Malta International Choir Festival and Competition

The Ministry for Culture and Tourism has announced that another edition of the International Festival and Competition for Choirs is being held in Malta between 1 and 4 November, 2007.

The Ministry is again collaborating with the INTERKULTUR Foundation so that the criteria followed in this festival would be those established by Musica Mundi. There will be many categories divided into three sessions: Sacred, Secular and Folk.

The public may attend for activities which will be held during the festival and for which there will be other protagonists, including the National Orchestra, apart from the participating choirs.

Musica Mundi

Since 1988 this term has been standing for a unique and successful series of international choir competitions and festivals, put up by the INTERKULTUR Foundation. In those 19 years more than 4,300 choirs from over 90 countries worldwide, including Malta, have been able to experience the unifying power of music. In that time more than 75 events have been held involving 200,000 choir singers who all sang and competed with each other, as they learned from each other and celebrated the successes they achieved. Above all, thanks to Musica Mundi, these choirs shared memorable experiences in many countries, including Malta.

The Programme:

Thursday, 1 November

6.30pm

Opening ceremony and spectacle at Vittoriosa, having a Festa Maltija theme.

Friday, 2 November

9.30am

The participating choirs will compete in the Sacred Music category at St Augustine Church in Valletta.

11.30am

Concerts by the choirs in Freedom Square and Queen’s Square in Valletta.

8.00pm

Grand Concert by the participating choirs together with the National Orchestra of Malta at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, Valletta.

Saturday, 3 November

9.30 am

The participating choirs will compete in the Secular Music and Folk categories at the Manoel Theatre in Valletta.

11.30am

Concerts by the choirs in Freedom Square and Queen’s Square in Valletta.

7.30pm

Inter-Religious ceremony with Chants for Peace at St John’s Co-Cathedral, together with the leaders of various religious denominations.

Sunday, 4 November, 2007

Morning

Singing service at Sunday Masses by the participating choirs in various churches around Malta.

Concert by the choirs at the Salesian Theatre in Sliema

5.00pm

Prize-giving – Concert by the Winners – Concluding ceremony at the Manoel Theatre.