World Choir Games

Saint John's Choir's performance at Xiamen Choir Games 2006

The World Choir Games (formerly named the Choir Olympics) is the largest choir competition in the world.[1]

Organized for amateur choirs from all over the world, regardless of their country of origin, race, genre of music or artistic ambitions, its motto is "Singing together brings nations together". The idea of the games originated from the effort to bring people together through singing in peaceful competition, showing that unity of nations through the arts can be effectively and illustratively demonstrated and challenged.

Organized by the Interkultur Foundation, the focus of the games is on participation above winning. The games aim to inspire people to "experience the strength of interaction, challenging personality and community equally by singing together".

The most recent host for the games was Sochi, Russia, from 6 July until 16 July 2016, and the next edition of the Games will be hosted by Tshwane, South Africa from 4–14 July 2018.

World Choir Games competitions

World Choir Games Host Cities[2]
Year Competition Host city Dates
2000 1st Choir Olympics Austria Linz, Austria 7–16 July[3]
2002 2nd Choir Olympics South Korea Busan, South Korea 19–27 October[4]
2004 3rd Choir Olympics Germany Bremen, Germany 8–18 July[5]
2006 4th World Choir Games China Xiamen, China 15–26 July[6]
2008 5th World Choir Games Austria Graz, Austria 9–19 July[7]
2010 6th World Choir Games China Shaoxing, China 15–26 July[8]
2012 7th World Choir Games United States Cincinnati, Ohio, United States 4–14 July[9]
2014 8th World Choir Games Latvia Riga, Latvia 9–19 July[10]
2016 9th World Choir Games Russia Sochi, Krasnodar Krai, Russia 6–16 July[11]
2018 10th World Choir Games South Africa Tshwane, South Africa 4–14 July[12]

General

The games are hosted biennially (every even year) in a select city across the globe. Choirs compete in select categories; the 2012 games had 23, such as "Music of the religions",[13] in 2016 there were 29 categories, among them "Senior Choirs" and "University Choirs".[14]

The games consist mostly of competition in two categories, award ceremonies, and opening and closing ceremonies held at the beginning and end of the games, respectively.[15] Choirs compete in two classes (Champions and Open) for Gold, Silver, Bronze, or "Successful Participation" awards.

Also, choirs may choose to participate in workshops featuring renowned choral instructors and friendship concerts, free public concerts where choirs share music with choristers from different parts of the world.[16]

See also

Stellenbosch University Choir

References

  1. Tomczyk, Cari (27 August 2008). "Singing together brings nations together". The Abington Journal. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
  2. "The History of the World Choir Games". Interkultur. Archived from the original on 6 February 2013. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
  3. "1st Choir Olympics Linz, Austria (2000)". Interkultur. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
  4. "2nd Choir Olympics Busan, Republic of Korea (2002)". Interkultur. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
  5. "3rd Choir Olympics Bremen, Germany (2004)". Interkultur. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
  6. "4th World Choir Games Xiamen, China (2006)". Interkultur. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
  7. "5th World Choir Games Graz, Austria (2008)". Interkultur. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
  8. "6th World Choir Games Shaoxing/Shanghai, China (2006)". Interkultur. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
  9. "7th World Choir Games Cincinnati (Ohio), USA (2012)". Interkultur. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
  10. "Rīgā notiks Pasaules koru olimpiāde". Delfi. Retrieved 1 March 2012.
  11. "Interkultur prezidents: Soči ir piemērota vieta koru olimpiādei". Ir.lv. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  12. "World Choir Games - Tshwane 2018: INTERKULTUR". www.interkultur.com. Retrieved 2016-06-17.
  13. Oakwood Staff (16 July 2012). "Oakwood's Aeolians win awards in world choir competition". Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  14. "World Choir Games - Sochi 2016: INTERKULTUR". www.interkultur.com. Retrieved 2016-07-29.
  15. Kettler, Shannon. "World Choir Games to Hold Awards and Closing Ceremonies". WCPO-TV. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  16. "Components of the 2012 Games". 2012worldchoirgames.com. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
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