Message from the President Emily Kuo Vong (October 2022)

Dear friends,

This has been a great year so far for our federation and our members. Not only are we celebrating IFCM’s 40th anniversary, but also, after more than two years, we had our first live event. In September, Portugal was a unique choral harbor for more than 2000 people from all over the world. The third World Choral EXPO was organized from 3 to 7 September in Oeiras/Lisbon. During the five days of eventse, we witnessed some of the most incredible, colorful music throughout the cities of Oeiras and Lisbon. Together with our leading partner, the Municipality of Oeiras, we managed to host two professional choirs, seven invited choirs, and many groups from Portugal, especially Oeiras.

The event was a true exhibition of the choral world with workshops, joint rehearsals, concerts, gala concerts, but also masterclasses and lectures within The Singing Network Exchange program. We can proudly say that the event was attended by individual participants who enjoyed every aspect of the World Choral EXPO. One of the critical points was also the principal celebration of IFCM’s 40th anniversary and General Assembly. On 4 September, in our Main office in Palacete dos Condes de Monte Real, IFCM’s General Assembly was held, followed by a reception and performance of one of the invited choirs for the EXPO. In the evening, the celebration continued in Centro Cultural Belem, where Kammerchor Stuttgart from Germany held a gala concert in honor of the 40 years of our federation.

It was a remarkable day for IFCM and a grand celebration, but we look forward to our next 40 years and the events awaiting us. In light of our future events, we were proud to host Mrs. Özgül ÖZKAN YAVU, Deputy Minister of the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and officially hand over the organization of the World Symposium on Choral Music. The next edition of this event will be held from 25 to 30 April 2023, and we invite you to pay attention to the call for participants that will be open very soon. Members of IFCM will have significant benefits at this event!

Turkish Deputy Minister of Culture, Mrs. Özgül Özkan, and President of the Turkish Choral Culture Association, conductor of the Turkish State Choir and IFCM Board Member, Dr. Burak Onur Erdem, at the Cultural Center of Belém in Lisbon on September 7, 2022

But before that, you can join the celebration of World Choral Day, which will be held traditionally in December. However, your choir can join the celebrations even now. If you visit our website, you can find more information on how to join the celebrations.

We would also like to remind you that our program for young conductors, singers, composers, and managers, Creating Futures in Choral Music, is still open, and up to now we have welcomed more than 220 new young members. Our goal is to have 1000, so we also invite our members to spread the word about this IFCM campaign and encourage more young people to become members of IFCM (for free!).

Dear friends, the voice of choral music is unique but also a combination of life, strength, and solidarity! So let’s continue to sing together for the world, peace, and love!