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In the autumn of this year, the Department of Choir Conducting, Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music (JVLMA) organizes Jāzeps Vītols 6th International Choral Conductors Competition, which will take place in Riga from 22 to 26 of October.

On 1st of June, application for the pre-selection contest was closed. The largest number of applications in the history of the competition have been received - 47 candidates from 22 countries: Slovenia, Finland, Russia, Austria, Lithuania, Denmark, Germany, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, Canada, Taiwan, Italy, South Korea, Estonia, Belarus, Georgia, Brazil, Hungary, Japan, Switzerland, Sweden and Latvia. Two of the applicants have re-applied and are likely to enter the competition for the second time, which is allowed by the rules, unless you have been the 1st place winner; and still comply with the age limit of up to 30 years.

By July 1st, commission will have to spend more than 12 hours watching the video materials and assessing the musical performance of the competition candidates to finally nominate the best ones to travel to Riga in October to take part in the Round I of the competition.

Three Rounds of the competition will be judged by an international jury consisting of five world-renowned conductors and music professionals. Eight participants will be nominated for the second round, where they will have the opportunity to work with Latvia's best professional choirs. Out of them four most successful young conductors will enter the finals and will prepare orchestras, choirs and soloists for the gala concert taking place on the final day of the competition. All the rounds of the competition are public; the first two will take place in the JVLMA, the final – at the Aula Magna of the University of Latvia.

The Jāzeps Vītols 6th Choral Conductors Competition is an evidence of the high culture of the Latvian choir movement and the achievements of conductors worldwide. This competition will also be a part of 100-year anniversary of Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music. The competition will take place in cooperation with Latvian professional choirs and JVLMA Mixed Choir and Symphony Orchestra. The international competition for young conductors takes place every four-five years, and it is an important high-level contest in the Baltics, bringing together young conductors and choral music lovers from all around the world.

Prepared by:
Nora Kalnina

For more detailed information:
Annija Bicule
annija.bicule@jvlma.lv