International gala concert for young singers showcases musical diversity

WORCESTER, U.K. - July 27, 2013 - PRLog -- After six days of sharing their colourful and vibrant singing throughout the city and county, young singers from ten nations came together to showcase their extraordinary talents with the four international conductors with whom they have been working, at a Gala Concert in Worcester Cathedral.

The capacity audience was treated to an extraordinary programme of choral music, some conventional in style, and some experimental - often improvisatory. The uniqueness of the cathedral's acoustic provided opportunities for some wonderful sound tapestries. The opening piece, uniting all the singers, picked up from where the cathedral bells left off. It was so effective that sometimes it was difficult to distinguish between bells and voices! Italian Carlo Pavese directed this spine-tingling choral soundscape.

Icelandic conductor Margrét Bóasdottir took the audience to her native Scandinavia with some splendidly evocative folk songs, with the singers coping impressively with the intricacies of the Norwegian, Swedish and Icelandic texts.

Language was not an issue in the works directed by Sanna Valvanne: with extraordinary energy, enthusiasm and engagement, she took her singers on a musical road few had ever traveled. The enjoyment of the singers was evident as, with their voices, movement and body percussion, they produced a stunning performance for the delighted audience.

The climax of this magnificent event was the world première of "Five Days that Changed the World" by the UK's very own Bob Chilcott. “What a coup for Worcester and Sing UK to have secured this commission! The five songs, with words by Charles Bennett, were deeply moving, confirming Chilcott as the world's leading composer of music for choirs,” said Malcolm Goldring, WIFYS Artistic Director.

The performance received a standing ovation, and many (singers and audience alike) were moved to tears, bringing to an end this remarkable and unique event.

Choirs left today for their long journeys home - elated, refreshed and thrilled to have made new friends within the local community, as well as with fellow choristers. The question on everyone's lips is - "Will there be another WIFYS?"…..We shall see!

NOTES TO EDITORS

Images available here (please credit appropriate named photographer) or contact Jo Forrest PR:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wifys2013/

For more information please visit: http://singuk.org/wifys

Worcester International Festival for Young Singers

The Worcester International Festival for Young Singers 2013 (WIFYS - pronounced "Why-Fiss") is the first-ever non-competitive international festival for children's and youth choirs in the UK.

This ground-breaking, vibrant arts event (20 - 26 July) has seen around four hundred young singers from eleven outstanding youth choirs from ten nations share their national musical traditions and cultures in a week-long event featuring a range of public concerts, street singing and workshops culminating in a Gala Concert in Worcester Cathedral on Friday 26th July that featured the première of a work specially commissioned for the Festival, Five Days that Changed the World, by composer and workshop leader, Bob Chilcott.

Four international choral conductors have lead the workshops that have seen young people from different nations working together under a banner of "Peace & Unity between Nations" thus reaffirming the mission of the European Choral Association - Europa Cantat, of which Sing UK is a member.

Sing UK works with partners in the field of education, music and community development to deliver exciting, high quality singing projects in schools and local communities, together with high-profile national events. It works with children and young people, their families, teachers and local authorities throughout the UK to create programmes which suit local needs.

As a Community Interest Company it is a not-for-profit organisation, working to benefit local communities. It is funded through strategic relationships with corporate partners to fulfil shared objectives, and with support from local benefactors, national grant-giving organisations, trusts and foundations.

For information on the four conductors, please contact Jo Forrest PR.