Choir Games shape their host cities in a unique way. Whether in restaurants, cafés, parks, streets, opera, university, hotel, and public transport – the sound of choir music from four continents floats through the town for one or two wonderful festival weeks.
Singers from choral groups from all over the world not only have the chance to perform in a big TV show and compete in musical categories of various choral genres, but also present themselves in Friendship Concerts and bring their music into the streets and onto the squares of their host city.
Roughly 10,000 choirs from 107 different countries and regions have participated in the various INTERKULTUR choir events and created nights that never die. Especially during the Awards Ceremonies, national boundaries, ideologies, religions and restrictions of any kind dissolve and the singers are united by their love of choral music. China, Russia, USA, Vietnam, Israel, Iran, Gibraltar, Great Britain, France, Germany, Botswana, Suriname, Sweden, and many more countries have shared one stage, sung together from their hearts and created memories for a lifetime – not only for themselves but for all those who are part of the occasion.
The Choir Games usually gain a high media attention before, during and after the event; international media coverage reaches up to 1 billion people all over the world. As an example, in November 2019 the 11th World Choir Games 2020 has already gained a media reach of 400 million people – 10 months before event actually starts!
INTERKULTUR President Günter Titsch further stresses the high legacy effect of the Choir Games: “The Choir Games create a fantastic atmosphere, wherever they happen. Visitors and inhabitants listen to fantastic choral music from international choirs, enjoy great concerts and share the big joy of the winning choirs about their achievements – memories that will last a lifetime! Local choirs get inspired by the international choirs and have the opportunity to work with choral experts from all over the world and thus make big progress in their musical development in just a few days.
“The international guests take their memories home to their countries, tell about the beauty and hospitality of the respective host city and share the experience of people getting united through the language of music.”
In a huge closing event, the hosting cities and countries traditionally give a wonderful, personal farewell to their international guests. Famous national music stars present a big stage show – supported by a 500-voices Festival Stage Choir consisting of 20 national and international choirs. A superlative musical experience for everyone!
The next Choir Games invite singers from all over the world to Flanders, Belgium, where the 11th World Choir Games 2020 promise to be another inspiring and unifying experience for the international choral world.
Dr. Christoph Wirtz, Secretary-General of INTERKULTUR is speaking at Host City 2019. You can also find out more at their exhibition stand at Host City 2019.
