BAD ISCHL, AUSTRIA MARCH 4-8, 2021 15th INTERNATIONAL CHOIR COMPETITION & FESTIVAL BAD ISCHL PARTICIPANT INFORMATION GREETING Welcome, dear guests and participants, Come and be part of this magnificent and matchless international choral music event 2021 in Austria! Set in the charming scenery of the Salzkammergut and breathing the inimitable flair of a spa town made famous by the stays of the Austrian imperial family, every performance of a choir in this city becomes a unique artistic and cultural experience. Bad Ischl is an ideal town to host a festival, impressing with the splendour of historical buildings and so rich in stories like the ones about Sissi and Emperor Franz Joseph, probably Austria’s most legendary imperial couple. In addition to the competitions, everyone is invited to join the cheerful encounters between the choirs and the visitors of Bad Ischl in the form of celebration and friendship concerts as well as church services accompanied by choral music. The city of Bad Ischl and the fascinating landscape and atmosphere of the World Cultural Heritage region of the Salzkammergut offer an abundance of treats for tourists wishing to discover some of the most beautiful lakes, mountains and sites of the world. We are looking forward to seeing you again! Welcome and enjoy your stay! Günter Titsch, President INTERKULTUR 2 Bad Ischl 2021 ORGANIZER INTERKULTUR in cooperation with Bad Ischl Hannes Heide - Mayor / Cultural Council Upper Austria – Cultural directorate Salzkammergut Touristik GmbH Brigitte Stumpner - Director Tourismusverband Bad Ischl President INTERKULTUR Günter Titsch (Germany) Artistic Director Bad Ischl 2021 Assoc. Prof. Romāns Vanags (Latvia) INTERKULTUR Artistic Committee Prof. Dr. Ralf Eisenbeiß (Germany) Johan Rooze (Netherlands) Fred Sjöberg (Sweden) INTERKULTUR Executive Committee Günter Titsch (Germany) Qin Wang (China) Stefan Bohländer (Germany) Dr. Christoph Wirtz (Germany), Secretary General 3 Bad Ischl 2021 EVENT SCHEDULE *SUBJECT TO CHANGE* THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY March 4, 2021 March 5, 2021 March 6, 2021 March 7, 2021 March 8, 2021 Arrival / Arrival Departure Departure Rehearsals Stage Rehearsals and Rehearsals Non-Competitive Evaluation Performances and Individual Coachings Evaluation Concerts Gala- and Friendship Concert performances in Bad Ischl and surrounding area Competitions all day competitions Grand Prize Competition Evening: Evening: Official events Closing Event with Awards Opening Concert Gala Concert Ceremony & Choir Party Tourism Sightseeing & excursions (depending on the choir’s individual schedule) PARTICIPATION OPPORTUNITIES 1. Non-Competitive Participation 2. Competitive Participation INTERKULTUR events provide the Competition categories* X opportunity to customize your event Non-competitive Festival Participation** experience by mixing and matching X (Concert Performances only) competitive and non-competitive categories of participation. Choirs may Evaluation Performance* X X choose from the following: Individual Coaching* X X * Friendship Concert Performance included / ** at least two performances included 4 Bad Ischl 2021 1. NON-COMPETITIVE ELEMENTS EVALUATION PERFORMANCE FOR NON-COMPETING CHOIRS EVALUATION PERFORMANCE FOR COMPETING CHOIRS • three (3) pieces of the choir’s choice • presentation of competition program the day before competitions begin • performed before a panel of qualified international jurors who provide • arrival has to be planned for March 3, 2021 immediate positive artistic and pedagogical advice for improvement • performed before a panel of qualified international jurors who provide • certificates of participation will be awarded, as well as evaluation ratings and immediate positive artistic and pedagogical advice for improvement recommendation letters for future INTERKULTUR competitions upon request • evaluation does not involve preliminary decisions regarding the competition result. Number of singers: unlimited Number of singers: according to category rules Singing time: maximum 15 minutes Singing time: according to category rules Accompaniment: unlimited Accompaniment: according to category rules Total time: 45 minutes Total time: 45 minutes 5 Bad Ischl 2021 1. NON-COMPETITIVE ELEMENTS INDIVIDUAL COACHING FRIENDSHIP CONCERTS • one piece of the choir’s own choice Bad Ischl and the surrounding communities of the Salzkammergut are ideal • an international choral expert gives new input for stimulating artistic ideas places for concerts. Participating choirs may register to perform in local concert and interpretive guidance settings together with other international choirs, such as the event venues, • for an effective rehearsal choirs must prepare the music piece in advance churches, and open air on squares and in parks. Choirs must prepare approximately 15 minutes of their own music pre-approved by the INTERKULTUR artistic committee. The concert should be preferably a cappella or with own instruments. (Piano or E-Piano and in churches an organ can be provided upon request.) Number of singers: unlimited Please be aware that several friendship concerts are planned open air. In the rehearsal time: 45 minutes event that weather conditions do not allow this, some concerts may be cancelled Accompaniment: unlimited due to the weather. The organizers will try to manage alternatives but choirs do not have any legal claim to this. Choirs can also take part in Friendship Concerts ONLY (Non-competitive Festival Participation). 6 Bad Ischl 2021 2. COMPETITIVE PARTICIPATION CATEGORY A – DIFFICULTY LEVEL I CATEGORY B – DIFFICULTY LEVEL II A1 – MIXED CHOIRS B1 – MIXED CHOIRS A2 – CHOIRS OF EQUAL VOICES B2 – CHOIRS OF EQUAL VOICES Four (4) pieces have to be performed: Three (3) pieces of different character and preferably from different musical 1) one piece by a composer born between 1809 and 1873 epochs have to be performed. 2) one piece by a composer not from the country, language area or the cultural Depending on the number of registrations in this category the Artistic Committee reserves the right environment of the participating choir to split the category B2 up in to male and female voices. 3) one piece by a living composer 4) one piece of the choir’s choice Depending on the number of registrations in this category the Artistic Committee reserves the right to split the category A2 up in to male and female voices. Number of singers: A1 min. 31; A2 min. 26 Number of singers: unlimited Singing time: The singing time should be at least Singing time: The singing time should be at least 8 minutes 12 minutes and must not be longer than 20 minutes. and must not be longer than 15 minutes. Accompaniment: Maximum 1 with original accompaniment Accompaniment: At least one piece has to be performed a For pieces 1-3 only original compositions are permitted. cappella. 7 Bad Ischl 2021 2. COMPETITIVE PARTICIPATION CATEGORY C – CHAMBER CHOIRS & VOCAL ENSEMBLES CATEGORY G – CHILDREN’S & YOUTH CHOIRS G1 – CHILDREN’S CHOIRS C1 – CHAMBER CHOIRS AND VOCAL ENSEMBLES OF MIXED VOICES G2 – YOUTH CHOIRS OF EQUAL VOICES C2 – CHAMBER CHOIRS AND VOCAL ENSEMBLES OF EQUAL VOICES G3 – YOUTH CHOIRS OF MIXED VOICES Five (5) pieces have to be performed: In G1 three (3) pieces have to be performed: 1) one piece by a composer born before 1809 1) One piece by a composer not from the country, language area or 2) one piece by a composer born between 1809 and 1873 the cultural environment of the participating choir 3) one piece by a composer born after 1950 2) and 3) two pieces of the choir’s choice 4) one piece of the choir’s choice 5) one piece of the choir’s choice In G2 and G3 four (4) pieces have to be performed: 1) One piece by a composer not from the country, language area or the cultural environment of the participating choir 2) one piece by a composer born after 1950 Number of singers: C1 min 4; max 30; C2 min 4, max 25 3) and 4) two pieces of the choir’s choice Singing time: The singing time should be at least 12 minutes and must not be longer than Number of singers: unlimited 20 minutes. Singing time: The singing time should be at least 8 minutes Accompaniment: max. 1 piece with original accompaniment and must not be longer than 15 minutes. For pieces 1-3 only original compositions may be performed. Accompaniment: In G1 at least one piece and in G2/G3 at least 2 pieces have to be performed a cappella 8 Bad Ischl 2021 2. COMPETITIVE PARTICIPATION CATEGORY S – SACRED CHORAL MUSIC A CAPPELLA CATEGORY F – FOLKLORE Three (3) pieces of Christian sacred music of the choir’s choice have to be The ensembles perform a folklore program typical for the choir’s home country. performed. Choreographic or scenic elements may be integrated into performances but A maximum of one Spiritual may be performed in this category. the focus needs to be on the singing. The performance in traditional costumes typical of the country is recommended. In case sheet music is not available, a short description of the program must be provided for the jury (in English). Number of singers: unlimited Number of singers: unlimited Singing time: The singing time should be at least 8 minutes and Singing time: The singing time should be at least 8 minutes and must not be longer than 15 minutes. must not be longer than 15 minutes. Accompaniment: not permitted Accompaniment: Piano accompaniment and traditional folk instruments are permitted for all pieces. Any type of playback and microphones are not permitted. 9 Bad Ischl 2021 2. COMPETITIVE PARTICIPATION CATEGORY P – POPULAR CHORAL MUSIC & JAZZ POPULAR CHORAL MUSIC & JAZZ 4 pieces of the choirs’ choice have to be performed. Number of singers: unlimited Singing time: The singing time should be at least 8 minutes and must not be longer than 15 minutes. Accompaniment: Instrumental accompaniments including electronic instruments are permitted. Improvisations by the vocalists are desirable but not compulsory. Instrumental solos must be kept to a minimum as only the performance of the choir will be evaluated. Amplification: The amplification of voices and instruments is permitted. Equipment suited to the respective venues will be made available on-site. All complicated technical setups must be clarified in advance with the organizers (e.g.