July 11, 2017
High-profile jury to judge Eurovision Choir of the Year 2017
A top-class jury of experienced singing experts including British composer John Rutter, Latvian mezzosoprano Elīna Garanča and Swiss conductor Nicolas Fink will set their eyes and ears on 9 European amateur choirs competing in the premiere of the Eurovision Choir of the Year TV talent competition in Latvia (July 22, 21:00 h EET, Arena Riga).
John Rutter’s works take a permanent place in the contemporary choral literature and are frequently performed by choirs around the world, especially his famous Requiem and Gloria.
The Latvian mezzosoprano Elīna Garanča was born in Riga and has already performed leading parts in most prestigious concert hall around the world, including the Wiener Staatsoper (Vienna), Metropolitan Opera (New York) and the Opéra Bastille in Paris.
Third juror Nicolas Fink from Switzerland is very experienced in conducting choirs and international singing projects. He has worked with the radio choruses of WDR Cologne and MDR Leipzig, the Berlin Radio Chorus, the Choeur de Radio France, and many others. In 2014, he began his tenure as the choral director of the Schleswig- Holstein Festival Chorus.
Eurovision Choir of the Year, organized by EBU and German-based festival promoter INTERKULTUR will be an addition to the Eurovision Family of Events led by the well-known Eurovision Song Contest. The Eurovision Choir of the Year contest will take place within the Grand Prix of Nations Riga 2017 and the 3rd European Choir Games organised by INTERKULTUR and the Riga Tourism Development Bureau (LIVE RIGA). More than 150 choirs from all over the world will convene in Riga for this event.
Everyone can witness the choir competition not only at their TV screens but also follow the event on site in the Arena Riga. Tickets at Biļešu paradīze box offices or online www.bilesuparadize.lv.
The contestants of the Eurovision Choir of the Year 2017 are prominent amateur choirs that have won prizes at choir festivals both locally in their home countries and internationally. More on: http://eurovisionchoir.tv/
Additional information: Dace Jansone Ilze Salna Latvian Television The Grand Prix of Nations Riga 2017 and the 3rd European Choir Games Communications director Head of Public Relations Phone: +371 67200851 Mobile phone: +371 29404124 Mobile phone: +371 28655072 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]