Dear ladies and gentlemen,

let us invite you to our 19th international festival!

Our Golden City looks especially romantic and particularly friendly during the time of Advent and Christmas. Maintaining our rich advent tradition is very popular in Prague.

All amateur ensembles can take part in this competition.

Open Air concert performances by registered ensembles will be held in the Old Town Square, enhancing the seasonal magic of Prague Christmas Fair. The organizer will enable further performances in Prague for all registered ensembles.

The festival is taking place under the auspices of the City of Prague and of the Union of Czech Choirs.

Categories:

I.   CHILDREN´S CHOIRS

(up to 16 years, 24 singers and more, score S + A)

II.  YOUTH CHOIRS

(up to 27 years, 20 singers and more)

III. ADULT CHOIRS

(16 singers and more)

IV. VOCAL GROUPS

(6 singers and more, no microphone)

V. MUSICA SACRA

VI. FOLK AND CHRISTMAS SONGS

VII. SPIRITUALS, GOSPELS

VIII. FOLKLORE ENSEMBLES

IX. INSTRUMENTAL ENSEMBLES

Competition performance is not obligatory. Your ensemble is welcome to perform without actual participation in the competition too.

Piano is available during the competition.

 

 

Competition programme

Duration of the competition programme is maximum 12 min. for the category I., IV., V., VI., and VI. and 15 minutes for the category II., III., VIII. and IX. Please  do not exceed this time limit.  At least 1/3 of your programme must be Advent or Christmas music from your region or country.

Scores

It is necessary to submit at least one score of compositions you will sing (play) to the Jury before your performance.

Festival  jury

The Jury  will consist of at least three international  recognized professional artists. The decision of the Jury is final. Ensembles will be awarded marks from 1 to 100  (gold, silver and  bronze zone).
The Jury will also award further special prizes.
Every choir will receive a Certificate of Participation and the winners of all categories will receive quality trophies.
The Festival Laureate is obliged to participate at the final ceremony with its short performance.

The criterions for cat. I. – VII. on which the marking will be based are:
1)      Technical merit: difficulty, perfection, intonation, articulation, rhythm, phrasing
2)      Artistic interpretation:  sound of ensemble, stylistic fidelity, interpretation, dynamics and suggestivity.
3)      Programme choice

Applications must be made in writing and received by October 15, 2020

download application

to the Festival Secretariat, Club Tours Agentur Prague (see the address above) together with the following:
– a short biography of the ensemble (max. 10 lines)
– a  good photograph of the ensemble
– a recent recording by the ensemble
– competition programme incl. durata

Festival Badge

(incl. programme book) authorizes entry to all competition events, to the closing festival programme and to all festival concerts, except “Prague by Night” boat trip . Price: € 6.00 (Festival badge is already included in our accommodation and stay package – see application).

Competition fee

is € 150.00 per category, each next one competition category makes 120 EUR.

For participation in the festival without participation in the competition 90 EUR.

This fee must be received by the current account of the Festival secretariat by October 15, 2020.

Expenses

Travel (incl. local transportation) and accommodation costs are the responsibility of participants. The office of the accommodation organizer is at your entire disposal to make and assist with all your travel arrangements.

There are 4 categories which will be offered and confirmed on a „first come, first served“ basis. (please, see the application form)

Festival fee

€ 30.00 per person will be required from ensembles which do not book the programme and accommodation through the festival organizer.

Boarding

Participants can pre-order meals in the restaurant in the city-centre restaurants (extra price € 12.00 per meal with three courses), hotel restaurants (€ 12.00 per meal with three courses) and “Good-bye Party“ with buffet dinner (€ 15.00 per  person). Please, it is not possible to guarantee these prices without pre-ordering.
Best regards

Pavel Švarc, Festival manager

Club Tours Agentur Prague

 

www.praguechristmas.cz