World Choir Games land in Riga!
2014 will be memorable year for Riga, which happens to be not only the European Capital of Culture, but also the World Capital of Choral Music. Riga is hosting the World Choir Games – also known as the ‘Olympics of Choral Music’ – which will kick off next week and last from 9 till 19 July. The World Choir Games are the world’s largest choir competition and will be one of the largest cultural events to take place in the Latvian capital: 460 choirs from 73 countries are expected to compete, totalling the impressive number of 27 000 participating chanters.
The Games are currently in their 8th edition, with the previous two having been held in China and the United States. This time the choice has fallen upon Latvia, and the choice couldn’t seem more appropriate, since singing has strong roots here and music forms an important part of the country’s national identity. The motto of the World Choir Games is “Singing together brings nations together” and the manifestation – which is open to amateur and professional choirs from all over the world, regardless of race, genre of music or artistic ambitions – values participation above winning. Organised by the Interkultur Foundation, its stated mission is to inspire people to “experience the strength of interaction, challenging personality and community equally by singing together”.
There will be competitions in different 29 categories, to be held in the finest concert venues in Riga, as well as in the parks. The opening ceremony and the closing ceremony are renowned moments of the manifestation, and the ceremony for the attribution of the awards is considered to be a particularly touching and emotional moment. To top this all, the Games will also sport parades, master classes and other interesting events.
If you are interested, save the dates and check the official website (linked below) for the schedule of the events!
http://www.interkultur.com/competitions-festivals/world-choir-games/riga-2014/
