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Dates of the following
festivals and competitions:

December, 12 — 16, 2024
December, 11 — 15, 2025

7th International choral festival and contest

«IN ANTICIPATION OF CHRISTMAS»

St. Petersburg, Russia
15 – 18 December, 2022

Dear friends,

We invite you to take part in the 7th International Festival and Contest of concert programs «IN ANTICIPATION OF CHRISTMAS» from 15 to 18 December, 2022 in St. Petersburg.

The purpose of the Festival is to create an atmosphere of preparation for the Christmas, draw attention to the choral art and to help to expand the repertoire of Christmas songs for choirs involving contemporary authors.

Participation in the Festival should contribute to the preservation and development of traditions choral singing and help both the participants and leaders of choirs in their creative achievement, networking, and professional development.

ORGANISERS OF THE FESTIVAL

St. Petersburg State Conservatory named after N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov

Council for Culture of the St. Petersburg Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church

Centre for International Cultural Cooperation «Inter Aspect»

Interregional Union of Concert Figures

Russian State Pedagogical University of A. I. Herzen

St. Petersburg Music and Pedagogical College

PARTICIPANTS OF THE FESTIVAL

  • Choirs and ensembles from all over the World, which desires to show their choral art.
  • No age limit of the participants.
  • The number of singers in ensemble is minimum 3 singers; no other limit of number in choir.
  • Amateur and professional choirs are permitted to compete (compete separately).

FESTIVAL VENUES

  • State Museum and Monument St. Isaac’s Cathedral (St. Isaac’s square, 4);
  • Petersburg Music and Pedagogical College (Voskova str., 1)
  • Petersburg State Capella (20 Moika River Embankment);
  • St. Peter and Paul Cathedral (Nevsky avenue, 22);
  • Catherine of Alexandria Basilica (Nevsky pr., 32/34)
  • Church of the Mother of God «All the Afflicted» (Shpalernaya str., 35а)
  • Feodorovsky Cathedral of icon of the Mother of God (Mirgorodskaya str., 1-B);
  • Stanislav Roman Catholic Church (Soyuza Pechatnikov str., 22)
  • Church of Our Lady of Lourdes (Kovenskiy lane, 7)
  • St. Maria Evangelistic and Lutheran Church (8A B. Konushennaya Street);
  • The Cathedral of Assumption of Virgin Mary (1st Krasnoarmeyskaya, 11);
  • Catherine Swedish Lutheran Church (Malaya Koniushennaya, 1);
  • Alexander Nevsky Laura of the Hole Trinity (Monastyrka, 1);

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

  • All choirs who have submitted an application and agreed to the terms and conditions, can take part in the festival.
  • Each team shall present one program no longer than 15 minutes (see the procedural regulations below).
  • In the gala concerts of the festival participate combined choirs performing a common program (the repertoire to be sent in advance).
  • Pianos will be provided to the participants for musical accompaniment. Other instruments to be secured by the teams on their own.
  • The participants provide information material about the choir. This information is used in posters, booklets, catalogues of the Festival and in the media. Each choir receives a souvenir set of printed materials.
  • The participants of the Festival send audio recordings (CD or some tracks by email) for a more accurate appointment for the concert groups.
  • All rights to the audio, video recording and photography of any performance at the Festival are belong to the Festival organizers. The organizers have the right to reproduce and distribute such recordings made during the Festival.
  • All choirs are required to provide 6 copies of the scores of the performed music to the organizing committee for the jury of the contest. The copies of the scores will not be returned.
  • The Festival participants are to cover travel costs at their own expense. The Organising Committee provides: accommodation, catering and sightseeing programme agreed upon and confirmed by the participants (see below the festival packages).
  • The delegation may include not only the singers but also accompanying people. The number of accompanying people is not limited.

PROCEDURE FOR PERFORMING

Opening of the Festival — a gala concert of Christmas songs and carols; the groups participate with their own repertoire (the concert program is prepared by the organizing committee, those wishing to participate should send an audio or video recording of the performance), common Christmas songs will be sent in advance.

Concert program (is held in churches and cathedrals, in concert halls and museums of St. Petersburg) — some works at the choir’s own choice, total playing time not longer than 15 minutes. At least one piece must be a cappella. The program should include minimum one Christmas song or a carol. The jury evaluates the performance as a whole concert program (selection and combination of pieces), stage production is possible.

The jury will take into consideration any excess of the time limit in adjudication.

The use of phonograms is not allowed!

Final concert — perform the laureates of the first and second prizes by the choice of the jury, the repertoire of the concert is made up of spiritual works, Christmas songs and carols without instrumental accompaniment selected by the jury from competitive performances. The common choir of participants opens and closes the concert, the common songs will be sent in advance. The rehearsal of common songs takes place before the concert.

APPLICATION

The festival can be entered by sending the application form by e-mail: interaspect@mail.ru

The deadline for application is October 15, 2022

Document Required:

  • application form with all the required information filled;
  • introduction of the choir (CV) (in English; max 20 lines) and the conductor (by wish);
  • photo of the choir (compulsory, min 2 Mb) and conductor;
  • the planned festival programs, including times and accompaniment or a cappella;
  • audio or video recording sending by e-mail.

FESTIVAL SHEDULE

Thursday, December 15

Arrival, accommodation and registration of the participants. Stage rehearsals
16.15 General rehearsal common pieces
17.00 Grand opening, the gala concert

Friday, December 16

morning The concert programs of participants (see «FESTIVAL VENUES»)
daytime The concert programs of participants (see «FESTIVAL VENUES»)
evening The concert programs of participants (see «FESTIVAL VENUES»)

Saturday, December 17

morning The concert programs of participants (see «FESTIVAL VENUES»)
daytime The concert programs of participants (see «FESTIVAL VENUES»)
evening The concert programs of participants (see «FESTIVAL VENUES»)

Sunday, December 18

  City tours, excursions
12.00 The Final Gala concert and the awarding of children’s groups in the Alexander Nevsky Lavra (in case of restriction of participation in a concert in St. Isaac’s Cathedral)
18.00 Stage rehearsals, meeting with jury members
19.00 The Final Gala concert of the winners and common choirs
  Departure of the participants

COPYRIGHT ISSUES

Copyright of photographs and videos taken during the Festival activities belong to the Organizing Committee. The Organizing Committee has the right to use such information, including audio/visual record of the choirs’ performances. The Organizing Committee reserves the right to publish such information in the media or on the Internet.

EVALUATION

Concert programs of the contest will be judged by the jury of professional Russian and foreign experts of international level.

The evaluation will be based on the following criteria:

  1. The complexity of the program (10 points max).
  2. Intonation, blending (10 points max).
  3. Rhythm, tempo, dynamics (10 points max).
  4. Style, expression (10 points max).
  5. Overall impression: presentation, costumes, artistry (10 points max).

One program can earn 50 points max from one jury member, best mark of program is 200 points.

Decisions of the jury are not to be disputed. The possibility of intervention is excluded.

AWARDS

Places Points Prizes
GRAND PRIX

 

 Highest score of the

competition

 Grand Prix Diploma

Diploma for the artistic director
1st Degree Winner

(1st place)

 168 – 200 Diploma and Cup of the Laureate of the 1st degree
2nd Degree Winner

(2nd place)

 148 – 167 Diploma and Cup of the Laureate of the 2nd degree
3rd Degree Winner

(3rd place)

 108 – 147 Diploma and Cup of the Laureate of the 3rd degree
Diplomant Less than 107 Diploma and Cup of the participant

SPECIAL PRIZES

Special prize of the Council for Culture of the St. Petersburg Diocese:

«FOR THE BEST PERFORMANCE OF A SPIRITUAL SONG»

«FOR THE BEST PERFORMANCE OF ORTHODOX CHANT»

The jury will assess the achievement of conductors, accompanists, soloists separately (if announced as such in the program). According to the results of the competition the overall winners and special prize winners (scoring the highest) will be identified.

  • The prize аor the best concert program The prize for the best performance of Christmas songs
  • The prize to the best conductor of the competition.
  • The prize to the best male/female soloist
  • The prize to the best accompanist

The jury reserves the right to serve additional special awards or not award any of the above.

Organizations and individuals may establish special prizes. The list of all available prizes will be made public before the festival.

FESTIVAL FEE (for participants and accompanying persons)

«Festival package A» 100 EUR per person (in hostel)

  • 3 nights in tree beds room (bathroom on the bloc), with breakfast;
  • transfer airport-hotel-airport with guide;
  • concert performances and rehearsals by program;
  • final gala concert of the participants;
  • sightseeing tour with guide (by bus);
  • complete of festival information material and souvenirs;
  • Diploma and golden cup according to the corresponding degree;
  • for group from 30 persons one leader is free.

«Festival package B» 115 EUR per person (4* hotel in the city)

  • 3 nights in triple rooms (with bathrooms) with breakfast;
  • transfer airport-hotel-airport with guide;
  • concert performances and rehearsals by program;
  • final gala concert of the participants;
  • sightseeing tour with guide (by bus);
  • complete of festival information material and souvenirs;
  • Diploma and golden cup according to the corresponding degree;
  • for group from 30 persons one leader is free.

«Festival package C» 120 EUR per person (4* hotel in the city)

  • 3 nights in twin/double rooms, with bathrooms, with breakfast;
  • transfer airport-hotel-airport with guide;
  • concert performances and rehearsals by program;
  • final gala concert of the participants;
  • sightseeing tour with guide (by bus);
  • complete of festival information material and souvenirs;
  • Diploma and golden cup according to the corresponding degree;
  • for group from 30 persons one leader is free.

 

ORGANIZING COMMITTEE:

E-mail: interaspect@mail.ru

Website: http://en.anticipationxmas.ru/

http://www.interfestplus.ru/en