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Festival and Competition FAQ - Interkultur events

INTERKULTUR and ACDA are partnering to bring three international choral events to the United States starting in 2010. Many questions concerning the events will be answered below. If your question is not answered, please contact Christina Prucha, International Festival Liaison at 405.232.8161.

INTERKULTUR
1. What is INTERKULTUR and where are they located?
2. What is INTERKULTUR's expertise? How long have they been in business? What festivals and competitions are they responsible for?
3. Can I rely on INTERKULTUR's organizational structure?
4. Why has ACDA partnered with them? Who else endorses these events and INTERKULTUR?

INTERKULTUR EVENTS IN THE US
5. Will INTERKULTUR hold events in the United States in the near future?
6. Do I need to book the event package with a specific agency or may I book everything on my own? Do I book directly with INTERKULTUR?
7. What sight-seeing and other choral opportunities are available?
8. Pricing
9. Are there age and level requirements?
10. How are participating choirs chosen?
11. Where can I apply?

PHILOSOPHY OF INTERKULTUR FESTIVALS AND COMPETITIONS
12. Is it all about competition? Must my choir compete?
13. Why should I consider competing?
14. How are INTERKULTUR competitions different from what I have experienced before?
15. What is an encounter concert?
16. Why can INTERKULTUR events claim to be more "international" than others?
17. What will I gain by attending an INTERKULTUR event?
18. Are INTERKULTUR events limited to choral musicians?

SCORING
19. How are performances rated?
20. How do I benefit from being ranked internationally?

WORLD CHOIR GAMES
21. Why are the WORLD CHOIR GAMES sometimes referred to as the "Choir Olympics"?
22. Where can I find out more information about the 2010 WORLD CHOIR GAMES in Shaoxing?

INFORMATION REQUESTS
23. Where can I find more information on INTERKULTUR and their events?
24. Is INTERKULTUR hosting events other than the three American events?
25. My question was not addressed. Is there someone I can talk to directly in the United States?

INTERKULTUR
1. What is INTERKULTUR and where are they located? How respected are they?
INTERKULTUR is a non-profit group from Germany that holds choral festivals and competitions throughout the world. Their events draw up to 20,000 participants from up to 90 countries. They have been hosting events since 1988 and they have a proven track record. They have the exclusive and official seal of Musica Mundi whoe standards include a consistent point system, a high percentage of youth participation, strong international events, and events for choirs at all levels.

2. What is INTERKULTUR's expertise? How long have they been in business? What festivals and competitions are they responsible for?
Begun in 1988 with the 1st International Choir Competition in Budapest, INTERKULTUR strives to bring people of all nations, culturs, and worldviews together in peaceful competition and song. They hold the WORLD CHOIR GAMES every two years. Those events have been held in Linz, Austria (2000), Busan, Korea (2002), Bremen, Germany (2004), Xiamen, China (2006), and Graz, Austria (2008). The tradition continues in 2010 when Shaoxing, China will host the games.  In 2012, the Games will come to the United States for the first time and will be held in Cincinnati, OH.

3. Can I rely on INTERKULTUR's organizational structure?
Yes, you can rely on INTERKULTUR. They have been hosting events such as these since 1988 and have a proven track record.  They work closely with a travel agency that coordinates accomodations and catering.  This model ensures that the infrastructure supports the requirements of the event itself. 

 4. Why has ACDA partnered with them?  Who else endorses these events and INTERKULTUR? 
INTERKULTUR events in the United States present ACDA members the opportunity to join the global choral community and grow musically with the rest of the world. INTERKULTUR's mission and events closely coincide with ACDA's mission to promote excellence in choral music as well as with Tim Sharp's world choir initiative.   An Honorary Advisory Board, composed of highly regarded choral conductors, supports these events.  The Board includes Hilary Apfelstadt (The Ohio State University), Anton Armstrong (St. Olaf College), Rene Clausen (Concordia College), John Haberlen (Georgia State University, retired), Jerry McCoy (University of North Texas), Eric Nelson (Emory University), Andre de Quadros (Boston University), John Nelson (L'ensemble Orchestral de Paris), Jo-Michael Scheibe (University of Southern California), Tim Sharp (American Choral Directors Association), Jing-Ling Tam (University of Texas at Arlington), and Andre J. Thomas (Florida State University).
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US Events
5. Will INTERKULTUR hold events in the United States in the near future?
INTERKULTUR will host the American Intertnational Choral Festival in St. Louis, Missouri from November 17-21, 2010, the American International Choral Festival in Reno-Tahoe from May 4-8, 2011 and the 2012 7th World Choir Games from July 4-14, 2012 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The full calendar is available at http://www.interkultur.com/.

6. Do I need to book the event package with a specific agency or may I book everything on my own? Do I book directly with INTERKULTUR?
All booking is done through M&C Music Contact. You may book directly with them by contacting INTERKULTUR or through the many travel agencies contracting with INTERKULTUR. INTERKULTUR works with a number of North American travel agencies that can help you book your trip.

7. What sight-seeing and other choral opportunities are available?
Sight-seeing and other choral opportunities can be developed through any of the travel agencies contracting with INTERKULTUR.  In the framework of some events, For a list of participating travel agencies, please see above.
Please contact Christina Prucha, the International Festival Liaison in the ACDA office at 405-232-8161 or visit www.interkultur.com for more information.

8. Pricing
Please visit INTERKULTUR to request pricing on any INTERKULTUR event or contact Christina Prucha, the International Festival Liaison in the ACDA office at 405-232-8161.

9. Are there age and level requirements?
Choirs of all ages and levels are welcome and encouraged to attend.  70% of INTERKULTUR participants are under the age of 27.

10. How are participating choirs chosen?
Application for festival participants is simple.  Fill out the registration form and send it in.  Competitors also fill out an application form but must also submit sound recordings, awards, and other supporting documents that will help INTERKULTUR's artistic directorate advise choirs as to category and competition.

11. Where can I apply?
All applications are approved by INTERKULTUR.  You can apply directly through them by visiting their website.  To speak with someone, please contact Christina Prucha, the International Festival Liaison in the ACDA office at 405-232-8161.  Or contact one of the INTERKULTUR contracted travel agencies listed above.
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Philosophy
12. Is it all about competition? Must my choir compete?
Your choir may choose to attend only the festival portion of an INTERKULTUR event.  There is no need to compete if you prefer not to.  This is especially true of the WORLD CHOIR GAMES where festival attendees will have opportunities to attend Gala concerts, seminars, workshops, and encounter concerts.  This is a great opportunity to meet singers from all over the world and design a concert program together.

13. Why should I consider competing?
Choral competition is a normal part of a choir's routine for most of the world.  It is a chance to share one's talents and an opportunity to learn from one's peers.  As in the world of sports, choirs often find that competition is a strong motivator that enhances artistic skills and exposes singers to performances they have not experienced before.

14. How are INTERKULTUR competitions different from what I have experienced before?
INTERKULTUR's mission is to create events that foster peace and intercultural understanding through our common language of singing.  INTERKULTUR creates opportunities to allow singers from all over the world to interact, learn, and grow with one another.  INTERKULTUR events use an evaluation system with a large variety of categories and a number of renowned adjudicators from all over the world.  This ensures fair competition.  INTERKULTUR offers advice to all choirs on the subject of choosing the category that best suits them.

15. What is an encounter concert?
An encounter concert is an informal, yet scheduled concert for audiences and passers-by, and it may be held indoors or outdoors.

16. Why can INTERKULTUR events claim to be more "international" than others?
INTERKULTUR events can draw up to 20,000 singers from 90+ countries.  Very few, if any, other festivals can claim this kind of diversity and international spirit.

17. What will I gain by attending an INTERKULTUR event?
Participants have the opportunity to interact and learn with all levels and varieties of choirs found throughout the world.  INTERKULTUR events provide a rare opportunity for participants to truly broaden their horizons both musically and culturally.  Choirs and their directors are sure to pick up new techniques and ideas by observing their peers in action.

18. Are INTERKULTUR events limited to choral musicians?
Hosting choirs and creating choral festivals and competitions is INTERKULTUR's main focus.  However, requests from the music world have inspired INTERKULTUR to open the WORLD CHOIR GAMES to other musical genres as well, including folk dance and orchestra.  INTERKULTUR has already hosted folk dance groups in Graz in 2008 and will do so again in Shaoxing.  And for the first time, a World Youth Orchestra Festival is planned to take place at the 2010 Shaoxing World Choir Games.  Upon request, INTERKULTUR can work with groups of almost any genre to find a way for them to participate.
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 Scoring
19. How are performances rated?
INTERKULTUR events merit the exclusive seal of Musica Mundi.  In keeping with Musica Mundi's standards, ratings are administered according to a consistent point based system and by a competent international jury (generally 5-7 jurors).  As INTERKULTUR maintains contact with choir-related individuals in 140 countries, participants can be assured that they will be evaluated by choral music experts.  Events feature

  • 30 point system for all competitions (major events excluded)
  • 100 point system for the World Choir Games
  • Ratings according to placement at Grand-Prix competitions

 More specific information about scoring at individual events will be added as it becomes available.

20. How do I benefit from being ranked internationally?
The world ranking list for choral music is a nice feature modeled after sports rankings or music rankings.  It encourages everyone to improve their artistic skill with hopes of reaching the rank of #1.  For some choirs, the world ranking list has become testimony to their skill and significance and has made them cultural ambassadors for their country.  Some choirs have found new sponsorship through local authorities and companies because they have been ranked as one of the most skilled choirs in the world. 
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World Choir Games
21. Why are the WORLD CHOIR GAMES sometimes referred to as the "Choir Olympics"?
The first three Games in Linz, Busan, and Bremen were refered to as the Choir Olympics because the concept of the event arose from a dream to peacefully unify singing people and nations and to connect them by song in a fair competition.  The idea was, and still is, to inspire people to experience the strength of interaction which is able to challenge personality and community equally through the power of singing together - no matter on which artisitic level one is working - whether singing for pleasure or reaching for artistic stars.  As in the Olympics, "taking part is the highest honor."  In this respect everyone is a winner.

22. Where can I find out more information about the 2010 WORLD CHOIR GAMES in Shaoxing?
Please contact INTERKULTUR or Hugh Ballou at 888-398-8471.  Other information can be found at  http://www.thesingerlink.com/profiles/blogs/6th-world-choir-games.
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Information requests
23. Where can I find more information on INTERKULTUR and their events?
There are many three ways to request information about INTERKULTUR events.

24. Is INTERKULTUR hosting events other than the three American events?
Yes. Click here for a calendar of their 2009-2012 events.

25. My question was not addressed. Is there someone I can talk to directly in the United States?
Call or email Christina Prucha, International Festival Liaison, at 405-232-8161.
Return to main questions.