The Emīls Dārziņš Mixed Choir was founded in 2003 as the Swedbank Choir and renamed in 2014. The choir performs both a cappella and concerts with organ and orchestra. Its recent international successes include the Spittal Choir Competition, the International Chamber Choir Competition in Marktoberdorf, the „Riga sings“ competition, the „International Baltic Sea“ Choir Competition, and the „Grieg International“ Choir Festival.

Conductor: Rihards Lapiņš

Rihards Lapiņš, conductor and artistic director, was born in 1999 in Riga. His studies include choral conducting and vocal studies programmes at the J. Vītols Latvian Academy of Music with A. Veismanis, at the National School of Arts Riga Cathedral Choir School and at the Sibelius Academy in Finland. He participated in masterclasses for choral conducting with Kaspars Putniņš, Andrew Parrot, Roger Norrington, as well as with ensembles such as Theatre of Voices and Latvian Voices. Rihards has worked with the RTU Mixed Choir Vivere, the Youth Choir Balsis, and the Latvian Radio Choir, and is artistic director of the Valsts Nekustamie īpašumi (State Real Estate) mixed choir in Riga, the Mixed Choir Vidzeme in Cēsis, and the vocal group „Midnight Five“.

Conductor: Jēkabs Krists Kalniņš

Jēkabs Krists Kalniņš, conductor, was born in 2002 in Cēsis. He studied choral conducting at the PIKC NMV Riga Cathedral Choir School under Mārtiņš Klišāns. He is currently studying orchestral conducting at the Jāzeps Vītolas Music Academy of Latvia under the guidance of Andris Vecumnieks. In Lithuania, he has worked and sung with many choirs, while also touring Europe to perform at festivals and competitions. As a conductor, he also works at the Old St. Gertrude Church and with the choir „Anima mea“.

The VICA Ensemble, led by Richard Stier, consists of vocal students from German music conservatories and former singers from renowned German boys‘ and youth choirs. This early musical training shapes the musicians not only in their passion for classical choral music but also in their ambition to perform at the highest level. The VICA Chamber Choir primarily focuses on sacred a cappella choral music from all periods. Its repertoire also includes major oratorios by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Georg Friedrich Handel, and Johann Sebastian Bach, which the choir regularly performs in a larger setting with the VICA Chamber Orchestra.

Conductor: Richard Stier

Richard Stier was born in Dinkelsbühl and received his initial musical training with the Windsbacher Boys‘ Choir. Stier studied choral conducting with Prof. Hans-Christoph Rademann at the Carl Maria von Weber College of Music in Dresden and further honed his skills with Prof. Nils Schweckendiek at the Sibelius Academy of Uniarts in Helsinki, as well as in masterclasses with Justin Doyle, Sigvards Kļava, and Stefan Parkman. Early in his career, he worked at the Dresdner Kapellknaben Institute, conducting the boys‘ choir in concerts and services at the former Hofkirche St. Trinitatis. Since the 2023/24 season, he has been the assistant and repetiteur to Kreuzkantor Martin Lehmann at the prestigious Dresdner Kreuzchor. As a co-founder and artistic director of the VICA Ensemble, his artistic focus is on the preservation of a cappella choral music from all eras and the performance of choral symphonic works, particularly from the 18th and 19th centuries.

Dr. Bara is in regular demand as a guest conductor and clinician, having conducted all state and honour choirs in 20 states and Carnegie Hall. Prior to his appointment at UGA, Dr. Bara was the Director of Choral Activities at East Carolina University, where he received the UNC Board of Governors Distinguished Professor for Teaching Award and the Robert L. Jones Award for Outstanding Teaching.  

The Ensamble Escénico Vocal (Vocal Stage Ensemble) is a chamber choir made up of 16 young singers that belongs to the musical educational program of the Sistema Nacional de Fomento Musical (National System for the Promotion of Music) in Mexico. They have performed with great success on national and international stages.

Conducted by directors such as Gerardo Rábago Palafox (founder), Alejandro León, Digna Guerra, Jorge Córdoba, Horacio Franco, Eduardo García Barrios, Sergio Vázquez and currently by Emilio Aranda Mora, this ensemble has traveled through the choral repertoire of various periods, styles and traditions, presented both in the traditional format and in educational recitals. Its stage productions include “St John Passion”, BWV 245 by Johann Sebastian Bach; the opera “Mozart and Salieri” by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov; the program “Choral Music of the Spanish Exile”; the musicals “West Side Story”, “Candide” and “Wonderful Town” on the centenary of the birth of Leonard Bernstein; the Petite messe solennelle by Gioachino Rossini in its original version; as well as their participation in the grand event “Tengo un sueño” (I have a dream), held at the Mexico’s National Auditorium in front of more than 10,000 spectators, they exhibit the multifaceted artistic ability to combine vocal language with body expression. They have been invited by the New England Symphonic Ensemble to the world premiere of the Requiem “XANTOLO” by the Mexican composer Julio Morales at the emblematic Carnegie Hall in New York in 2025.

Conductor: Emilio Aranda Mora

Born 1967 in Mexico City, Emilio Aranda Mora studied orchestral conducting at the National Conservatory of Music in Mexico. In parallel to the development of his career as a musical director in the most prestigious orchestras in Mexico, he is an outstanding pianist which includes performances in renowned venues and music festivals in Mexico. He is also the founder and director of the Camerata Académica de México, a group with which he carried out an intense activity as an orchestral director. He has produced more than 15 albums artistically and executively.

The ECU Chamber Singers is one of the premiere choral ensembles in the United States. Conducted by James Franklin, the ensemble maintains a vigorous performance and travel schedule and focuses predominantly on unaccompanied choral literature for advanced chamber choir. The group of 36-40 auditioned singers, primarily voice majors within the School of Music, has developed a national and international following due to a commitment to programming and performing quality choral music at the highest level.

This ensemble consistently receives invitations to perform at various national, regional, and state conferences,. Recent international honors include being a finalist at the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing (Bulgaria, 2016) and winning first prize at the International Choral Competition Gallus (Slovenia, 2015).

In 2024, the ensemble released “Silence and Music”, the second consecutive album recorded with a multi GRAMMY-winning recording team. It is available on all streaming platforms. The first album, Appear and Inspire, was released on the Gothic label in 2021 and received rave reviews. Other ECU Chamber Singers albums in the Gothic Records catalogue include Eternal Light (2010) and Greater Love (2007).

Conductor: James Franklin

James Franklin is the Director of Choral Activities at East Carolina University where he conducts the internationally renowned ECU Chamber Singers, conducts the University Chorale, directs the graduate program in choral conducting, and teaches undergraduate conducting. Dr. Franklin’s ensembles have received acclaim across the country and internationally.
Recent honors include invitations to perform at the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing (Varna, Bulgaria), National ACDA Conference (Kansas City, MO), NCCO Conference (Atlanta, GA), and North Carolina ACDA (Raleigh, NC). In 2022, the ECU Chamber Singers were featured in a recording project with Oxford University Press for the release of RVW 150, a two-volume collection of works celebrating English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams. In 2020, the ECU Chamber Singers won second place in The American Prize in Choral Performance in the college/university division.

Dr. Franklin remains active as a guest conductor and clinician with frequent invitations across the United States and abroad. He is also a GRAMMY-nominated choral singer, having performed with many professional choirs, including Transept, the PaTRAM Institute Male Choir, Saint Tikhon Choir, South Dakota Chorale, Taylor Festival Choir, Orpheus Chamber Singers, Dallas Bach Society, and Houston Bach Society.

Malang ChoralArt is an independent choir based in Malang, Indonesia. It was founded with the aim of performing a diverse range of choral music with a high level of artistic excellence. The choir comprises outstanding singers from various age groups and backgrounds across the Malang City area and its surroundings. In addition to presenting classical choral works, the choir is dedicated to promoting traditional music and premiering original compositions by Indonesian choral composers.

Conductor: Budi Susanto Yohanes

Budi Susanto Yohanes studied choral conducting with a minor in vocal studies at the Korea National University of Arts, Seoul. As a singer, he was selected for the Asian Youth Choir from 2004 to 2008, and the Collegium Vocalensemble Seoul from 2013 to 2016. His success as a conductor is evident from the numerous awards he has received at various competitions in Miltenberg, Busan, Llangollen, Torrevieja, Gorizia, Cantonigros, Spittal, Florence, and Indonesia. In 2011, in Rimini, Italy, he was honored with an award for best conductor.

He is also active as a choral composer, with his works published by Earthsongs USA, Carus-Verlag Germany, Kontrapunkt Hungary, and the Choral Research Centre Singapore. He is regularly invited as a speaker for music workshops in Singapore, the Philippines, and various regions of Indonesia. Budi has also served as a judge and artistic director for The National Catholic Choir Competition, The Soegijapranata International Choir Competition, and The National Folklore Festival.

The University of North Texas A Cappella Choir is the premier ensemble in the UNT choral program. The A Cappella Choir has had a distinguished history of conductors that include Wilfred Bain, Frank McKinley, Hal Gibbons, Mel Ivey, and Jerry McCoy. In 1966, the choir participated in a three-month tour of Europe under the sponsorship of the US Department of State.

The A Cappella Choir frequently performs at regional, national, and international festivals and competitions. Most recent engagements include National ACDA in 2024 and 2013 (Dallas), 2005 (Los Angeles), and 1999 (Chicago); TMEA in 2020; NCCO in 2008 (Cincinnati); and International Choral Festivals in 2012 (Daejeon, South Korea) and in 2009 (Taipei).

Conductor: Allen Hightower 

Allen Hightower is the director of Choral Studies at the University of North Texas. He leads the master’s and doctoral programs in choral conducting and oversees a comprehensive choral program of eight ensembles. He serves as the conductor of the UNT A Cappella Choir, and the UNT Grand Chorus which collaborates annually with the UNT Symphony Orchestra in performances of major choral-orchestral works. As a member of UNT’s Early Music faculty, he leads the vocal ensemble Vox Aquilae, an artistic partner of the UNT Baroque Orchestra.
Since 2016, the A Cappella Choir has received invitations to perform for the Texas Music Educators Association in 2020, the National Conference of the American Choral Directors Association in 2021, the Southwestern Division of ACDA in 2022, and the National Conference of the American Choral Directors Association in 2025.

Prior to his appointment at UNT, Dr. Hightower held the Weston Noble Endowed Chair in Music at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, where he served as conductor of the renowned Nordic Choir and artistic director of Christmas at Luther. From 2000-2010, Dr. Hightower served as Professor of Music and Director of Choral Studies at Sam Houston State University.

Dr. Allen Hightower earned his undergraduate degree in music education and piano from Sam Houston State University. He went on to earn a master’s degree in choral conducting from the Eastman School of Music and a master’s degree in orchestral conducting from Baylor University. He earned his doctorate in conducting from the University of California, Los Angeles. Hightower pursued additional orchestral conducting studies with Jung-Ho Pak at the University of Southern California, additional choral conducting studies with Joseph Flummerfelt at Westminster Choir College, and choral-orchestral conducting with Helmuth Rilling at the Oregon Bach Festival. 

The Lund Academic Choir, a mixed choir with about 50 singers, was founded in 1927 as a women’s choir and later expanded to broaden its repertoire. It is affiliated with the Lund University Music Department Odeum. The choir still performs as both a women’s and a men’s choir. Its members are mainly students and doctoral candidates of Lund University, including many exchange students from around the world.

The choir focuses on classical music for a cappella choirs and performs about ten concerts annually, both within the Odeum concert series and outside the university. The choir regularly goes on tour, with recent destinations including South Africa, Italy, Denmark, and Germany, and frequently collaborates with other choirs, including the Via Nova Choir from Munich and the Bundesjugendchor (German Federal Youth Choir). The choir offers its members a high level of musical quality, as well as a strong sense of community.

Conductor: Cecilia Martin-Löf

Cecilia Martin-Löf, conductor and artistic director since 2007, studied choral conducting with Anders Eby at the Royal Swedish Academy of Music in Stockholm. She teaches choral conducting at the Malmö Academy of Music, gives masterclasses, and provides further education for conductors in Sweden and Europe. She holds a teaching degree in choral and vocal studies and also studied piano, orchestral conducting, Latin, Italian, and linguistics. She combines her love for literature, particularly poetry, with choral singing. Her fascination with Swedish folk music led her to study folk songs at the Malung Folk High School. Additionally, she has worked with ensembles in Sweden, Denmark, Italy, and Germany.

The Delaware Choral Scholars – the touring edition of the University of Delaware Chorale – has enjoyed sustained artistic success both nationally and abroad. Composed primarily of undergraduate and graduate music majors, as well as talented undergraduate musicians outside of the School of Music. The 44- voice choir has been invited to perform on numerous regional and national conventions of the American Choral Directors Association in the last two decades, including national conventions in Los Angeles (2005) and Dallas (2013).

In 2007, the choir won the Grand Prix in the Estonian International Choral Competition, and has subsequently garnered awards in Tolosa, Spain (2010), Debrecen, Hungary (2012), and Mainhausen, Germany (2017). As part of the large UD Symphonic Choir, they frequently perform with the Delaware Symphony Orchestra, have made appearances at Carnegie Hall in New York, Verizon Hall in the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, and, have participated in numerous international collaborations. Most recently, the choir was awarded the division championship at the Llangollen Eisteddfod in Wales (2023) before traveling to the New Zealand to compete in the World Choir Games (2024). There, the choir became the WCG’s most successful choir as a three-time category winner.

Conductor: Paul D. Head

Paul D. Head celebrates 27 years as the distinguished named chair of choral studies at the University of Delaware this year. Choirs under his leadership have been recognized throughout the United States and Europe, appearing six times on national and regional conferences of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) while winning awards at international competitions in Spain, Hungary, Germany, and the prestigious Grand Prix Award in the Estonian Choral Competition.

He also served as President of ACDA-Eastern Division. He is also frequently sought out as a juror for international choral competitions, including the BICF Grand Prix in Bali, Indonesia and the Malaysia Choral Eisteddfod in Kuala Lumpur. Also highly regarded as a pedagogue and author of several books, Dr. Head’s most notable contribution is his role as co-author and editor of the Oxford Handbook of Choral Pedagogy.

The Gloria Brunensis Women's Chamber Choir was founded in January 2014 on the initiative of its current conductor Natalia Chirilenco. Gloria Brunensis has a wide range of compositions in its repertoire, spanning across periods and musical genres, from polyphonies through contemporary composers, with a special focus on a cappella works. Although a young choir, it has had many accomplishments in competitions both at home and abroad.

Among the greatest ones are the gold diploma and Grand Prix for the best choir of the Mundus Cantat Sopot 2024 and Varsovia Cantat 2023 competitions or the title of absolute winner of the 62nd Choralia Chrudim. Furthermore, in 2019, two golden bands and the absolute victory in the category of female choirs from the International Festival of Advent and Christmas Music in Bratislava, the golden ribbon from the Praga Cantat festival in 2018 or two silver ribbons from the international competition festival in Bad Ischl, Austria. The choir also regularly performs in its hometown Brno, both at its own concerts and often as a guest of other performing ensembles.

Conductor: Natalia Chirilenco

Natalia Chirilenco was born in Moldova. She studied at the Music High School and then at the Academy of Musical Arts in Chișinãu. Since 1999 she has lived in the Czech Republic. She has directed the mixed choir Schola Cantorum in Prostìjov and Lumír in Brno, the choir of the Brno Conservatory and the children's choir Primavera at the Jaroslav Kvapil Music School in Brno. She regularly teaches at the Brno piano courses "Holiday Playing". Since 2014 she has directed the women's choir Gloria Brunensis and since January 2019 the Gymnasium Choir of the Pavel Køížkovský Gymnasium in Brno. Under her leadership, the choirs have achieved significant success and awards at international festivals and competitions.

Under the auspices of the Gema Sangkakala Foundation, the choir was established in North Sulawesi Manado in March 2017. In 2018, Gema Sangkakala Female Choir embarked on its first international competition at the Rimini International Choral in Italy, where they emerged as the Equal Voice Category winners. Most recently, in 2023, the choir achieved the Grand Prix Champion title at the Toraja Highland International Choir Festival in Indonesia. Currently, Gema Sangkakala Female Choir comprises approximately 18-20 singers between the ages of 17 and 35.

Conductor: Roland David Enoch

Roland David Enoch was born 1988 in Manado. His interest in the choral world started when he joined Gema Sangakala Children’s Choir at the age of nine. Roland started to learn choral conducting at Bandung, and continued his studies at Manado State University majoring in choral conducting until his graduation. Now he’s a full time conductor for Gema Sangakala Female Choir and vocal coach for Gema Sangkala Children’s Choir.

The Eos women's choir from Rome was born from the children's choir Primavera. Since its debut as a women's choir in 2000, the group has studied various forms of choral music, ranging from medieval to folk music, but with a focus on contemporary music, with the performance of "Prime Assolute", written especially for the Eos choir. The show "A Roma se racconta che...", an original mix of choral music and theater, was a resounding success.

The choir's first CD, "L'inCanto" (Erreffe 2006), is a summary of the Eos choir's performance practice; a second CD was recorded in 2011 in collaboration with the Musicanova choir, "Singing Christmas" (Erreffe), and the last in 2016, "EchOeS" (Erreffe), including contemporary music for women's choir. The choir has won numerous prizes at national (Rieti, Vasto, Zagarolo, Teramo, Arezzo, Vittorio Veneto) and international choir competitions (Rome, Arezzo, Gorizia, Cantonigròs in Spain, Neuchâtel in Switzerland, Debrecen in Hungary).

Conductor: Fabrizio Barchi

Fabrizio Barchi’s career as a choir conductor began in 1979 while still completing his studies at the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music of Rome. Since then he has been conducting several choirs both in musical associations and schools. Besides the Coro Musicanova, his choirs include the Primavera treble choir (Coro di voci bianche Primavera), the Eos female choir (Coro Femminile Eos), the Iride choir (Coro Iride) and the high school choirs Primo Levi and Enriques, with whom he has been awarded many prizes during the years.

His work at the local and national level includes collaborations with important composers such as Ennio Morricone, artistic direction of festivals and regional choral associations, an intense involvement as vice-conductor of the musical chapel of St. John Lateran and holder of the chair of Choral Conductorship at the Conservatory Lorenzo Perosi of Campobasso.