Slovakia’s Cantica Collegium Musicum choir on stage at the International Việt Nam Choir Competition in Hội An town. The team won the Grand Prize at the event. VNS Photo Công Thành

Slovakia’s Cantica Collegium Musicum choir won Grand Prize at the International Việt Nam Choir Competition in Hội An, Quảng Nam Province.

The competition was organised by the Hội An City’s People’s Committee and Interkultur, one of the world’s leading organisers of choir festivals.

The Slovak team achieved a score of 26.81 points in the sacred choral music category and a golden diploma with difficult level 7 during the musical extravaganza in the ancient town.

The choir, which performed under conductor Stefan Sedlicky, also scored 25.63 points in the chamber choirs of mixed voice category during the four-day competition.

“It’s a hard competition and we are so happy with the Grand Prize today. The event was very well organised. We enjoyed time in Hội An with nice people and land,” Stanislav Skorna, a representative of the team said after the award ceremony in Hội An Theatre on April 5.

The hosts Saigon Choir won the mixed choirs competition with a score of 25.75 points – while Saigon female choir team bagged the golden diploma in the equal voices category with 24.81 points.

Members of Slovakia’s Cantica Collegium Musicum choir celebrate their win. VNS Photo Công Thành

Vietnamese conductor Huỳnh Quang Thái was awarded the special prize in the equal voices from the organising committee.

In the mixed choirs, the UCSI Chamber Choir from Malaysia scored 23.98 to win gold, while the Malaysian Institute of Art's Ladies Chorus took gold in the equal voices.

Thailand’s Bangkok Voices won the chamber choirs of mixed voices category with 26.35 points, while Malaysian conductor Darrel Yew Chung Chan of Ottophony Vocal Ensemble took the conductor prize in the category.

The Thai team also took gold in the spirituals category with 25.56 points.

Cheeseburger Hill of Thailand scored 22.67 to win gold in the folklore category, while Hội An Children’s Choir club was presented with a special prize.

Visitors at the International Việt Nam Choir Competition in Hội An town. VNS Photo Công Thành

St Joseph's Private School Chamber Choir from Malaysia won gold in the youth choirs of mixed voices with their 24.58 points.

Johan Rooze, Interkultur artistic director, said all teams experienced wonderful days, full of excellent singing, days full of friendship, moments of learning and moments of emotional and musical best.       

He said: “I hope to see you all again at the next International Việt Nam Choir Competition in 2025 and of course it is a pleasure to invite you to any of our other competitions in the world, like 13th World Choir Games from July 10-20, 2023 in the city of Auckland, New Zealand.”

Hội An was a favourite rendezvous for 18 choirs from seven countries in Asia, the Middle East and Europe performing under the motto ‘Singing together brings nations together’.

Teams also took part a parade winding through the Old Quarters of Hội An – where they joined a public performance during the four-day competition.

Hội An – the UNESCO World Heritage site – has seen as the ancient city in central Việt Nam hosting such largest international choir competition since 2011. — VNS