BDAAC Newsletter September 2011

The World Choir Games Come to Cincinnati USA!

Choir Mytilnis -- Greece

By Karen M Jenkins

Unifying people of diverse cultures, races, ages, and genders, the international World Choir Games come to America, July 4 - 14, 2012! It will be the Choir Games' first time in the United States, and Cincinnati will be its first North American host city.

The World Choir Games, formerly known as the Choir Olympics, was founded on the same idea as the Olympics: to bring people together through friendly competition. Started in 2000, the World Choir Games is gaining momentum as an internationally recognized competition with their motto "singing together brings nations together." The World Choir Games does this "through singing in a peaceful competition."

The INTERKULTUR Foundation, a German organization that promotes international choir events all over the world, founded the World Choir Games with the idea of inspiring diverse people to come together from all over the world through competitive song. The first World Choir Games were held in South Korea, with 15,000 competitors from 60 countries participating. The World Choir Games have since traveled to Australia, Italy, Germany, and China, with tens of thousands of participants. The games take place every two years.

Amazingly, Cincinnati has landed this prestigious event, becoming the seventh city—and only American city—to host the World Choir Games. It is touted to be the "largest and most significant international arts event in the city's history."

There are two competitions: the Champions Competition and the Open Competition. The former is a medal-based competition in which all choirs must qualify based on international competitive experience and proven ability in choral competition. An "impartial" international jury judges the competition, and the winners are awarded bronze, silver, and gold medals.

The Open Competition is open to amateur choirs regardless of their artistic experience. The winners in this competition category will receive bronze, silver or gold certificates.

There will be more than 29 different musical categories ranging from female choirs, mixed choirs, show choirs, children's choirs, barbershop, jazz, pop, gospel, and spirituals.

Cincinnati is excited about being the first city in the United States that will host the World Choir Games. Currently, the Games' registration of seventy choirs (including seven local choirs) is said to be "pacing ahead of where the Games would normally be at this time." Cincinnati is preparing for the opening and closing ceremonies, along with lots of entertainment on city streets, public squares, attraction venues, and local parks. Brace yourself for a singing good time in the Queen City!

Most of the World Choir Game activities will take place in downtown Cincinnati, in venues such as Music Hall, the Aronoff Center, U.S. Bank Arena, the Duke Energy Convention Center, and Christ Church Cathedral.

For more information go to www.2012worldchoirgames.com .