European Choir Games Graz 2013 - Program Book

GRUSSWORTE · GREETINGS
9
Dear friends of the choral music,
As president of INTERKULTUR I would
like to welcome you to Graz. This city
is esteemed as the most joyful singing
city of Austria among singers from
around the world. Three major events
have been held here: 2008 the World
Choir Games, 2011 the World Choir
Championships for Youth and Young
Adults and the Grand Prix of Choral
Music. Now INTERKULTUR presents a
premier of another choral event: The 1 st
European Choir Games. This event also
includes the World Choir Games continental
competitions. All international
choirs are invited to compete, to sing in
concerts and to experience an impressive
and lively music festival following
the principle of the choir Olympics
“Participation is the highest honour”.
Certainly all choirs who are not residents
of the European Continent have
the option to take part in this Festival
of Singing. Graz proves once more to be
open for choirs from around the world.
At the Austrian Open, choirs from almost
every continent are singing for
the Styria Award. Accompanying the 1 st
European Choir Games there will be a
special festival named “SONGS OF SPI-
RIT” on the occasion of the International
Interreligious Conference Graz. The
highlight of the week will certainly be
the great Festival Choir Concert where
hundreds of participants will perform
Verdi’s Requiem together!
INTERKULTUR is already intensively
preparing the 8 th World Choir Games,
9 – 19 July 2014, which will take place
in Europe after six years. The Baltic culture
and choir capital Riga (Latvia), host
city of the unique world event of choral
music, is looking forward to welcoming
thousands of singing people from all
over the world and gives new impetus
to the motto “Singing together brings
nations together”. I cordially invite you
to the World Choir Games and the numerous
future events of INTERKULTUR!
It is very important to me to thank all
those who have been involved. Without
their support these European Choir
Games would not have been possible.
My thanks go especially to the provincial
state of Styria, the city of Graz, Graz
Tourism and City Marketing and the
tourism association of the city of Graz
as well as to all others that have contributed
towards the success with financial
support, their ideas and not least
their energetic help.
Dear singers, dear conductors and choral
friends, I wish you much success at
the competitions and wish us all a gratifying
European Choir Games & Songs
of Spirit Festival!