2008 Russia-Finland International Choir Festival
St. Petersburg, Russia & Lahti, Finland
CONDUCTORS: Dr. James Litton & Prof. Vladimir Begletsov
About the Festival:
The Russia-Finland International Choir Festival, June 10-19, 2008 is developed and sponsored by Arts Development International Tours (ADI Tours), an American organization dedicated to the promotion of international understanding through music cultural exchanges around the world, in conjunction with the Smolny Cathedral Choir in St. Petersburg, Russia and the Lahti Conservatory of Music in Lahti, Finland. The Russia-Finland International Choir Festival will bring together excellent choirs of youth, students, and adults for 8 full days of rehearsals, concerts and sightseeing in St. Petersburg, the cultural capital of Russia and in Lahti, famous for its native son, the great Finnish composer, Jan Sibelius.
Choirs must apply to the Festival Organizing Committee by November 1, 2007. They will be accepted on a rolling admissions basis - that is, an acceptance decision will be made within 2 weeks of the receipt of the completed application materials. The sooner the aplication is received, the sooner your choir will be notified of the Organizing Committee's decision.
During the eight Festival days, choirs will have a chance to rehearse together, perform for each other, present their own performance in a series of concerts in and about St. Petersburg and, to participate in combined choirs Gala Performances in the magnificent Smolny Cathedral and the renowned Sibelius Concert Hall.
There will also be many opportunities for meetings, sing-ins and socializing with choirs of different nationalities. The Festival builds to a climactic point at the two Final Gala Concerts on June 15 & June 18, with combined choirs and orchestra conducted by the featured conductors at the renowned Smolny Cathedral and Sibelius Concert Hall.
Choir Size and Status
Children's Choirs: For treble voices only with singers 6-15 years of age. Choirs can be boys only (unchanged voices), girls choirs only or mixed boys and girls (but no tenors and basses).
SATB/Youth Choirs: All choirs must contain tenors and basses. The ages of the singers can range from 7-19 years. A men's choir and a girl's choir can combine for this division, so long as 75% of the singers fall within the 7-19 year age range.
Women's High School Choirs: For SSAA women's choirs with singers 14-19 years of age.
Men's High School Choirs: For TTBB men's choirs with singers 14-19 years of age.
College & University Choirs: For SATB, TTBB or SSAA voices with singers 17-26 years of age.
Adult, Community & Church Choirs: For SATB, SSAA, or TTBB choirs – all ages.
Accommodations, Travel & Cost
ACCOMMODATIONS & TRAVEL: Choir groups will be accommodated mainly in tourist class/3*** hotels in and about St.Petersburg, Russia & Lahti, Finland. The rooms are in twins with single rooms available at an extra cost. Meals are half board (2 meals daily), beginning with dinner on June 13 and ending with breakfast on June 21, and will be usually served in a common dining hall.
IT IS A CONDITION OF PARTICIPATION IN THE RUSSIA-FINLAND INTERNATIONAL CHOIR FESTIVAL THAT THE FESTIVAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE, THROUGH ITS OFFICIALLY APPOINTED IATA LICENSED AND INSURED REPRESENTATIVES, RESERVES THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS TO ORGANIZE AND ARRANGE ALL AIR, ACCOMMODATIONS, MEALS AND TRANSPORTATION TO, FROM, AND DURING THE FESTIVAL. AN EXCEPTION MAY BE GRANTED AT AN EXTRA COST.
COST: The cost of the Russia-Finland International Choir Festival is $1,798.00(USD), per person, and includes full Festival Program and concerts, ground transportation in Europe, accommodations and meals as described above.
Required Repertoire - Children's Choirs / Boychoirs / Girlchoirs / Treble Voices June 10-19, 2008
Ave Maria……………Johannes Brahms
(Carus
Verlag) SSA and Orchestra
Gloria In Excelsis (from Missa St. Leopoldi)……………Michael
Haydn
Dixit Dominus (from Vespers)……………Michael
Haydn
(Copies supplied by James Litton
from his personal unpublished edition)
SSA and soloists or Semi-Choir and Orchestra
Songs Eternity……………Stephen Paulus
(Stephen Paulus Publications) SSA or SSS with Piano
Weep No More……………David Childs
(Santa Barbara Music Publishers SBMP 249) SSA with Piano
Praise His Holy Name……………Keith Hampton
(Earthsongs) two to three part; third part optional) with Piano
Symphonic Poem "Finlandia" (Chorale, only)……………Jan
Sibelius
(Edition not yet decided) SSA parts of the Chorale, only
Required Repertoire - College / High School &
Youth SATB Choirs / Men's & Women's Choirs, Adult & Community Choirs,
Church Choirs June 10 - 19, 2008
Te Deum Op. 103……………Antonin Dvorak
(Choral Parts: G Schirmer 2960 and Orchestra Parts: Kalmus)
SATB, some divisi, SB soli and orchestra
Gloria (from Messa di Gloria)……………Giocomo Puccini
(Choral Parts: G Schirmer LG52130
and Orchestra Parts: rental) SATB and orchestra
Dona Nobis Pacem……………David Fanshawe
(Choral Parts: Hal Leonard and Instrumental Parts: Hal Leonard)
SATB, soprano solo, unison children's choir, and orchestra
Symphonic Poem "Finlandia" (Chorale, only)……………Jan
Sibelius
(Edition not yet decided)
