Imusicapella Philippines Grand Prix in LATVIA (+Awarding) 7thInternationalBalticSeaChoirCompetition

On Sunday, September 22 2024, the 7th International Baltic Sea Choir Competition and the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing (EGP) competition stage ended in Dzintari Concert Hall, where the choir “IMUSICAPELLA” from the Philippines won the Grand Prix prize. This choir has already won another EGP stage this year, so the right to participate in the EGP finals, which will be held next year in Tolosa, Spain, was won by the second place winner of the competition – the mixed choir of the Latvian Academy of Culture “SŌLA”. Starting from 2024, the International Baltic Sea Choral Competition held in Jūrmala has become one of the six official stages of the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing, a prestigious competition association in the choral music industry, placing the name of Latvia and Jūrmala among the most recognized amateur choir competitions in the world. The mixed choir “IMUSICAPELLA” from the Philippines under the leadership of conductor Tristan Calliston Ignacio became the 1st place and Grand Prix winner of the seventh International Baltic Sea Choir Competition, receiving the special Jūrmala city cup and a montary prize of 3,500 euros. The second place and a cash prize of 2,000 euros was won by the domestic mixed choir “SŌLA” led by conductor Kaspars Ādamsons. The third place and a monetary prize of 1000 euros was won by another participant from Latvia – the mixed choir of the University of Latvia “JUVENTUS” led by conductor Valda Thomsons. Vilija Mažintaite from the Lithuanian women’s choir “VIVA” was recognized as the best conductor of the competition. The Estonian National Opera Men’s Choir under the direction of conductor Hirvo Surva won the best obligatory composition – the interpretation of Georg Pelēcis opus “Eye Has Not Seen”, as well as the sympathy award of the Latvian National Cultural Center. The prize for the most visually attractive performance was won by the Oñati Chamber Choir from Spain, while the “IMUSICAPELLA” choir from the Philippines won the Audience Award. The “Musica Baltica” publishing house award for the best interpretation of a unison piece, as well as the Dzintari concert hall sympathy award, was won by the mixed choir “SŌLA” and conductor Kaspars Ādamsons. The 7th International Baltic Sea Choir Competition took place from September 20 to 22 in Jurmala, in the Dzintari Concert Hall, and gathered choir singers from eight countries of the world – Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Spain and the Philippines. The performance of the choirs was evaluated by a professional international jury consisting of Māris Sirmais (Latvia), Orla Flanagan (Ireland), Årne Saluveer (Estonia); Christo Burger (South Africa) and Artūrs Dambrauskas (Lithuania).