The application for the Jāzeps Vītols 6th International Choral Conductors Competition is open
To continue the more than a century long tradition of choir singing and choir conducting, the Department of Choir Conducting, Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music /JVLMA/, opens the application for the Jāzeps Vītols 6th International Choral Conductors Competition. It will be held in October 22–26, 2019, when the Department of Choir Conducting marks its 75th anniversary, and the JVLMA – its centenary.
“The aim of this competition is to strengthen the continuity of Latvian and European choir conducting tradition and the prestige of the profession. The professional criteria of choir conducting in this region that includes the Baltic States, the Nordic Countries, and Eastern Europe, are very high. We truly believe that the prestige and development is only possible by setting up high professional standards in general and particularly in music education. To continue this tradition, it is important to inspire and educate the young professionals all over the world” tells Mg. Art. Aira Birziņa, Professor at the Department of Choir Conducting, JVLMA.
Choral conductors, born no earlier than 1989, are eligible for participation in the competition.
The competition consists of three rounds, and the performance of the participants (in rehearsals and concerts) will be evaluated by an international Jury of five members. The Competition will be held in cooperation with the State Choir “Latvija”, the Latvian Radio Choir, and Riga Chamber Choir “Ave Sol”. The mixed choir and symphony orchestra of the JVLMA will also take part in the competition program.
The application must be submitted by June 1, 2019. Please find the detailed information about the regulations of the competition and the application on the website.
Conductors chosen during the preliminary selection and having been invited to participate in the competition will be informed by July 1, 2019.
“The aim of this competition is to strengthen the continuity of Latvian and European choir conducting tradition and the prestige of the profession. The professional criteria of choir conducting in this region that includes the Baltic States, the Nordic Countries, and Eastern Europe, are very high. We truly believe that the prestige and development is only possible by setting up high professional standards in general and particularly in music education. To continue this tradition, it is important to inspire and educate the young professionals all over the world” tells Mg. Art. Aira Birziņa, Professor at the Department of Choir Conducting, JVLMA.
Choral conductors, born no earlier than 1989, are eligible for participation in the competition.
The competition consists of three rounds, and the performance of the participants (in rehearsals and concerts) will be evaluated by an international Jury of five members. The Competition will be held in cooperation with the State Choir “Latvija”, the Latvian Radio Choir, and Riga Chamber Choir “Ave Sol”. The mixed choir and symphony orchestra of the JVLMA will also take part in the competition program.
The application must be submitted by June 1, 2019. Please find the detailed information about the regulations of the competition and the application on the website.
Conductors chosen during the preliminary selection and having been invited to participate in the competition will be informed by July 1, 2019.
About the competition
The Competition is named after Jāzeps Vītols (1863–1948), the founder of the Latvian Conservatory and its first rector, well-known Latvian composer and creator of numerous choir songs. The competition is held every 5 years. The further artistic achievements of the winners of previous years qualify the competition as an event of high artistic value: the laureates among others are Lithuanian conductor Modestas Pitrenas, Latvian Ainārs Rubiķis – now Musical Director of the Komische Oper Berlin, Mārtiņš Ozoliņš – Chief conductor of the Latvian National Opera and Ballet, as well as the outstanding Latvian choir conductors Kaspars Ādamsons and Jānis Ozols.
