorded for RTÉ as a guest conductor with the National Chamber Choir of Ireland. Other recordings include a selection of music for Advent and Christmas recorded with the Milltown Chamber Choir, and Solas, Orla’s first CD with the Mornington Singers. Orla has been a lecturer in the Department of Music at Trinity College Dublin since 2002.

Ragnar Rasmussen, Norway

Ragnar Rasmussen is Associate Professor in choir conducting at the Music Conservatory, Tromso, Norway and artistic director/chief conductor of Vokal Nord vocal ensemble and the Mimas Chamber Choir. This year he is also engaged as conductor of the Norwegian National Youth Choir and last year Mr. Rasmussen was guest professor at the Academy of Music, University of Slovenia. He studied church music at the Trondheim Music Conservatory, Norway, choir conducting with Eric Ericson and Stefan Sköld from Sweden and orchestra conducting with Colin Metters, head of conducting at the Royal Academy of Music, London and Jorma Panula, professor at former Royal College of Music in Stockholm and at the Sibelius Academy Helsinki.

As conductor of the choirs Saga, Mimas and Vokal Nord he has numerous first prizes including several awards for best conductor in choral competitions in Norway and abroad. He successfully participated at the competitions for choral conductors in Bologna, Italy (2001) and received 1. prize ("1.editione Concorso Internazionale Direttore de Coro, Mariele Ventre") and was awared the Albo d’oro award from Fondazione Mariele Ventre, Bologna, Italy (2004). As guest conductor he also works with orchestras throughout Europe.

Ragnar Rasmussen frequently holds lectures and workshops for conductors in Norway and abroad. He is often also a member of juries at prestigious national and international choir and conducting competitions. In 2007 Ragnar Rasmussen was awarded the Tromso University College Honorary Research Prize and in January 2008 he received the prestigious Northern Lights Prize for the creative artistic leadership of the choirs Mimas and Vokal Nord, his international teaching activities and for the promotion of Norwegian culture abroad.

Dr. Mark Sirrett, Canada

Dr. Mark Sirett is a native of Kingston and graduate of Queen's University. He holds both masters and doctoral degrees in choral conducting and pedagogy from the University of Iowa. He has taught at the University of Alberta, the University of Western Ontario and Queen's, and for six years served as Organist/Music Director at St. George's Cathedral, Kingston. Under his direction the Cathedral Girl Choristers won first prize in the 1996 CBC Choral Competition for amateur choirs. He is director of Queen's Choral Ensemble where he also teaches conducting.

In the fall of 1996 he became founding Artistic Director of the Cantabile Choirs of Kingston, a multi-choir educational programme consisting of six choirs with 300 singers. The choirs have received numerous distinctions including the Mathieson Trophy for the Girls' Choir at the provincial and national level, and the Cooke Trophy and City of Lincoln Trophy for the Youth Singers and Madrigal Singers at the provincial level. The Women's Chorus were recent semi-finalists in the CBC Choral Competition.

Dr. Sirett has won two international awards in conducting: the International Jury Award for Imaginative Programming and Artistry at the 2002 Cork International Choral Festival, Ireland and Outstanding Conductor at the Young Prague Festival in 2004. Dr. Sirett is also an award-winning choral composer whose works have been published in Canada, the US and Sweden. He is frequently in demand as a guest conductor, clinician and adjudicator, and has adjudicated major choral festivals in Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal, Calgary and Edmonton. Most recently Dr. Sirett was recipient of the 2008 President's Award from Choirs Ontario in recognition of his exceptional leadership, vision and arts advocacy in the province of Ontario.

Dónal Doherty, Ireland

Dónal Doherty was educated in the Schola Cantorum, Mullingar, University College, Dublin and the National University of Ireland. Important early influences were Frank McNamara (Director, Schola Cantorum) Mabel Swainson (piano) and Gerard Gillen (organ).

Following several organ and choral appointments in Dublin, Dónal moved to Derry in 1982 where he was appointed Director of Music in St Eugene's Cathedral and Head of Music in St Columb's College. From 1992 – 2000 he was co-founder and joint artistic director, along with Timothy Allen of St Columb’s Cathedral, of the Two Cathedrals’ Festival. In 1996 Dónal was appointed Head of Music Services for the Western Education and Library Board. The City of Derry Civic Choirs were established in 1997 with the support of Derry City Council, WELB and the Arts Council. From an initial group of 2 choirs, the scheme has now expanded to cater for over 200 choristers performing in a variety of ensembles: Primary Girls, Junior Girls, Boys, Youth and Codetta, an internationally recognised adult chamber choir.

Dónal has worked extensively as a performer, conductor and adjudicator. He has served as an executive member of the National Association of Music Educators and on the editorial board of the British Journal of Music Education. He is currently an executive member of the Federation of Music Services and a board member of both the Ulster Youth Orchestra and the Ulster Youth Choir.