4 in a Bar, Ireland

 4 in a Bar is the fresh face of barbershop singing in Ireland and officially the No. 1 barbershop quartet in the country. Having been IABS National Barbershop Champions for two consecutive years (and IABS Silver International Medallist in 2010), they have delighted audiences far and near and represented Ireland at international level at the (indhoven European Barbershop Convention 2009.

4 in a Bar carry a very broad repertoire and in addition from singing US-style barbershop classics, the group can go from Michael Jackson and Beatles hits to rousing spirituals and traditional songs in one performance.  The group made its national TV debut in 2008 and were broadcast throughout Ireland and internationally, when  they featured in an advertisement campaign for Meteor mobile phone adverts. 

Since 2010 the group has been busy touring, releasing their debut album,  and performing at various festivals and events. The quartet is currently Ciaran Kelly (lead) from Derry, Paul McGough (bari) from Mullingar, Tristan Caldwell (bass) & Eoin Conway (tenor), both from north County Dublin.

Listen to 4 in a Bar singing Shenandoah:

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Concert Choir Sozvuchie, Russia

Concert Choir Sozvuchie, of Moscow Youth Musical School, was established in 1992 under the initiative of talented Artistic Director Chertishcheva Tatiana.

During the past few years the choir "Sozvuchie" has taken part in many international festivals and competitions including the 2010 International Choir Competition and Festival "European Cup" in Belarus, the 2009 International Choir Festival Slovakia Cantat, where they won a Silver Diploma, and the 2008 International Choir Festival in Halle, Germany where they enjoyed good success.

Travelling to various competitions and festivals has given the choir the opportunity to acquaint international audiences with Russian choral music and to meet other national cultures, musical and performing traditions. The repertoire of the Concert Choir Sozvuchie includes works by both Russian and foreign composers, to include a broad repetoire of folk songs, sacred music and contemporary works, which are performed both a’cappella and with piano accompaniment.

The choir embodies a distinctive performance style which works to preserve the musical traditions of choral music while incorporating elements of contemporary performance styles.

Listen to Concert Choir Sozvuchie singing Shchedrik:

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Jubilant Gospel Girls, Italy

The Jubilant Gospel Group A.P.S was formed in Milan in 1997 by the Jubilant Gospel Girls, the Jubilant Gospel Band and many dedicated friends.  The Group is composed of 18 young high school and university students, all girls aged 15 to 23.

From humble beginnings as a small church group, Director and Conductor Nicole Papa has developed Jubilant Gospel Girls into a strong ensemble concentrating in the main on contemporary gospel and spiritual music, as well as material from musicals and jazz styles. The choir’s repertoire ranges from the spiritual to contemporary gospel, passing through musicals, rock and pop songs along the way.

The choir have performed at countless civic and private events throughout Milan in the last number of years.

In 2009 a new choir composed of parents and friends of the Jubilant Gospel Choir was established, a testament to the long lasting enthusiasm of all involved.

Listen to the Jubilant Gospel Girls singing Oh Freedom (Live):

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Octuor Vocal De Sion, Switzerland

Octuor Vocal De Sion was established in 1976 by the conductor Rev. François-Xavier Amherdt.  membership down though the years, but has been singing together in its current formation for almost seven years now.

Octuor Vocal has a wide repertoire of sacred music including orthodox and latin liturgies, as well as spiritual music from around the world.  The choir uses male counter tenors in a style similar to well known English group "The King's Singers".  Octuor Vocal’s non sacred repertoire covers classical works, popular songs, swing and much more, which have been specifically arranged for them by a talent group of composers. 

The choir’s penchant for eclecticism is displayed through their exciting concerts and diverse collection of recordings, which includes anniversary albums, a live album, a seasonal carols album as well as a range of a cappella recordings.

The choir have participated in many choral festivals across Europe and in Canada, and have appeared on Swiss radio and TV broadcastings. The choir is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year.

Listen to Octuor Vocal de Sion singing Tequila:

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Regavim Choir, Israel

Regavim Choir was founded in 1983 inTel-Aviv, by celebrated conductor Maestro Ze’ev Ulman and a group of fellow music lovers.  Under Ulmans musical management the choir prospered and within a few years were formally enacted as the representative choir for the city of Tel-Aviv.

Regavim Choir is a mixed community choir with consisting of over 40 singers.  In the last 15 years the choir has operated as an independent organisation, run by its own members.
The group performs a varied repertoire of Hebrew secular and liturgic pieces, folk songs from various countries, gospel, jazz, vocal interpretations for instrumental pieces and, of course, classical choir pieces. The repertoire is performed partly accompanied by piano and partly A-Capella.

Maestro Ze’ev Ulman is the conductor and musical manager of Regavim Choir, also writing the unique arrangements sung by the choir. Regavim Choir has taken part in numerous festivals and competitions both in Israel and throughout Europe and to date has taken three silver medals in international competitions. The choir has recently recorded a professional demo with “a taste” of its abilities, and are currently in the process of recording a full album. Regavim Choir participates regularly in TV and radio broadcasts, at national and municipal events, and has collaborated in the past with eminent Israeli musicians.

Listen to Regavim Choir singing Tilbeshi Lavan:

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Shiran Choir, Israel

Founded in 1979 by composer Haakov Hollaender SHIRAN Choir consists of 35 members, some of whom have been there since the very beginning.

Music Director Haakov Hollaender was with the choir until 1997 when Doron Shenkar took over. Since 2002, David Sebba has been Music Director and arranges all of the compositions sung by the choir. Shiran’s repertoire comprises both Israeli songs, as well as songs from around the world.  As well as participating in musical events, festivals, concerts and vocal assemblies all around Israel, the Choir has performed with the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra and with the Symphonette Raanana Orchestra.  The group has also participated in recordings and live radio and TV broadcasts.

Shiran has performed at international Festivals and tours in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Greece and Portugal and has won gold medals in the MILA Choir Competition in Israel and at international competition in Germany.

Listen to Shiran Choir singing Lu Mtsatich:

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The Academic Student Choir Pedavoces, Finland

The Academic Student Choir Pedavoces (the name is a mix of Greek and Latin and freely translates to “teacher voices”) is a mixed voice student choir based in Vasa, Finland.

The choir was founded in 1974 by Per-Håkan Jansson at Åbo Akademi University. To this date, Pedavoces is the only Swedish-speaking mixed academic student choir in Finland. While still associated with Åbo Akademi University, today Pedavoces is no longer a choir mainly for teacher student and now attracts students from several different universities and polytechnic schools in Vasa.

Pedavoces has recorded two full-length CD’s, the first in 1997 being a compilation of songs from the choir’s standard repertoire and the latter, in 2003, a Christmas-themed recording with a mix of songs in Swedish, Finnish, English and Latin. Pedavoces has participated in two international competitions; at the 2004 International Festival of Advent and Christmas Music in Prague and in the 2006 Malta International Choir Competition & Festival. Pedavoces achieved a position in the silver category in both competitions.

Today, Pedavoces consists of about 40 active singers and is conducted by Maria Timoshenko, a conductor and music teacher. Among her many accolades, she has taken the European Master Class in Choral Conducting at the University of Uppsala in Sweden. Timoshenko has been working in Finland since 2005 and conducts several choirs in the Ostrobothnia region of Western Finland.

Listen to Pedavoces:

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The Young Children’s Choir of Viimsi, Estonia

The Young Children’s Choir of Viimsi Secondary School was established 1974. The School is located in Harju County near Tallinn, the capital of Estonia and is one of the biggest schools in Estonia with 1400 students. The school has four choirs, The Young Children’s Choir (aged 8-12), Boys’ Choir, Children’s Choir and also a Youth Choir. The choir’s original conductor, Elle Toper, stepped down in 2005 with Age Toomsalu taking up the position since then.

The choir has participated in all local and national youth competitions and festivals since its beginning in 1974, and performs regularly at important school celebrations – Christmas, Independence Day, Graduation ceremony and Teachers’ day. In addition to regular choir practice the groups have also organized special singing camps with a focus on fun and enjoyment.

Since 1992 the Young Children’s Choir has been in an exchange partnership with a primary school in Ylivieska, Finland. The choirs have visited each other several times and held joint concerts during the visits. Charmingly, many of the children and grandchildren of the original choral group have also gone on to sing in the choir, ensuring the tradition is kept alive and passed on through the generations.

Listen to the Young Children's Choir:

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