9. Starptautiskais Baltijas jūras koru konkurss Grand Prix fināls

The 9th International Baltic Sea Choir Competition will take place from September 18 to 20 at the Dzintari Concert Hall, with the participation of high-level amateur choirs from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, Norway, Ukraine, Georgia, and the Philippines.

Since 2024, the competition held in Jūrmala has been one of the six official stages of the prestigious European Grand Prix for Choral Singing (EGP) association, ranking it among the world's most highly rated amateur choir competitions.

Competing for the title of the 9th International Baltic Sea Choir Competition Grand Prix winner and the opportunity to enter the EGP final will be - Riga Dome Choir School Gospel Choir (Latvia), youth choir KIVI (Lithuania), male choir HOMME (Estonia), E STuudio Chamber Choir (Estonia), women's choir KYN (Finland), women's choir EMBLA (Norway), children's choir LASTIVKA (Ukraine), male choir The New Bana Choir (Georgia), and Manila Chamber Choir (Philippines).

Traditionally, the participants' performance will be evaluated by an international jury of five professionals: Jurģis Cābulis (Latvia), Vilija Mažintaitė (Lithuania), Valter Soosalu (Estonia), Rahela Durič (Slovenia), and Leon Shiu Wai Tong (Macau, jury chairman).

To promote the performance of original Latvian music in the international choral music environment, a new work by a Latvian composer is commissioned for the competition every year. This year's mandatory piece "When I Was Born" is authored by Raimonds Tiguls.

The three choirs with the highest scores will receive cash prizes. The Grand Prix or 1st place winner will receive the Grand Prize - 3500 euros, the Jūrmala City Cup created by artist Ginta Grūbe, as well as a pass to the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing final in Arezzo, Italy, in August 2027.

Competition program:

September 18 at 19.00 Opening concert at the Dubultu Evangelical Lutheran Church;

September 19 at 11.00 Compulsory program competition semifinal at the Dzintari Concert Hall;

September 19 at 16.00 Free program competition semifinal at the Dzintari Concert Hall;

September 20 at 11.00 Grand Prix final, Closing Concert, and award ceremony for the competition winners at the Dzintari Concert Hall. Special guests: Valters Pūce and Dainis Tenis.

Tickets are available at "Biļešu paradīze" box offices and online.

The competition can be followed live on TV24 and on the website www.balticchoir.com.

Main partner of the competition: Jūrmala City Municipality. Supported by: State Culture Capital Foundation, Dzintari Concert Hall, Dienas Mediji, TV24, restaurant 36. līnija, publishing house Musica Baltica, TV Jūrmala.

The International Baltic Sea Choir Competition (IBSCC) is an annual international choral music event held in Jūrmala since 2016. Every year in the second half of September, several hundred amateur choir singers and choral music supporters from various countries around the world gather at the Dzintari Concert Hall. Participants compete in compulsory and free program semifinals, as well as the Grand Prix final.

More information: Competition website | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram