XVII International Stasys Šimkus Choir Competition

XVII INTERNATIONAL S.ŠIMKUS CHOIR COMPETITION

Three decades ago an initiative group of choir conductors of Klaipeda leaded by Vytautas Blušius appealed to choirs of Lithuania asking them to participate in a choir competition honorably named after Stasys Šimkus, famous Lithuanian composer.

The historical national regeneration movement opened the new wide opportunities, which earlier were only a dream, in the choral life too. At the end of 1988 there was established a choral association “Aukuras” in Klaipėda. Under the leadership of its first chairman Robertas Varnas, the association kept on organizing the S.Šimkus choir competition. Since 1992 the competition that is launched every second year has become an international and unique event in Lithuania. Its format was gradually crystallizing and the main provisions have been settled: the prolongation of national choral singing traditions, an active integration to the international choral movement, promoting national choral works abroad (the compulsory competition pieces are the works of Lithuanian composers), propagation of a cappella singing, the two-round system of competition, the selection of 15-20 choirs participants, etc.

The last competitions show the growing international attention of high qualified collectives to this choral contest. It’s very nice to notice that that best Lithuanian choirs that are participating quite richly, besides, the choirs of Klaipėda too, not once having won the highest awards, solidly represent quite high our culture of choral singing.

JURI. The international Jury of five members evaluate the performances of the choirs and ensembles using the 100 point system according to the following criteria: the artistic quality of the performance, technical execution, vocal culture and stylistic relevance. Decision of the Jury is decisive.

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