2009 PARTICIPATING CHOIRS

The following choirs have been accepted to participate in the 2009 International Choral Festival:

Czech Republic: Zvonecek-Praha Concert Choir
Conductor: Jarmila Novenková

The concert choir, Zvone?ek-Praha (Little Bell of Prague), was founded in 1996 as a group of eleven children of the Prague Music School. Zvone?ek choirs participate regularly in national and international competitions, representing Prague in choral festivals around the world. Their greatest success was being named the "Absolute Winner" at the Olomouc, Czech Republic Choir Competition, competing with 127 other choirs. In October 2004 the Concert Choir Zvonky won two golden diplomas in the 6th International Competition in Grado, Italy, where they competed with adults of all ages. One of their most valued awards is the Petr Eben Prize from the 13th International Festival of Advent and Christmas Music (Prague 2003). In May 2002 the children won first prize at the 50th International Music Festival at Neerpelt, Belgium, and were honored to sing for the Queen of Belgium. The choir is regularly invited to participate at special events, such as the opening of the International Congress of Anthropology, and at anniversary celebrations of the Czech Senate. The concert choir has made tours to England and France and has recorded six CDs.

CONDUCTOR BIO
Since its beginning, the Choir Studio Zvonecek-Praha has been directed by Jarmila Novenková. In working with children, Ms. Novenková utilizes not only her long-term experience and rare teaching gifts, but also her lifelong love of singing. As a child she acquired her first choral experience as a chorister and soloist in the Styvar Children's Choir of Tfinec. She later studied at Ostrava Conservatory, where she majored in piano. She served as a choirmaster and pianist for the Permonik Children's Choir of Karvina and in 1996 moved to Prague to establish the children's choir school. Under Ms. Novenková's direction, the shape of the Studio Zvone?ek rapidly outgrew the scope of the original idea, and eventually reached its current form.

Estonia: Kalevi Kammerkoor
Conductor: Erki Meister

The Chamber Choir Kalev (Kalevi Kammerkoor) was founded in 1998 under the name of Chamber Choir Havera, by a group of enthusiastic singers that enjoy performing music to high standards. Since 2000 the choir has been supported by the Estonian Confectionery Kalev, considered by many to be the best in Scandinavia. With forty regular members, they range in age from 20-50 years old. Each season the choir performs at major Tallinn venues and in churches throughout Estonia, and takes at least one trip abroad each year. In 2003 they received 1st prize in the national singing competition, "Tuljak" in Tartu, Estonia and they received 4th place at the International Music Festival of Cantonigros, Spain in 2005. At the "Kristalnaja Lira" competition in Russia, they returned with the laureate-worth diploma and 2nd place in 2002. The choir won 3rd prize in the category of mixed choirs in 2001 at the International Festival in Llangollen, Wales. Concert tours have taken them to Great Britain, Russia, Latvia, Croatia, Finland, Scotland, United States, Spain, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova and Iceland. The choir's repertoire consists of Estonian folk music, classical masterpieces, and contemporary pieces.

CONDUCTOR BIO
A musician, composer and artist, Erki Meister graduated from Tallinn Pedagogical University, Department of Culture, as a choir conductor and cultural manager in 1991. In 2003 he graduated from the Estonian Academy of Arts department of painting. From 1991 to 1995 he was as an on-air host for Radio Kuku and singer in the Estonian National Men's Choir. Later he became manager of the Estonian National Men's Choir RAM. Mr. Meister has received numerous awards for his compositions, while his art exhibitions have appeared at galleries throughout Estonia. Having conducted the Kalev Chamber Choir since its beginning, Erki Meister has served as conductor of various choirs and ensembles since 1997. In addition to conducting the Kalev Chamber Choir, which he founded in 1998, he also leads the Flora Chamber Choir.

Georgia: The Chanters Group of the Church of St. Panteleimon the Healer
Director: Badri Jimsheleishvili

The Chanters Group of the Church of St. Panteleimon the Healer of Tbilisi, Georgia, was founded in 1988. The founders, under the direction of Badri Jimsheleishvili, are a group of professional conductors who came together to research and perform the ancient chants and folk songs of the Georgian Orthodox Church. Since 1994 the membership has remained the same. The group of four "has a treasure trove of short and long tunes, at times approximating the power of an army chorus, and at other times sounding as sweet as a father's lullaby to his baby," a reporter commented about their performance at a Canadian choral competition. According to a Norwich Cathedral of England publication, "The Chanters Group performed ancient chants…complete with their beautiful resonant harmonies and sonorous bass tones, that don't exist the same way in western church music." In addition to performing extensively throughout Georgia, the group has also released four albums. The Chanters Group sang concerts in Israel and Taiwan in 2008 and performed at the World Choral Competition of Laval, Canada in 2007. They participated at the International Festival of Hajnowka, Poland (2005), and performed in Germany (2004), the Netherlands and Great Britain (2000, 2003). At a Festival in Belarus in 2009, they were named "Laureates of the Festival."

Germany: KammerChor Saarbrücken
Conductor: Georg Grün

The KammerChor Saarbrücken was founded in 1990. Within a short time the choir has advanced to become one of the leading chamber choirs in Germany, with an outstanding international reputation. They have performed extensively in Germany, Russia, and the United States. The chamber choir has won many prizes at international choral competitions and has performed an increasing number of world premiere performances of works written by composers exclusively for the ensemble. In 2003 they won 2nd prize in the competition of European Broadcasting Corporations. At Tolosa, Spain they won two 1st prizes in two main categories, and were named the most successful choir in all categories. In 1998 they received accolades at the German choral competition in Regensburg. In 1996 they won 1st prize at the Arezzo, Italy choral competition. Their first world recording of Johann Michael Haydn's Requiem in B-flat Major won the prestigious Cannes MIDEM Classical Award. In addition, their other recordings have all received critical acclaim. KammerChor Saarbrücken is supported by the Department for Foreign Affairs and by the Goethe Institute.

CONDUCTOR BIO
Founder of the KammerChor Saarbrücken, Georg Grün studied church music, school music, Catholic theology, musicology, and conducting, and taught music and courses on the Catholic religion for several years at a lycée for the arts. At the 2007 Cork International Choral Festival in Ireland, he served as an International Adjudicator. In 2000 he was appointed Professor of Choral Conducting at the State Conservatory of Music and Arts in Mannheim, Germany. He has also achieved success as a conductor of the chamber choir of this conservatory It has won prizes at the choral competitions of Cork and Maribor). Grün is active both at home and abroad as a guest conductor, juror and lecturer.

Mexico Coral Divertimento México
Conductor: Margarita Dress de Bandoni

Founded in 1996, the mixed voice choir's repertoire includes sacred, renaissance, baroque and classical music of all periods, including native music and Latin American Folk music. Coral Divertimento has performed extensively throughout México and abroad. The participated at the Choral Festival Santa Cecilia in México City in 2007 and that same year traveled to Puerto Varas and Frutilar, Chile; and Bariloche and in Buenos Aires, Argentina, at the Choral Festival for Peace. They celebrated their tenth anniversary in September 2006 with two concerts dedicated to Mozart and accompanied by orchestra. They sang the Coronation Mass in C Major KV 317, which became their second CD, entitled "Todo Mozart." In 2006 they performed in Henderson and Las Vegas, Nevada; and in Flagstaff, Scottsdale and Phoenix, Arizona. There they sang two concerts with the Arizona Arts Chorale, as part of an Arizona Commission on the Arts Project Grant, "Choral to Chorale, a Cultural Exchange." In 2002 they participated at the First Festival of Choral Music in México City. In November 2005 their first CD was launched while performing in the Aguascalientes Cathedral in Mexico.

CONDUCTOR BIO
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Margarita Dress de Bandoni studied under the direction of the soprano Marisa Lnadi and the masters Vivian Tabbush and Liliana Cangiano. She studied choral direction under the master Inke Frosch. In Buenos Aires she was director of the Instituto Ballester Chorus for nine years, and directed both the Mixed Chorus and Male Chorus of the Villa Ballester German Choral Society. She was a member of the Lagun Onak Chorus which often performed in the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires. Margarita Dress de Bandoni served as founder and director of the Cora Amarillis; the Girls' Chorus of the Colegio Sagrado Corazón; A Quattro; and Coral Divertimento. Since 1992 she has lived in Mexico City.

South Korea: Gyungju Choral
Conductor: Dohn Kim

The Gyungju Choral, a mixed voice choir founded in 1996 by the Gyungju City Government, currently holds a central position in Korea. The specific aims of the Chorale and its conductor are to constantly seek out new music and new areas of work. The mixed voice choir performs folk, renaissance, baroque, classical, romantic, and many other styles of literature. This has resulted in their extensive repertoire spanning from renaissance music to contemporary music. The Gyungju Choral, with its characteristic Korean traditional style sound and wide-ranging virtuosity, has been an ideal vehicle for many Korean composers. The Chorale has been awarded many national and international prizes. The Gyungju Choral participated at the Asian Christian Music Festival in Hong Kong in 2004 and has taken several tours throughout Japan and China. Besides their extensive choral repertoire projects, Gyungju Choral frequently collaborates with many opera companies. Conductor Dr. Dohn Kim has developed and refined choral sound with early music, contemporary music and commissioned works.

CONDUCTOR BIO
Dr. Dohn Kim studied choral conducting at the Graduate School of the University of Missouri-Kansas City under Dr. Ehp Ehly, and received a Doctor of Musical Art degree in Voice Performance. Dr. Kim has served as the choral director and conductor of Gyungju Choral since 1996. Under his leadership they have been awarded many national and international prizes, notably at the Asian Student Christian Music Festival in Hong Kong in 2004. Dr. Kim is currently a choral music professor at Keimyung University in Daegu. Dr. Kim has written two books, "Choral Music Education" and "The Conductor's Manual of Choral Music Literature." "Choral Music Education" was named as the "Best Art Publication of 2003" by the Korean Arts Council.

Sweden: Koritsia
Conductor: Karin Fagius

Founded in 1994, the youth choir Koritsia consists of girls ages 16 to 20 and is a part of the choral activities at Lund Municipal School of Culture. Among the choir's achievements are success in the Youth Choir class at the Swedish Championship in Choral Singing (1998); first prize at the Fifth International Music Festival of Rhodes (2003); and honorary prize for best performance of a single piece at International Youth Choir Festival in Celje, Slovenia (2005). In 2006 Koritsia joined with choirs from Siberia and Israel in a "Songbridge" project in connection with the first International Choral Festival in Lund. In 2007 the choir was chosen to participate in the International Chamber Choir Competition in Marktoberdorf, Germany. Koritsia has toured Finland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Italy. In 2002 they sang in the traditional Lucia Morning program for Swedish Television at Christmas. They perform extensively in Sweden, often with the Malmoe Symphony Orchestra, and have toured Finland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Italy. Their repertoire consists of a wide range of sacred and secular music.

CONDUCTOR BIO
Karin Fagius has conducted Kortsia since its formation. She was educated as a music teacher and choral conductor at Stockholm College of Music, and taught at the Stockholm Institute of Musical Pedagogy (SMI). She was one of the initiators and founders of special music classes in Nacka, Sweden, and taught there for seven years. Since 1993 Ms. Fagius has been active in choral music at Lund Municipal School of Culture. For several years she taught methodology in the field of children's choirs at Malmoe College of Music and is much sought after as a leader of seminars and workshops. In 1999 Karin Fagius was chosen "Children and Youth Choir Leader of the Year" by Ung I Kor, a national Swedish organization for youth choirs.

Taiwan: Tainan Chamber Choir
Conductor: Shan-Min Yu

The Tianan Chamber Choir (TCC) was established in October 2001. The choir began as a group of twelve people rehearsing at a choir member's home, who each shared a love of performing diverse kinds of music. Most of the choir members are teachers from elementary and junior high schools; hence, promoting choral culture of the Tainan area to a higher level became a very important element of their mission. With a membership of 26, they aggressively seek singers who share the same enthusiasm and ideals. By promoting the art of choral music through innovative, delicate and diverse ideas, TCC has become a leader in bringing choral music to a higher professional level in the Tainan Area. TCC strives to interact with choral music and musicians from other countries, and continues to introduce more varied kinds of choral music to their audiences and members. The choir won the Bronze Medal in the Folklore category at the Busan, Korea, Choral Festival and Competition in 2007.

CONDUCTOR BIO
Dr. Shan-Min Yu is a conductor, actor and performer. She received her undergraduate degree in voice performance from Westminster Choir College in New Jersey. She was second prize winner at the New Jersey NATS voice competition and won first prize at Westminster Choir College. In New York she performed in off-Broadway shows as a lead singer and actress. She also served as conductor for the Univoice Chorus, Jubilee Children's Chorus and the White Plains Community Church in New York. In 1999 Ms. Yu returned to Taiwan and is an active conductor. Shan-Min Yu is also conductor at The National Sun Yat-sen University and conducts the Taipei Philharmonic Children's Choir and Pon-Hu Cultural Choir.

USA - California: UC Alumni Chorus - Berkeley
Conductor: Mark Sumner

In 1985 the chorus of alumni of Cal student singing groups was formed. They inspired like-minded others who wished to rekindle the musical and social associations they had enjoyed as students. Many of those original 30 members are still singing with UCAC. The UCAC is also committed to providing both musical and financial support to the University of California Choral Ensembles. In 1994 UCAC diversified into theater and maintains a close relationship with the Berkeley Opera, most recently performing in their 2005 concert production of Verdi's Macbeth. In 2008 the UCAC performed five concerts in Montevideo and Colonia, Uruguay; and Buenos Aires, La Plata and Mendoza, Argentina. They toured the Czech Republic and Hungary in July 2000, performing in Karoly Vary and the Dvorak Hall of the Rudolphinum in Prague. In 2002 they toured the Peoples Republic of China, performing well-received concerts based on "Music of the Americas." They toured the Baltics in 2004 with performances in Finland, Estonia, Latvia and St. Petersburg. On this tour they performed a variety of American folk songs and learned a song in their native language from each country they visited

CONDUCTOR BIO
Music Director Mark Sumner has directed the University of California Choral Ensembles-Berkeley and the First Unitarian-Universalist Society of San Francisco for the past eleven years. Mark has an extensive background as a professional singer (American Bach Soloists, San Francisco Chamber Singers, Los Angeles Music Center Opera, Tulsa Opera and Dallas Civic Opera) and continues to perform with the Los Angeles Chamber Singers and Cappella, where he was featured on the 2007 Grammy Award-winning recording, Padilla; Sun of Justice. He's served as director for over thirty musicals and plays and has recorded numerous motion picture soundtracks. He received a Doctor of Musical Arts-Choral Music from the University of Southern California; a Masters of Music-Choral Conducting from Southern Methodist University, and a Bachelor of Music Education from Oklahoma State University. Mark Sumner was awarded the Gordon Getty Music scholarship at USC and received the Distinguished Service Award from the Sapulpa (Oklahoma) Board of Education in 1989.

USA - Colorado: Rocky Mountain Children's Choir "Fourteeners"
Conductor: Leslie Britton

The Rocky Mountain Children's Choir (RMCC) goal is to be a premier choral music education organization that promotes and seeks diversity in its membership. Music is carefully selected to reflect a broad range of musical traditions from cultures around the world. Established in 1995, the Rocky Mountain Children's Choir unites the children of greater Denver's diverse communities through rigorous ensemble music instruction. More than 1,000 children have participated in RMCC programs and performed in over 100 concerts in the past five years. RMCC has performed in more than 30 languages from 48 different countries. The children's choir has performed with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra and the Spirituals Project at concerts recognizing Martin Luther King, Jr. They also performed at the Denver Art Museum opening; at Partners in Peace at Denver University; and Hope International with Mayor Kickenlooper. They sang the National Anthem (four times) for the Colorado Rockies baseball team, and performed Carmina Burana with the Arvada Center Chorale.

CONDUCTOR BIO
Leslie Britton was the Founding Music Director for Rocky Mountain Children's Choir at its inception in 1995. As the current Artistic Director she is responsible for implementing the choir's mission that partners musical excellence with multiculturalism. From 1986 through 1992 Ms. Britton was Music Director and conductor for the nationally renowned Chicago Children's Choir (CCC). With over 2000 children in its program, the CCC is the largest choral performance and training choir of its kind in the nation. Under her leadership the choir appeared with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 1991 under the baton of Sir George Solti. Ms. Britton holds a Master of Music Degree in Choral Conducting from Northwestern University and is a member of Pi Kappa Lamda music honorary society. Upon receiving her undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College in 1984, she was given the college's prestigious "Marcus Heiman Award for the Creative Arts."

USA - Michigan: Jefferson Avenue Presbyterian Church Chancel Choir
Conductor: Philip J. Michéal

Since its congregation's founding back in 1854, music at Jefferson Avenue Presbyterian Church has been an integral part of a mission that seeks to serve Christ in the midst of Detroit. The Chancel Choir is made up of a group of people from all walks of life, both volunteer and professional, that enjoy a unique Sunday morning fellowship dedicated to serving the church through making music. In addition to a ten-month schedule of singing over 150 anthems drawn from a truly eclectic repertoire throughout the season, the choir presents several special offerings each year, drawing from a wide variety of music, both sacred and secular. Under the direction of Philip J. Michéal, the choir often collaborates with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Michigan Opera Theatre, Motor City Brass Band, Soli Deo Gloria Cantorum in Omaha, Nebraska, and Mannheim Steamroller. The Chancel Choir has stepped beyond that of the "traditional" church choir and continually strives to bring a true and joyous sense of spirit to both performers and listeners through a loving and heartfelt approach to music-making.

CONDUCTOR BIO
Director of Music , in addition to holding a position as an educator in the Detroit Public Schools for over 20 years, has been at Jefferson Avenue for the last 14 years. His 37 year career of music-making has included church positions as professional singer, section leader, and director of adult and youth choirs for denominations ranging from Serbian Orthodox to Christian Science. Mr. Michéal was also a co-founder, artistic director, and performer in the vocal octet Musickes Pleasure, which enjoyed a 15-year life of concertizing throughout Michigan's neighboring states and Canada, and produced three recordings that still enjoy playtime on local radio stations. While a student at Detroit's Wayne State University, he served as musical director for several theatrical productions in both the Bonstelle and nationally renowned Hillberry Theatres. Always looking for something new, Michéal continues to present his performers and audiences with music that seeks to move the listener into "sacred spaces" of one kind or another.

USA - Montana Missoula Youth Choir
Conductors: Dean Peterson and Ronald Wilcott

The Missoula Youth Choir (MYC) was formed in 1987 for the sole purpose of performing at the first International Choral Festival. Missoula's hometown choir has delighted audiences at every Festival since then. Founded by the current ICF Artistic Director David Heidel, and current co-conductor Dean Peterson, the Missoula Youth Choir has grown from 35 members to 80 singers in its current form. Membership is comprised of select high school students from Missoula's public and parochial high schools. With only twelve evening rehearsals starting at the beginning of summer vacation, the singers, from varied backgrounds and schools, quickly come together to emerge during Festival week as a superb youth choir. Many MYC alumni, now adults with fond memories of performing at the International Choral Festival, are now among the host families, volunteers and contributors of the 2009 Festival. The partnership of the Missoula Youth Choir with the International Choral Festival provides Missoula's young singers with the opportunity to experience diverse music and cultures from across the globe without leaving their hometown.

CONDUCTOR BIOS
Dean Peterson is in his 23rd year as Director of Choirs at Hellgate High School. He received his Bachelors degrees in Music Education and Piano Performance from the University of Montana and his Masters degree in Music Education with Kodaly emphasis from Holy Names College, Oakland, California. He spent seven years teaching music in the Missoula Public Schools and conducted the Missoula All City Boys Choir. In 1987 he co-founded the MYC and since has co-directed the group at each of their Festival performances. In 1992 he was selected as a member of the Robert Shaw Choral Workshop and performance of the Beethoven Missa Solemnis in Carnegie Hall. In 1997 he was presented with a $25,000 National Milken Educator of the Year Award . In 2004 he conducted the Hellgate High School Chevaliers in performance at the Northwest Convention of the American Choral Directors Association. Dean was selected as the conductor of the Missoula Symphony Chorale in 2006 and serves on the International Choral Festival Board of Directors.

Ronald Wilcott is conductor of the Missoula Community Chorus; Coordinator of Music/Chancel Choir Director at the University Congregational Church; and music teacher at Loyola Sacred Heart High School. He has also served as music program chair and choral director at the University of South Carolina Aiken; Director of Vocal Music at Dixie College (St. George, Utah); and Director of Choral Organizations at East Bakersfield High School (Bakersfield, California). He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in choral music from Michigan State University, and Bachelor's and Master's degrees in vocal performance and pedagogy from the University of Southern California. Dr. Wilcott is an active choral adjudicator and clinician and has frequently presented interest sessions at professional conferences in music education, choral and church music. He is a past member of the board of directors for the Missoula International Choral Festival, and served as co-conductor for the Missoula Youth Choir for the Festivals in 2003 and 2006.