Artistic Concept

In the course of the successful events since 2000, the artistic committee and the World Choir Council have received a large number of ideas and suggestions on how to improve the competition. The crucial point of change is that as of 2010 the World Choir Games will consist of two separate competitions, which will reflect the spectrum of the choirs' levels of accomplishment better and give every choir the opportunity to express its abilities in the right kind of competition.

The competitions are called The Champions Competition and The Open Competition. When a choir's application is confirmed by the artistic committee, it will also be informed which competition it will be participating in. Differences regarding this decision will be solved by the choir’s participation in a Qualification Concert that will be held in front of a competent jury. And also choirs participating for the first time can choose this opportunity to find out which category will be the most suitable for them. Qualification Concerts always take place before the competitions.

Conditions of Participation

Admission to the World Choir Games – The Champions Competition is by decision of the Artistic Committee of the World Choir Games. Choirs can apply for this competition, submit qualifications or be delegated. This competition is designed for choirs which have corresponding international competitive experience and have already proven their abilities in concerts and international choral competitions.

The choirs are being evaluated by an international jury according to the evaluation system of the World Choir Games (100 points system). They receive Bronze, Silver or Gold Medals depending on the number of points. The choir of the given category with the Gold Medal and highest number of points will be awarded the title "Champion of the World Choir Games".

Recommended for:

Admitted by:

Jury:

A jury of seven international music experts will evaluate The Champions Competition.

Evaluation system of the World Choir Games (Number of points: 100):

Titles and Awards:

In each category: "Champion of the World Choir Games" for the best choir with a Gold Medal.

Comparable are: a) Children’s and Youth, Sacred and Contemporary, b) Mixed, Male, Female, Sacred and Contemporary, c) Jazz, Gospel and Pop, d) Folklore

Conditions of Participation

Any amateur choir* of any kind may take part. Following the idea of the World Choir Games "Participation is the highest honor", all choirs, regardless of their present artistic level of achievement, have the opportunity to present themselves in the World Choir Games – The Open Competition and gather valuable experience in an international competition.

The choirs will be evaluated by an international jury (5 adjudicators) in accordance with the MUSICA MUNDI evaluation system (30 points system) and receive Golden, Silver and Bronze Diplomas. The best choir of each category with a Golden Diploma and the highest number of points becomes Winner of the World Choir Games – The Open Competition.

Recommended for:

Admitted by:

Jury:

A jury of five international music experts will evaluate The Open Competition.

MUSICA MUNDI evaluation system (Number of points: 30):

Titles and Awards:

Each category:
"Winner of the World Choir Games – The Open Competition" for the best choir with a Golden Diploma.

To qualify as an amateur choir means that no choir member except for the conductor may earn his living by professional singing.

Conditions of Participation

Held before "World Choir Games – The Champions Competition" and "World Choir Games – The Open Competition"

Choirs have the opportunity of being evaluated by a competent jury and of receiving advice which of the competitions (World Choir Games – The Champions Competition or World Choir Games – The Open Competition) will be the best one for the choir to present its current level of artistic achievement. The choirs will perform the same program as in the competition.

Recommended for:

Jury:

A jury of five international music experts will evaluate the Qualification Concert. The jury only decides whether to send the choir to the "The Open Competition" or the "The Champions Competition". The jury’s evaluation is final; diplomas or points are not presented.

Prof. Dr. Ralf Eisenbeiß

Ralf Eisenbeiß was born in 1952 in Zeulenroda. After his secondary school examination he studied pedagogy, German philology and musical education. He received his PhD in 1979 at the Pedagogical University of Zwickau. From 1978 to 1981, he studied choir and orchestra conducting at the Franz Liszt Conservatory in Weimar.

Ralf Eisenbeiß was working as the director of the choral department at the Pedagogical University in Zwickau and appointed professor for choir conducting and choral singing in 1987. He was conductor of the renowned Pedagogical University Zwickau Choir. With his choir he performed a wide repertoire of compositions for a cappella choirs and with orchestra, too. Under his direction the choir won numerous prizes at national and international choir competitions.

Ralf Eisenbeiß was lecturer at the central seminar for choral conductors in Berlin and organized numerous workshops himself. He often appears as guest conductor at home and abroad. Since almost 30 years he works as artistic director of INTERKULTUR. Ralf Eisenbeiß is founder of the Int. Robert Schumann Choir Competition in Zwickau and one of the founders of the World Choir Games. Since 1992 he was responsible for more than 150 international competitions of INTERKULTUR in Germany, Italy, Korea, Indonesia, China, Austria, Spain, USA and other countries. Ralf Eisenbeiß is very often invited as a juror in national and other international choir competitions all over the world.

Mikis Theodorakis †

- in memoriam -

Mikis Theodorakis, the famous Greek composer and song writer, was born in 1925. He wrote more than 1000 songs which combine Greek folk tradition with modern poetry. He also created a number of orchestral works including seven symphonies. Apart from his songs he is well-known for his great choral works, for instance Canto General (1982) (text by Pablo Neruda) and the oratorio "Axion Esti" (1960) (text by Nobel Prize winner Odysseas Elytis). His soundtrack for Zorba the Greek (1964) made him famous all over the world.

Mikis Theodorakis passed away on September 2, 2021 at the age of 96.

Prof. Dr. Morten Lauridsen

The music of Morten Lauridsen, recipient of the National Medal of Arts, occupies a permanent place in the standard vocal repertoire of the Twenty-First Century. His seven vocal cycles, instrumental works and his series of a cappella sacred motets (including O Magnum Mysterium) are regularly performed throughout the world by distinguished artists and ensembles and have been recorded on over two hundred CDs. His five Grammy nominations include two recordings named "Lux Aeterna" performed by top-class ensembles.

A native of the Pacific Northwest, Lauridsen first worked as a fire-fighter and staff member of the Forest Service near Mount St. Helens before coming to Los Angeles in order to study composition with Ingolf Dahl, Halsey Stevens, Robert Linn and Harold Owen. He chaired the Department of Composition at the USC Thornton School of Music from 1990-2002 and founded the School’s Advanced Studies Program in Film Scoring.

His choral works "O Magnum Mysterium", "Dirait-on", "O Nata Lux" and "Sure On This Shining Night" are the all-time bestsellers. His life as a composer was documented in an award-winning film by Michael Stillwater, "Shining Night: A Portrait of Composer Morten Lauridsen," released in 2012.

In 2006, Morten Lauridsen was named an "American Choral Master" by the National Endowment for the Arts. In 2007 he was awarded the National Medal of Arts, the highest artistic award in the United States, by the President in a White House ceremony “for his composition of radiant choral works combining musical beauty, power, and spiritual depth.” He now divides his time between Los Angeles and his summer cabin on a remote island off the northwest coast of Washington State.

More information on Mr. Lauridsen at www.mortenlauridsen.net

Prof. Zheng Xiaoying

Professor Zheng Xiaoying, first ever female orchestra conductor in China. She was the former artistic director and chief conductor of Xiamen philharmonic orchestra, chief conductor of China National Opera House, dean of China Central Conservatory of Music conducting department and music director of ‘philharmonic female’ orchestra. She was also the artistic director of the 4th and 6th World Choir Games in the year of 2006 and 2010 respectively.

Zheng Xiaoying graduated from China Central Conservatory of Music, attended further education in National Moscow Conservatory of Music in Soviet Union for opera and symphony orchestra conducting. She was honored by the National Culture Department a first prize as excellent conductor, as well as French Literature Art Medal of Honor, China-Russia Friendship Medal twice and etc. As a conductor, she participated often in national important events. She is not only one of the most experienced conducting professors in China, but also an enthusiastic music social activist.

Zheng Xiaoying was recently honored Special Contribution Award for Chinese opera career, Lifetime Achievement Award by Chinese Musicians Association, the title of ‘Chinese Culture Figure’ in 2012 and ‘Lifetime Honorary Conductor’ by China National Opera House in 2014.

John Rutter

Born in London in 1945 he received his first musical education as a chorister at Highgate School. His compositional career has embraced both large and small-scale choral works, orchestral and instrumental pieces, a piano concerto, two children’s operas, music for television, and specialist writing for such groups as the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble and the King’s Singers.

John Rutter co-edited four volumes in the Carols for Choirs series with Sir David Willcocks, and, more recently, has edited the first two volumes in the new Oxford Choral Classics series, Opera Choruses (1995) and European Sacred Music (1996).

He has guest-conducted or lectured at many concert halls, universities, churches, music festivals, and conferences in Europe, Africa, North and Central America and Australasia.

Dr. Hak-Won Yoon

Following his early passion for the world of choral music, Maestro Hakwon Yoon graduated from Yonsei University, College of Music in composition, completed Graduate School at the University of Massachusetts, and acquired an honorary doctorate degree from the Midwest University and Shepherd University. Dr. Yoon started his career as a conductor in 1970 when he led the World Vision Children’s Choir. While conducting choirs such as the Daewoo choir, the Seoul Ladies’ Singers and the Incheon City Chorale, he aimed to close the gap between Korean and global choral music by spreading Korean choral music throughout the whole world. At the same time, he aimed to popularize choral music in South Korea, which was formerly considered as an exclusive activity of a certain social class.

Maestro Yoon’s numerous choral activities include amongst other his engagement as the Chairman of the Board for Korean Federation for Choral Music, President of the KCMA, permanent conductor of the Daewoo Choir, Director of the IFCM and Dean of the College of Music at the Chung-Ang University. Currently, he dedicates his time to choral music e.g. as an Honorary Professor at the Chung Ang University, Art Director of Seoul Ladies’ Singers, Director of Korean Choral Conductor’s Academy, and as the newly elected Honorary Artistic President of INTERKULTUR.

Christian Ljunggren †

- in memoriam -

Christian Ljunggren was born in 1942. He studied music at the Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm as well as musicology and theology at the University of Uppsala. For many years he worked at the Music Department of the Swedish National Broadcasting Company, and was responsible for the presentation and programming regarding music.

He was the conductor of the Adolf Fredrik Madrigal Choir since their foundation (1965 and 1974). He was the first President of the Swedish Choral Directors Association (1986 – 1998) and President of KÖRSAM, the joint committee of the Swedish choral organisations (1997 – 2004). From 1997-1999 he worked for the of IFCM, the International Federation for Choral Music, as the Secretary General from 1997-1999 and as a liaison officer (until 2005).

He was one of the Artistic Directors of INTERKULTUR and the Artistic Director of the World Choir Games. Due to his engagement as a clinician for seminars and workshops around the world and having built up the INTERKULTUR series of seminars in China the Swede gained growing recognition since 2003.

Christian Ljunggren has written numerous articles in Swedish and international magazines and was also a keen arranger of choral music.

Prof. Paul Wehrle †

- in memoriam -

As a choral conductor and later a grammar school teacher Paul Wehrle made significant contributions to the development of the choral and musical scene in his home town Karlsruhe and later throughout Germany.

At the Helmholtz-Gymnasium in Karlsruhe he established the musical discipline and in 1979 he conducted the first Abitur examination in this subject. Wehrle also had conducted the school’s chamber choir since the end of World War II and achieved great success and high appreciation at both national and international level.

Working for music in general and choral music in particular Wehrle acted in institutions that since decades have been instrumental in shaping the international music scene. He was Secretary General of the “European Choral Association” (Europa Cantat) from 1963 to 1976 and he laid the foundations for the “International Federation for Choral Music” (IFCM) whose first President he became in 1982. Also the World Symposium on Choral Music is based on Paul Wehrle’s idea.

Paul Wehrle was a tireless visionary and motivator who was able to arrange a national choral competition in the German Music Council and to establish solo singing at “Jugend musiziert” (German music competition). Paul Wehrle received multiple awards for his wide commitment: 1983 he was awarded the Medal of Merit of the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, in 2007 the Golden Staufer Medal and in 1989 he received the Federal Cross of Merit First Class.

For INTERKULTUR Paul Wehrle was one of the pioneers for the World Choir Games and since the year 2000 his valuable support and advice had played a part in establishing the “Olympics of the Choirs”. The idea of the World Choir Council, an advisory board consisting of representatives from more than 90 nations by now, comes from Wehrle as well.

To the last Paul Wehrle was available as a tireless contact person and idea contributor for INTERKULTUR and enthusiastically observed our progression.

Prof. Eric Ericson †

- in memoriam -

Eric Ericson has been called the nestor of Swedish choral music, and had a huge international influence both as a conductor and a teacher. In 1945 he formed his “Kammarkören” (present name Eric Ericson Chamber Choir) which, pursuing ambitious artistic aims, became a model for future chamber choirs. He was surrounded by a generation of Swedish composers like Sven-Erik Bäck, Ingvar Lidholm and Lars Edlund, who wrote pieces for this ensemble and later on for the Swedish Radio Choir. With the Swedish Radio Choir and the male choir OD (Orphei Drängar) he gained an enormous international reputation. His record collection “Europäische Chormusik” (1971) has had a big influence on conductors around the world. Eric Ericson passed away in 2013.

Prof. Yang Hongnian †

- in memoriam -

Prof. Yang Hongnian is a Chinese famous conductor and educator. His conducting style is enthusiastic, delicate and with extremely rich expression. He attracts all the admiration and appraise from music lovers and experts home and broad for not only his unique conducting style but also outstanding skill and considerable culture in training choirs. He is known as the ‘master who truly understands the profound knowledge and secrets of choral art’.

Since the mid-1980s, the Children and Young Women’s Chorus of the China National Symphony Orchestra Prof. Yang Hongnian founded has performed all over the world, and is considered the three best children’s choirs in the world. Prof. Yang Hongnian is also the artistic director and permanent conductor of the choir. As a conductor, Prof. Yang has won global recognition through numerous performances on national and international stages. He frequently sits on judging committees for various choral music competitions. He was given the honorary title ‘Chinese Culture Figure’ in 2014.

Prof. Yang Hongnian passed awayon 26 July 2020 at the age of 86.

Seminars & Workshops

The INTERKULTUR events are not just competitions and international choir festivals but the pedagogical offers also become more comprehensive. In connection with most competitions and festivals (including the World Choir Games) conventions, seminars for conductors, composer presentations and lectures take place. Some of these pedagogical projects address conductors in particular, some also choristers and other people interested in learning more about choral music. In recent years, INTERKULTUR has also arranged separate series of seminars in different countries.