annual preveza choral festival open for entries for 2025

43^rd International Choral Festival of Preveza – 29^th International Choral Competition of Preveza 2025 (ICCP 2025)

Organised by Choral Society “Armonia” of Preveza

(At the same time, the 2^nd International Competition of Choral Conductors  and the 2^nd  International Choral Composition Competition will be held.)

Preveza, 10 – 13 July 2025

The International Choral Festival of Preveza announces the 29th International Choral Competition of Preveza 2025 (ICCP 2025), which will be realized from 10 to 13 July 2025 in Preveza, Greece.

Participation is open to all kinds of choirs.

It will be a great honour and joy for us if you come to our beautiful town and take part in the choral competition. We invite you to find out by yourselves that Preveza is a charming and hospitable town full of historical sites and locations of natural beauty and experience the magic of choral music through our high standard competition with renowned experts at the jury committee from all over the world.

 Important dates:

The closing date for receipt of completed applications is 1^st May 2025.

Competition’s Categories

Category A – Mixed choirs

Repertory requirements: (Only original compositions are permitted)

4 pieces of sacred music (Renaissance or baroque, romantic period, a composition from the early 20th century, a composition of composer born after 1970). If a choir wishes to include any other piece(s) of sacred music in the specific time, they can do so.

Number of singers: Minimum of twenty-one (21) singers

Age limits: unlimited

Performance’s duration: 15-20 minutes pure music

Accompaniment: not permitted

On free choice of intonation (identified in advance).

Category B – Equal Voices’ choirs (male or female)

Repertory requirements: (Only original compositions are permitted)

4 pieces of sacred music (Renaissance or baroque, romantic period, a composition from the early 20th century, a composition of composer born after 1970). If a choir wishes to include any other piece(s) of sacred music in the specific time, they can do so.

Number of singers: Minimum of twenty-one (21) singers

Age limits: unlimited

Performance’s duration: 15-20 minutes pure music

Accompaniment: not permitted

On free choice of intonation (identified in advance).

Category C – Children’s choirs

Repertory requirements: (Only original compositions are permitted)

4 pieces of sacred music (Renaissance or baroque, romantic period, a composition from the early 20th century, a composition of composer born after 1970). If a choir wishes to include any other piece(s) of sacred music in the specific time, they can do so.

Number of singers: Minimum of twenty-one (21) singers

Age limits: Up to 18 years

Performance’s duration: 15-20 minutes pure music

Accompaniment: Maximum 2 pieces

On free choice of intonation (identified in advance).

Category D – Chamber choirs / Vocal ensembles (Mixed, male, or female ensembles)

Repertory requirements: (Only original compositions are permitted)

4 pieces of sacred music (Renaissance or baroque, romantic period, a composition from the early 20th century, a composition of composer born after 1970). If a choir wishes to include any other piece(s) of sacred music in the specific time, they can do so.

Number of singers: Maximum of twenty (20) singers

Age limits: unlimited

Performance’s duration: 15-20 minutes pure music

Accompaniment: not permitted

On free choice of intonation (identified in advance).

Category E – Youth choirs (Mixed, male, or female ensembles)

Repertory requirements: (Only original compositions are permitted)

4 pieces of sacred music (Renaissance or baroque, romantic period, a composition from the early 20th century, a composition of composer born after 1970). If a choir wishes to include any other piece(s) of sacred music in the specific time, they can do so.

Number of singers: Minimum of twenty-one (21) singers

Age limits: Up to 25 years

Performance’s duration: 15-20 minutes pure music

Accompaniment: Maximum 2 pieces

On free choice of intonation (identified in advance).

Thematic categories:

Category F – Spiritual, Gospel, Jazz, Pop Choirs, Pop Ensembles, Folklore, Byzantine chant

Repertory requirements:

This category offers each choir the opportunity to express its own traditions and strengths. The program should reflect the choral music activities. Thoughtful consideration should be given to the dramatic arc of the overall program.

At least 4 arrangements should be performed. If a choir wishes to include any other piece(s) of sacred music in the specific time, they can do so.

Number of singers: unlimited

Age limits: unlimited

Performance’s duration: 15-20 minutes pure music

Accompaniment: unlimited

On free choice of intonation (identified in advance).

Category G – Free programme of original choral music

Repertory requirements: (Only original compositions are permitted)

At least 4 original compositions should be performed.

The character and degree of difficulty of the program should correspond with the level of the choir. If a choir wishes to include any other piece(s) of sacred music in the specific time, they can do so.

Number of singers: unlimited

Age limits: unlimited

Performance’s duration: 15-20 minutes pure music

Accompaniment: unlimited

On free choice of intonation (identified in advance).

International Jury Committee (I. J. C.)

An International Jury Committee, consisting of at least three well-known Greek and/or foreign musicians will judge the competitive part of the festival and mark each performance based on the following:

Technique (rhythm, articulation, and sound)

Difficulty

Intonation

Interpretation, and

Stylistic fidelity

 Members of the jury:

YC Johnny Ku (Taiwan)

Eduardo Garcia-Novelli (Argentina, USA)

Yana Deliradeva (Bulgaria)

Paweł Łukaszewski (Poland)

Josu Elberdin Badiola (Spain)

Ambrož Čopi (Slovenia)

Roni Sugiarto (Indonesia)

Angeliki Ploka (Greece, Netherlands)

Camilo Santostefano (Argentina)

The International Jury Committee allocates marks for the technical and artistic quality of the chosen programme and the overall quality of its performance. It will also consider how well the choir communicates with the audience in a performance situation.

The results of the marking process will be unappeasable and irrefutable in all aspects.

Marking – Medals

The I. J. C. will award prizes to the choirs, which will have achieved the following marks:

From 90, 00 to 100 points, gold medal

From 80, 00 to 89, 99 points, silver medal

From 70, 00 to 79, 99 points, bronze medal

Marking – Prize Money

The following prize money will be awarded to the choirs with gold medal and with the highest mark in each category:

Category A: 500€ & 1st prize

Category B: 400€ & 1st prize

Category C: 400€ & 1st prize

Category D: 300€ & 1st prize

Category E: 400€ & 1st prize

Category F: 400€ & 1st prize

Category G: 400€ & 1st prize

Marking – Special Prizes

The I. J. C. may award other special prizes: for the best performance of orthodox chant, for the best folklore performance, for the best conducting, e.g.

Awarding Ceremony

All the prizes, certificates and diplomas will be announced and handed in at a special ceremony in the presence of audience and authorities, where the choirs selected by the International Jury Committee will perform one (1) or two (2) songs also chosen by the I. J.C.

Non – competitive concerts

The place and the time for the non-competitive concerts will be arranged by the Organizing Committee. Pieces of each choir’s choice will be performed “a cappella” within 10-15 minutes.

Application Procedure

Each choir is required to forward by 1 May 2025 latest:

A fully detailed application form (which is attached).

A recent CD recording of the choir or approximately seven MP3 files sent by email

The choir’s proposed competition programme (see Repertoire Requirements detailed above). If accepted, this repertoire and its order of performance may not subsequently be altered

Six original score of each work (non-returnable)

A short history of the choir and conductor detailing activities and achievements (English Text, 250 words)

A recent photograph (suitable for publicity purposes) of the choir and the conductor.

 A list of the names and addresses of the choir members that do not hold EU passports.

All the above material is to be sent to the following address:

Choral Society “Armonia” of Preveza

1. O. Box 29

GR – 481 00, Preveza GREECE

For any further information, please contact us on the following:

Tel. 0030 2682 0 24915

Fax. 0030 2682 0 29852

Cell phone: 0030 6977 1 32107

E-mail: prevezachoralfestival@gmail.com, armonia4@otenet.gr

http://www.armoniachoir.org

Registration – participation fees

The selected choirs, after the acceptance of their participation by the Organising Committee, must pay a deposit of € 200, 00 (not refundable) towards the registration fees.

Subsequently – not after the 15th of May 2025 – you will be requested to pay € 35, 00 for each member of the choir, including the director, the pianist/musicians, and the escorts (the fee does not include room & board). This includes entry fees for the competition and the festival. Please deduct the deposit of € 200, 00 Euros already paid from the total fee before paying the balance.

The registration fee mailed to the address of the festival or transferred to the following account:

NATIONAL BANK OF GREECE

Choral society “Armonia” of Preveza

Account number: 448/480188-16

Swift Code – Bic: ETHNGRAA

IBAN:  GR 7201 1044 8000 0044 8480 18816

Travel Costs

The festival does not contribute to a choir’s travel costs to and from Preveza.

Accommodation, Meals & Transport

Each choir is responsible for all matters related to the organization, booking and payment of all accommodation and meals during their stay in Preveza. A comprehensive list of specially negotiated accommodation options in varied price ranges (including hotels, guest houses and restaurants) will be provided to all choirs selected to participate in our festival. The festival is not responsible for any booking issues that may arise. Despite belonging to the Greek mainland, Preveza has an islandish character. And since it has numerous kinds of touristic facilities, it is a destination ideal for people of many different economic backgrounds.

How you can get here:

By bus: Preveza is 370 km away from Athens (it takes about 5 hours to reach), which is the capital of Greece and 350 km from from Thessalonica (it takes about 5 hours to reach).

Airlines: to Aktio (PVK).

Aktion Airport is located 3 Km south of Preveza, western Greece, close to the Ionian Island of Lefkas (approx. 15km), connected by a tunnel. Bus services run to Preveza and Lefkas. Taxi to Preveza should cost approximately € 20,00. Facilities include 3 bars/cafes, duty free shop, and an ATM. Every year an important number of charter flights (see the list at https://www.pvk-airport.gr/en/airline-list) have organized by various tours operators.

 By sea: The closest port is that of Igoumenitsa, which is 85 km away from Preveza and we should notice that it has itineraries to and from Italy daily (Brindisi, Bari, Ancona, Trieste). You should come by bus.

All the above materialis to be sent to the following address:

Choral Society “Armonia” of Preveza

1. O. Box 29

GR – 481 00, Preveza GREECE

For any further information, please contact us on the following:

0030 2682 0 24915

0030 2682 0 29852

Cell phone        0030 6977 1 32107

E-mail: prevezachoralfestival@gmail.com, armonia4@otenet.gr

http://www.armoniachoir.org

Selection

Only applications enclosing all the requirements detailed under Application Procedure will be considered. Choirs are selected based on their application material. Particular attention is paid to the repertoire and quality of performance presented on the audition CD submitted with the application.

Conditions of participation

Closing date for receipt of completed applications is 1 May 2025.

Once the appropriate materials received, it will be evaluated, and the applicant choir will be informed whether they are chosen to participate or not.

Registration fee and participation fee (minus any bank charges incurred) will be refunded if a choir is not selected to participate in the festival.

Any selected choir that withdraws from the competition is not entitled to a refund of the registration fee.

It is contrary to law to perform music that has been reproduced illegally. Should a choir do so, the festival accepts no responsibility for any action taken by publishers.

The Organising Committee accepts no legal responsibility whatsoever in respect of anything pertaining to a choir’s participation in the festival.

The festival accepts no responsibility or liability for accommodation and meal costs incurred by the choir.

The festival accepts no responsibility for any expense incurred by any choir or individual chorister participating in the festival.

Participation in the festival implies acceptance of all the above rules and regulations

Broadcasting, Recording and Photographic Rights

It is a condition of participation that any choir agrees that:

Any performance it gives during the festival may be photographed, broadcast live and/or recorded for subsequent reproduction and/or broadcast on radio and/or television without payment to the choir (or folk-dance group or orchestra).

All broadcasting and photographic rights to any performance at the festival shall belong to the festival which will be free to dispose of them or utilize them in promotional materials it sees fit.

Any performance it gives during the festival may, without payment, be recorded and the festival shall be entitled to possession of any such recording and shall further be entitled to reproduce any such recording and to sell, let for hire, offer or exposure for sale or hire, distribute, or otherwise dispose of any recording or reproduction of recording of any such performance in any manner that it sees fit.