This post was originally posted to the Embro Thistle Singers blog.  The other day, there was a question about whether or not a choir director should sing while directing.  This is an age old question but as usual I have my own ideas.  ...

The IX International choir festival Music and Sea, takes place annually in the middle of September in the beautiful village of Paralia, Greece. Paralia is a touristic seaside village situated on the west coast of the Thermaic Gulf and in the shadow of...  more The IX International choir festival Music and Sea, takes place annually in the middle of September in the beautiful village of Paralia, Greece. Paralia is a touristic seaside village situated on the west coast of the Thermaic Gulf and in the shadow of Olympus. The Festival has two parts: competitive and non-competitive. However, the character and the main concept of both parts is joining music, vacation, friendship and fun. The idea of the Festival is to bring the music closer to the people and to present the music on the streets and the squares of Paralia, Olympic Beach and Katerini. All choir ensembles, regardless of the members’ gender and age can apply for participation at the Festival.  less

The concert "ACH! PG Carnivalesque" under the patronage of Prof. Krzysztof Wilde, rector of Gdańsk Tech, attracted several hundred people who listened to daring performances of popular pop music hits. During the performance we heard choral arrangements of...  moreThe concert "ACH! PG Carnivalesque" under the patronage of Prof. Krzysztof Wilde, rector of Gdańsk Tech, attracted several hundred people who listened to daring performances of popular pop music hits. During the performance we heard choral arrangements of hits such as: "Dancing Queen", "Memory", "California Dreamin'" and "Maria". This time it was not Mozart or Bach, but ABBA, Queen and songs from the musical West Side Story that graced the walls of the Gdansk University of Technology in carnivalesque musical artistic creations. Jazz musicians performed along with the choir, and the musical effects were accompanied by a unique lighting arrangement, which required appropriate space and audience arrangement. The more-than-hour-long performance by the Academic Choir of the Gdańsk University of Technology, conducted by Prof. Mariusz Mróz and accompanied by musicians from the Music Academy in Bydgoszcz, ended with joint Singing, encores and a standing ovation.  less

Tadeusz Maklakiewicz - Kurpie Suite (1955), part I - "Through the woods girl drove the cattle"; University of Warsaw Choir, conductor: Irina Bogdanovich; Legnica Cantat 43 Tournament; special concert of the last year's winner; Church of The Sacre...  moreTadeusz Maklakiewicz - Kurpie Suite (1955), part I - "Through the woods girl drove the cattle"; University of Warsaw Choir, conductor: Irina Bogdanovich; Legnica Cantat 43 Tournament; special concert of the last year's winner; Church of The Sacred Heart of Jesus, Legnica, Poland, 18th May 2012; text: Hey, through the woods girl drove the cattle, Jasiul set a trap for her there. You won't catch me in your trap, but you can persuade me with a kind word. I won't catch you, girl, you'll get caught yourself If you go to the meadow, on the hay.  less

"Be Like the Bird" by Abbie Betinis. Text by Victor Hugo. Recorded live on March 16, 2015, at First Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Performed by the Radcliffe Choral Society of Harvard University and the combined choirs of the Girl Cho...  more"Be Like the Bird" by Abbie Betinis. Text by Victor Hugo. Recorded live on March 16, 2015, at First Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Performed by the Radcliffe Choral Society of Harvard University and the combined choirs of the Girl Choir of South Florida. Director: Beth Willer of RCS. Be like the bird that, pausing in her flight awhile on boughs too slight, feels them give way beneath her -- and sings -- knowing she hath wings.  

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Sometimes in a small group there is just one person out of step with everyone else.   Photo by Trish Steel   In a large choir, it&rsq...

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The Gustavo Gomez Ardila Choir, was founded by the Master Gomez Ardila and a group of University students, with the wish to form a group of people with only one requirement: "ATTITUDE AND LOVE FOR THE CHOIR MUSIC .&q...  moreThe Gustavo Gomez Ardila Choir, was founded by the Master Gomez Ardila and a group of University students, with the wish to form a group of people with only one requirement: "ATTITUDE AND LOVE FOR THE CHOIR MUSIC ." In an effort to continue the legacy of our master, his posthumous work is continuing the effort and commitment to provide excellence in interpretation polyphonic a cappella and to disclose the Colombian folklore where necessary. The Gustavo Gomez Ardila Choir is part of the Santander choir Alliance, and search the communication, teamwork and development of choral music in the region of Santander and Colombia.  less

Welcome to WIFYS, the UK's first-ever international youth Singing festival, organised by Sing UK in association with the European Choral Association - Europa Cantat (ECA-EC). A week-long festival of music, friendship and discovery awaits! Highlights will...  moreWelcome to WIFYS, the UK's first-ever international youth Singing festival, organised by Sing UK in association with the European Choral Association - Europa Cantat (ECA-EC). A week-long festival of music, friendship and discovery awaits! Highlights will include a final night Gala Concert in Worcester's magnificent cathedral, featuring the World Premiere of a specially commissioned work from UK composer Bob Chilcott (Five Days that Changed the World with words by Charles Bennett), individual choirs' concerts in venues in and around the historic city of Worcester, sight-seeing trips and activities for visiting choirs, Welcome Concert in the cathedral, and a concert for participants given by a leading UK vocal group. With the festival being the first event of its kind in the UK, we have taken as our theme, 'Peace & Unity', to reaffirm the continuing mission of ECA-EC, and our own shared aspirations, to work towards a more peaceful world through the engagement of young people from different nations coming togethe...    less

Out Aloud is Sheffield's Gay choir. It was formed in 2006 and enables lesbians, gay men, bisexual and transgendered people in Sheffield to enjoy Singing as a community. There are no auditions and members dont need to be experenced singers or read music.