Who would expect to come to Montana and hear the whole world? This is just amazing!"
   Jennifer Swinton, Philadelphia

On a magical week in July, 2009, 12 choirs from across the globe came together in Montana, to bring their music to Missoula! Audience members traveled from all over the United States to hear the world-class choirs perform at the eighth Choral Festival, now a grand tradition in Missoula. Choirs representing the Czech Republic, Estonia, Republic of Georgia, Germany, Mexico, South Korea, Sweden and Taiwan participated, along with U.S. choirs from California, Colorado, Michigan and Montana.

At Caras Park on Wednesday, July 15, over two thousand people had lunch on a beautiful summer day, while enjoying six choirs performing in the Festival's new inflatable sound shell at the kick-off concert. Ancient Georgian chants were interspersed with German waltzes, a Swedish wedding march, and Dancin' in the Street, performed by the South Korean choir. Shoppers at the Southgate Mall were delighted to have the opportunity to hear three choirs at a Preview Concert later that day on Wednesday. And 3,000 people filled Bonner Park that evening for the youth concert, featuring the four youth choirs. Over the course of the next two days, the twelve choirs performed to appreciative audiences at morning and evening concerts at four downtown venues.

The Finale Concert at Washington Grizzly Stadium on July 18, held outdoors for the first time, attracted over 5,000 choral music lovers. The Celtic Dragon Pipe Band led the choirs into the Stadium with the "Parade of Nations," each choir carrying their nation's flag and sign. The diversity of the choirs was clear as each choir sang a selection of their choosing. At the end of the concert, the 355 singers performed Dona Nobis Pacem in a three-part round, with the audience joining them the third time. The choir members then held hands in a circle on the field and sang Auld Lang Syne, the traditional closing song of the Festival. The applause was deafening; the hugs and goodbyes were abundant.

Social events are provided for the choirs and their host families, where good food and music are enjoyed, and more friendships are made.

A triennial Festival, Missoula's International Choral Festival has brought outstanding choirs together since its first Festival in 1987. A non-competitive showcase Festival, only the best of the best are invited. Once they arrive, they perform to enthusiastic audiences who can't seem to get enough of their music. Not only did the choirs reach out to the audiences, but they also reached out to each other at Missoula's Festival, now known throughout the choral world. Music and friendships crossed continents and boundaries, helping the Festival to once again "bring the world a little closer."

Donate to the International Choral Festival

The Singing Revolution — Most people don't think about singing when they think about revolutions. But song was the weapon of choice when, between 1987 and 1991, Estonians sought to free themselves from decades of Soviet occupation. During those years, hundreds of thousands gathered in public to sing forbidden patriotic songs and to rally for independence.