THE World Choir Games – the Olympics of Choirs – unfolds July9-19 in Graz, Austria where music lovers will experience one of the greatest musical festivals, the world’s biggest choir competition.

Tens of thousand of singers and visitors from all over the world will transform the European Capital of Culture into a world metropolis of choral singing.

From sacred music to jazz participants from more than 70 nations will compete for diplomas and Olympic medals in 28 categories and present their artistic abilities at numerous encounter concerts and gala concerts in Graz and its surroundings.

Seminars and workshops with recognized experts from the international choral scene will be part of the features of thie unique event.

The young history of the Choir Olympics began in 2000 in the capital of Upper Austria, Linz. It was the first time in the history of the international choral movement that so many choirs from so many countries gathered to take part in a universal choirs competition.

In 2002 the Choirs Olympics went to Asia, where the South Korean port metropolis of Busan was an excellent host and gave the games an unmistakeably Asian flavour. In 2004 the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen continued the success story, also proving itself a superb host city.

In 2006, the Choir Olympics returned to Asia and scaled yet greater heights, with 400 choirs and 20,000 participants from 80 nations converging on the up-and-coming southern Chinese metropolis of Xiamen.

The City of Graz and the surrounding Federal State of Steiermark, hosts and venues of the 5th World Choir Games, are perfectly prepared and equipped for this event, with their renowned concert halls and churches, organizers said.

Choirs of the world have been cordially invited to test their abilities in peaceful competition, in harmony with the Choir Olympic Idea.

INTERKULTUR Foundation, a friendly society based in Germany, is the organizer of the World Choir Games, in co-operation with the respective host countries.
Further information on the contest may be obtained at www.worldchoirgames.com