Choir Competition 2026 - Announcement - Chorwettbewerb Spittal an der Drau
Choir Competition 2026 - Announcement
Aktuell
Announcement
To all
friends of choral music!
We are
pleased to present the announcement for the 60th International Choir Competition
2026 at Porcia
Castle, Spittal an der Drau, Carinthia, Austria, and cordially
invite you to participate.
Organizers:
• Office of the Carinthian
Provincial Government
• Austrian Broadcasting
Corporation · Carinthia Studio
• Department of Culture,
Municipality of Spittal
• Singkreis Porcia, Spittal an
der Drau
Event
Management:
Municipality
of Spittal an der Drau
Department
7 – Culture & City Marketing
Burgplatz
1, 9800 Spittal an der Drau
Phone:
+43 (0) 47 62 / 56 50-221
Email: info@chorbewerb-spittal.at
Singkreis
Porcia, Spittal an der Drau
Director:
Bernhard Wolfsgruber
Artistic
Director: Bernhard Wolfsgruber
Date
and Venue
Thursday,
July 9 – Sunday, July 12, 2026
Porcia
Castle, Spittal an der Drau, Carinthia, Austria
The
competition is held in two categories:
• Category A – Art Song (Advanced Choral
Literature) (with the Günther Mittergradnegger Prize)
• Category B – Folk Song
Schedule
Thursday,
July 9, 2026
8:30 PM –
Opening concert of Singkreis Porcia (Porcia Castle)
Friday,
July 10, 2026
9:30 AM –
Photo session for conductors (Porcia courtyard)
9:45 AM –
Conductors’ meeting (Porcia Room, 1st floor)
From
10:45 AM – Rehearsals at Porcia courtyard and City Hall (as
scheduled)
7:00 PM –
Category B competition – Folk Song in traditional costume
(Simultaneously
from 7:30 PM as competition concert in City Hall)
Saturday,
July 11, 2026
9:30 AM –
Compulsory piece performance, Category A – Art Song (City Hall)
7:00 PM –
Free short program, Category A – Art Song
(Simultaneously
from 7:30 PM as competition concert in City Hall)
Sunday,
July 12, 2026
From
9:00 AM – Optional participation in church services in nearby
parishes
11:15
AM – Open singing in Millstatt (in traditional dress)
7:00 PM –
Awards ceremony and prizewinners’ concert (Porcia Castle)
From
approx. 9:30 PM – Closing celebration (City Hall)
Participation
in all scheduled events is mandatory.
⸻
General
Conditions
Travel
Costs
Travel
expenses to and from Spittal an der Drau must be borne by participating choirs.
Any
additional transportation costs during the event, not agreed upon beforehand,
must also be covered by the choir.
Required
visas must be obtained in advance by the choir.
Accommodation
and Meals
Accommodation
and full board (excluding beverages) are covered by the organizers for
competition participants (see participation fee below).
Lodging
will be arranged in hotels, guesthouses, hostels, or private rooms.
Accommodation
is in shared rooms; single rooms are only available for the conductor and bus
driver.
Accommodation
begins with dinner
on Thursday, July 9, and ends with breakfast on Monday, July 13, 2026.
An
extended stay at personal expense may be arranged with early notice.
Participants
The
following are considered official participants entitled to accommodation and
meals for a fee of €50
per person:
• Active singers (maximum 45)
• Conductor and official
accompanying persons (e.g., manager, assistant, interpreter – max. 3)
• Bus driver(s) (max. 2)
Total maximum: 50 persons
A German- or English-speaking
interpreter is recommended.
For additional officials or accompanying
persons, a flat rate of €250 per person for accommodation
and meals will be charged (payable the day after arrival).
Supervision
Each
choir will be personally hosted by members of Singkreis Porcia throughout
the competition.
⸻
Prizes
Category
A – Art Song
1st
Prize: € 1,500
2nd
Prize: € 900
3rd
Prize: € 600
Günther
Mittergradnegger Prize (best interpretation of a
contemporary work): €1,000
Category
B – Folk Song
1st
Prize: € 1,000
2nd
Prize: € 700
3rd
Prize: € 500
Awards
will be determined by an international
jury of choral experts.
The
jury’s decision is final
and binding.
⸻
Registration
Applications
must be submitted by
January 31, 2026 (received by the Department of Culture,
Spittal an der Drau).
The completed
form must include:
• Selected competition pieces
• A short history of the choir
(on the provided form)
• A digital photo of
the choir (print resolution, not older than one year)
– granting the organizer
unrestricted usage rights.
Do not send audio recordings!
Only one piece per category may
be changed later (deadline: June 1, 2026).
Alternatively, send the printed
form to:
Municipality of Spittal an der
Drau
Department 7 – Culture &
City Marketing
Burgplatz 1, A-9800 Spittal an
der Drau, Austria
⸻
Participation
Requirements
• Open to mixed choirs (SATB) only.
• Minimum 16, maximum 45 singers.
• Only amateur singers (except
the conductor).
• Participation in both categories (A and B) is
required.
• Selection of choirs will be
made by a jury.
⸻
Category
A – Art Song / Compulsory Works
Each
choir must perform a 10-minute
free program (pure singing time).
An
advanced jazz or pop arrangement is allowed, a cappella only (no
piano).
In
addition, the following three
compulsory pieces must be performed:
1. Thomas Weelkes (1576–1623) – Alleluja, I heard a voice
2. Fanny Hensel (1805–1847) – Schöne Fremde, from Gartenlieder, Op. 3
3. Javier Busto (1949) – Soñé que tú me llevabas (commissioned/unpublished work)
The score for the commissioned work
(Busto) will be provided with the participation
confirmation (February 2026).
The
other editions must be obtained by the choir itself.
The
jury will evaluate based on intonation,
sound, dynamics, rhythm, style, and overall quality and
will give a brief
public statement of their assessment.
The Günther Mittergradnegger Prize will
be awarded for the best interpretation of a contemporary work.
⸻
Category
B – Folk Song
Each
choir must perform a 10-minute
free program of characteristic folk songs from its own
country.
One
song may be performed by a smaller group (minimum four singers).
Songs should
be traditional and
reflect the local culture.
Complex
arrangements should be limited.
Songs
must be performed by
heart and conducted.
Accompaniment
with typical folk
instruments (except piano) is permitted.
The
jury will assess intonation,
sound, dynamics, rhythm, and style and give a brief public summary.
Performing
in traditional or
national costume is especially encouraged.
⸻
Additional
Program Points
• For the winners’ concert (Sunday),
one additional piece per category must be prepared.
• During “Singing under the Linden Tree” in
Millstatt (Sunday, 11:15 AM), light and cheerful songs are encouraged,
preferably not from
the Category B program.
• For church services on Sunday,
both sacred and secular choral pieces are welcome.
⸻
