WSCM 8 REPORT - World Symposium on Choral Music

maintain a high artistic level. As we constantly strive to perfect our art, we shall at <strong>WSCM</strong> 8 look for new
ways to connect to our listeners through our stage deportment and our joy of singing.
And indeed many of the choirs, work shop holders and composers in residence followed up on this theme,
trying to find new ways of communication between stage and audience.
Our promises
This was what we promised the <strong>Symposium</strong> participants in the final invitation, which was published in July
2007, one year before <strong>WSCM</strong> 8 took place:
We are proud to present a <strong>Symposium</strong>, where each Nordic country for the first time will be represented by
choirs, and where 3 choirs from Latin- and South America, 3 from Africa, 5 from the Asian / Pacific region, 3
from North America, and 3 from Europe outside the Nordic region will perform.
We believe that many of the delegates will be interested in knowing more about our Scandinavian choral
world.
Following the Nordic Track, you will experience every day something special from the Nordic region.
Once again, a Songbridge project will be included in a world choral symposium. This has not been the case
since Rotterdam in 1999. In Copenhagen, the Songbridge will include children's and youth choirs from China,
Canada, Hungary and Denmark. Children from different parts of the world singing together is a real peace
creating project!
You will also find inspiration at the <strong>World</strong> Choral Expo, featuring music industry exhibits, festivals, agencies
etc.
During the <strong>Symposium</strong> days, you will spend the daytime in the Opera on the island of Holmen, crossing the
harbor by the <strong>Symposium</strong> shuttle ferry in the morning. Each day will begin with a Warm-Up and an Open
Sing, followed by Workshops, Master Classes and Concerts in the Opera at lunch time. In the late
afternoon, the ferry will take you back to the city and a little rest at your hotel before the evening concerts
start in the old city of Copenhagen. The venues will be churches, museums and other concert rooms, and
you can make your choice from a variety of at least 5 concerts starting at different times. The most eager
delegates may visit 2 or more concerts in the same evening...
Wednesday will be a very special day: Tivoli day! From the early afternoon the famous Tivoli Gardens will
echo with choirs singing from the open air stages, the Songbridge Gala Concert in the afternoon in the big
Tivoli concert hall and two big choir concerts in the evening.
Last, but not least, you will meet colleagues and choral friends from all over the world. Sit down in the glass
foyer with a cup of coffee, or in the sun outside the Opera, create contacts or just have a talk and enjoy the
spectacular harbor view!
The Nordic Track
From the beginning we were very focused on the idea of not only making a special presentation of
Denmark, which was quite natural, but presenting the entire Nordic choral universe, which has been
admired by the rest of the world: the special Nordic sound, the interesting composers, the Nordic leading
position in breaking new ways for the choir performances.
For the first time in the history of IFCM choirs from all Nordic nations were included in the same <strong>World</strong>
<strong>Symposium</strong> program, featuring Iceland for the very first time, and leading Nordic choir specialists were
engaged to hold workshops or master classes or participate in round table discussions. At the end we had 3
<strong>WSCM</strong> 8 Report page 2