18th (2011) | www.aukuras.org

THE EIGHTEENTH

International Stasys Šimkus‘ choir competition was organized in Klaipėda concert hall, (Šaulių str. 36, Klaipėda) on the 25^th – 27t^h of October, 2011. Participants competed in four choir groups: 2 children choirs, 2 youth choirs, 2 female choirs, 1 men‘s choir, 7 mixed choirs, which came from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia. Artistic Director and Organizer of the Choir Competition, Chairman of the Council of Klaipėda Choir Association “Aukuras” - assoc. prof. Algirdas Šumskis. Honourable professionals of choral singing were invited to the Jury. The Chairman of the Jury became prof. Gábor Hollerung - one of the artistic directors of “Interkultur” International Music Competitions Foundation and of the World Choir Games (Hungary). 6 persons worked in the Jury: the chairman prof. Gábor Hollerung, members prof. Vytautas Miškinis (Lithuania), prof. Ene Üleoja (Estonia), assoc. prof. Aira Birzina, (Latvia), assoc. prof. Zita Kariniauskienė (Lithuania), secretary Aurelija Žvinklytė (Lithuania).

The following choirs became the laureates: in mixed choirs‘ group – the choir “Swedbank” (Artistic Director Artūrs Ancāns, Riga, Latvia); in even voices choirs‘ group - the Female Choir of Riga Latvian Society “Ausma” (Artistic Director Jānis Zirnis, Latvia); in School choirs‘ group – Boys and Youth Choir from Tallinn 21 School (Artistic Director Lydia Rahula, Estonia); in children’s choirs‘ group - Tallinn Boys Choir (Artistic Director Lydia Rahula, Estonia).

The GRAND AMBER prize and the 1500 Euro bounty was awarded to the University of Latvia mixed choir “Juventus” (Artistic Director Janis Petrovskis, Riga, Latvia). The MINOR AMBER prize was not awarded.

The Special prize of Klaipėda Municipality for the most valuable programme was granted to the University of Latvia mixed choir “Juventus” (Artistic Director Janis Petrovskis, Riga, Latvia).

The Special prize of Klaipėda S. Šimkus‘ Conservatoire for the most outstanding performance of a peace of a contemporary Lithuanian composer was granted to the Mixed Choir “Kamertonas” (Artistic Director Kęstutis Jakeliūnas, Kaunas, Lithuania).

The Special prize of the Center of Lithuanian Folk Culture for the best performance of a composition of a national composer of native choir’s contry was granted the choir “Swedbank” (Artistic Director Artūrs Ancāns, Riga, Latvia).

The Special prize of the Union of Lithuanian Choirs for the most valuable programme was granted to the University of Latvia mixed choir “Juventus” (Artistic Director Janis Petrovskis, Riga, Latvia).

The Special prize of Klaipėda Choir Association “Aukuras” for the best performance of Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis‘composition “Kyrie” was granted the choir “Swedbank” (Artistic Director Artūrs Ancāns, Riga, Latvia).