Sydney Chamber Choir a prize-winner in Spain
MEDIA RELEASE
Tolosa, Spain, 1 November 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sydney Chamber Choir a prize-winner in international competition, Spain
Sydney Chamber Choir has been ranked third out of a field of ten top choirs from around the world in its first ever appearance in an international choral competition.
The Choir took out 3rd Prize in both the mixed voice categories in which it competed – Polyphony and Folklore – in the 41st Tolosa International Choral Festival in northern Spain.
The Tolosa festival brings together, by invitation only, many of the finest chamber choirs, small vocal ensembles and youth choirs from around the world to perform and compete before an international judging panel.
Sydney Chamber Choir is the first Australian choir to participate in the festival.
Commenting on Sydney Chamber Choir’s success, Musical Director Paul Stanhope said, “It’s a great honour for us to be recognised in this way at our first ever international festival, competing against international-level choirs with extensive experience on the competition circuit.”
Other winners in the mixed choirs competition were the Via Nova Choir from Germany and the Yuuka Choir from Japan.
The Tolosa competition is part of a circuit of six such festivals in Europe, and winners from each are invited to take part in the European “Grand Prix” of choral contests the following year. The 2010 Grand Prix will be held in Bulgaria. Since arriving in Spain two weeks ago, the Choir has given a series of concerts to full houses and standing ovations in towns throughout the Basque region of northern Spain.
These performances were held in churches with glorious acoustics and included polyphonic works of the Spanish Renaissance, sacred and secular works by contemporary Australian composers, and music in the Basque language. The inclusion of Basque folk songs in arrangements by Basque composers, as well as works in folk and popular idioms from each choir’s own country, is a requirement of the competition. Sydney Chamber Choir’s performances in the Basque tongue have been especially warmly received by local audiences.
The uniquely Australian sounds of Ross Edwards’ Mountain Chant and Elliott Gyger’s quirky arrangement of Waltzing Matilda, as well as Nigel Butterley’s Exultate Domino, also provided audiences with a breathtaking insight into the diversity of Australia’s choral tradition.
About Sydney Chamber Choir
Sydney Chamber Choir was founded in 1975 and has forged a reputation as one of Australia’s leading choirs. It is
especially renowned for its interpretations of Renaissance and Baroque works and as a champion of contemporary
Australian choral music, having commissioned and premiered works by many established and emerging Australian
composers. Musical Director Paul Stanhope, himself a composer of international reputation, was appointed in 2006.
Further information
Sydney Chamber Choir
Phone: 1300 661 738
Web: www.sydneychamberchoir.org
Email: administrator@sydneychamberchoir.org