Message from the President (October 2020)

Dear friends,

As we are approaching the 4th quarter of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic is still threatening our health and we are recognizing that it is increasingly becoming the norm. The normalization of this global health crisis is forcing humans to coexist with coronavirus as we try to go back to normal life.

I am thrilled that the Africa Cantat Festival was celebrated online in August 2020 to keep the spirit of the festival alive, to send light and hope to singers all over Africa and the world, and to increase the international excitement for the festival. Meanwhile, I really hope that the Africa Cantat Festival can take place next year in Kenya once the worldwide situation gets better.

In addition, the 15th China International Chorus Festival (CICF) also moved online from September to October 2020 due to the pandemic. During the 15th online CICF, an international live broadcasting opening ceremony was held and a specific website was set up to present outstanding choirs from around the world to all the audiences.

For online events, the IFCM will offer ongoing support to create innovative ways of sharing and enjoying choral music together.

Recently, we have been busy with the preparation for the 2020 IFCM General Assembly and Election, which will be hosted in December, as it will be the first time we organize this kind of activity online due to the epidemic situation all over the world. It is challenging for us to organize an online election and the whole team is working hard to prepare documents and make the voting procedure clear and transparent.

During this special preparation, I suddenly realized that it has been three years since I was elected and appointed as the president of the IFCM during the WSCM and IFCM General Assembly in Barcelona. I would like to extend my sincerest gratitude to all the IFCM members for your valuable trust and support, and to the Board members and ExCom members for your solidarity and hard work. I am honored that, with our tremendous efforts, we contributed together in many projects and aspects of the IFCM over the last three years.

I am now looking forward to the new IFCM Board and ExCom. I believe that the new IFCM Board and ExCom will make constant efforts to help the federation grow and develop in the future. At the same time, I hope there will be more people joining our big IFCM family, involving more worldwide activities to promote choral music and education. Choral music always brings us infinite hope and power!

Edited by Charlotte Sullivan, UK