20th (2016)

THE TWENTIETH

The International Stasys Šimkus Choir Competition took place at the Klaipėda Concert Hall on November 22–24, 2016. A total of 18 choirs applied to participate in the competition: 2 children’s choirs, 2 youth choirs, 4 women’s choirs, 1 men’s choir, and 9 mixed choirs from Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania.

The Artistic Director and Organizer of the competition was Assoc. Prof. Algirdas Šumskis, Chairman of the Board of the Klaipėda City Choral Society “Aukuras”.

Jury
Renowned choral music specialists were invited to serve on the jury. The Chairman of the Jury was Prof. Dr. Eugeniusz Kus (Poland). The jury also included: Prof. Vytautas Miškinis (Lithuania), Prof. Romans Vanags (Latvia), Indrek Vijard (Estonia), Remigijus Adomaitis (Lithuania), and Secretary Marija Dolgopolova (Lithuania).

Laureates
In the mixed choir category, 1st place was awarded to the Vilnius Teachers’ House Mixed Choir “Bel Canto” (conductor Artūras Dambrauskas, Lithuania). No 1st place was awarded in the equal voices, youth, or children’s choir categories.

Main Prizes
The Grand Amber Prize and a €1,500 award were won by the Carnikava Mixed Choir “Vēja balss” (conductor Jurgis Cabulis, Latvia). The Small Amber Prize and a €1,000 award were not awarded this year.

Special Prizes
– The Lithuanian National Centre for Culture Prize for the best performance of a work by a national composer was awarded to the Liepāja Mixed Choir “Laiks” (conductor Ilze Balode, Latvia);
– The Klaipėda City Municipality Prize for the best performance of a contemporary composition was awarded to the Vilnius Teachers’ House Mixed Choir “Bel Canto” (conductor Artūras Dambrauskas, Lithuania);
– The Klaipėda City Choral Society “Aukuras” Prize for the best performance of Vaclovas Augustinas’ work “Jerusalem, surge” was awarded to the Vilnius Teachers’ House Mixed Choir “Bel Canto” (conductor Artūras Dambrauskas, Lithuania);
– The Lithuanian Choral Union Prize for the most valuable competition programme was awarded to the Liepāja Folk Art and Culture Centre Youth Mixed Choir “Intis” (conductor Ilze Valce, Latvia).

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