19 (2013) | www.aukuras.org

THE NINETEENTH

International Stasys Šimkus‘ Choir Competition was organized in Klaipėda Concert Hall, (Šaulių str. 36, Klaipėda) on the 22^nd– 24^th of October, 2013. Participants competed in four choir groups: 1 children choirs, 1 youth choirs, 2 female choirs, 6 mixed choirs that 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 – the artistic director of the INTERKULTUR. The founder and artistic director of the International Robert Schumann Choir Competition in Zwickau (Germany) prof. dr. Ralf Eisenbeiß. 6 persons worked in the Jury: the chairman prof. dr. Ralf Eisenbeiß, members prof. Vytautas Miškinis (Lithuania), dr. Andrea Angelini (Italy), assoc. prof. Aira Birzina, (Latvia), Tomas Ambrozaitis (Lithuania), secretary Modesta Dragašiūtė (Lithuania).

The following choirs became the laureates: in mixed choirs‘ group the Vilnius Teachers’ House mixed choir “Bel Canto” (Artistic Director Artūras Dambrauskas, Lithuania). In even voices choirs‘ group, in School choirs group and in children’s choirs group the 1st place was not awarded.

The GRAND AMBER prize and the 1500 Euro bounty was awarded to the Liepaja‘s mixed choir „Laiks“ (leaded Ilze Baloda, Letvia). The MINOR AMBER prize and 1000 Euro bounty was not awarded.

The Special prize of the Union of Lithuanian Choirs for the most valuable programme was granted to the mixed youth choir „Intis“ of Liepaja Folk Art and Culture Centre (leader ilze Valce, Latvia).

The Special prize of Klaipėda City Municipality for the most outstanding performance of a peace of a contemporary Lithuanian composer was granted to the mixed choir „Bel Canto“ of Vilnius Teachers‘ Home (leader Artūras Dambrauskas, 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 mixed choir of Liepaja „Laiks“ (leader Ilze Balode, Latvia).

The Special prize of Klaipėda Choir Association “Aukuras” for the best performance of Vaclovas Augustinas‘composition “Jerusalem, surge” was granted the mixed choir „Bel Canto“ of Vilnius Teachers‘ Home (leader Artūras Dambrauskas, Lithuania).