World Choir Games

The idea to create an event like the World Choir Games is based on the Olympic ideals, which aim to peacefully unify people and nations connected by song in a fair competition. This idea is supposed to inspire people to experience the power of interaction by singing together. Unrelated to artistic levels, this approach challenges personality and team spirit likewise. The World Choir Games are an international choir festival taking place every two years on different continents.

This idea of the World Choir Games is based on the personal experience of choir singers from all over the world who pick up and pass on human ideals through song. It contributes to people overcoming conflicts and setting, through their social interaction, an example for other people. Music is the common language of the world and serves as a link between cultures and nations.

Singing together brings nations together
Participation is the highest honor

Next Hosts

Where the next World Choir Games will take place

THESE ARE THE WORLD CHOIR GAMES

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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.

The Champions Competition
The Open Competition
Qualification Concert
Honorary Artistic Presidency

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.

History

GANGNEUNG 2023 - Republic of Korea
FLANDERS 2021 - Belguim
TSHWANE 2018 - South Africa
SOCHI 2016 - Russia
RIGA 2014 – Latvia
CINCINNATI 2012 – USA
SHAOXING 2010 – People’s Republic of China
GRAZ 2008 – Federal Republic of Austria
XIAMEN 2006 – People’s Republic of China
BREMEN 2004 – Germany
BUSAN 2002 – Republic of Korea
LINZ 2000 – Federal Republic of Austria