World Choral EXPO in Lisbon, Portugal (3-7 September 2022)

Ki Adams, IFCM Vice-President (North America)

In early September 2022, IFCM will host present its second World Choral EXPO (WCE) in Lisbon, Portugal. Building on the successes of the inaugural WCE in Macau SAR (2015) and the subsequent WCE in Lisbon (2019), WCE 2022 promises to be the best WCE yet with new components being added and registration fees for choirs and individual participants dramatically reduced. WCE 2022 is an international choral event which provides an opportunity for the global choral community (singers, conductors, composers, educators, scholars, and researchers) to interact with and learn from each other as well as with and from world-renowned choirs and their conductors. WCE 2022 will highlight three focus areas: choral music education, choral performance, and choral masterclasses (both for conductors and singers wishing to learn more about singing in professional choirs). The inaugural WCE masterclass component for conductors and singers will be led by internationally-renowned maestro, Frieder Bernius, with Kammerchor Stuttgart, one of the foremost European vocal ensembles. For those interested in singing and song, Lisbon is the place to be 3-7 September 2022!

The main venue for the World Choral EXPO 2022 will be Centro Cultural Belém. Located in the western parish of Belém, Centro Cultural Belém is Lisbon’s core facility for cultural and leisure activities. The complex is situated near the waterfront and just steps from Jerónimos Monastery, Tower of Belém, and the Monument to the Discoveries.

Centro Cultural Belém, main venue of the World Choral EXPO 2022

The World Choral EXPO is a key project of IFCM that is built on the foundation of choirs and singers meeting other choirs and singers. To that end, WCE provides opportunities for invited and participating choirs to truly learn from each other, singing for and with each other, and to take part in various programs designed to provide networking and collaborative opportunities. Unlike IFCM’s signature project, the World Symposium on Choral Music (WSCM), WCE is meant to encourage all forms of collective singing (professional and amateur) and, through special programs and workshops, to support choirs, singers, conductors, and choral enthusiasts in exchanging of experience and knowledge. WCE is a smaller-scale event (5 days) that includes the Colourful Voices program for children and youth choirs, as well as workshops and seminars for all participating choirs and individuals with international choral specialists. In partnership with the Singing Network, the EXchange! program offer the opportunity for an intimate gathering of international scholars, performers, conductors, pedagogues, and composers to exchange, connect, create, share, and explore a wide range of topics related to collective singing.

The IFCM WCE 2022 committee has planned an exciting international program with ensembles from five continents. Here is the full roster of confirmed choirs selected to enrich your WCE 2022 experience: Aarhus Girls’ Choir, conductor Birgitte Næslund Madsen (Denmark); Cantemus Youth Choir, conductor Denis Ceausov (Moldova); Collective Singers, conductor Ponti Dikuua (Namibia); Incantare Coro Femenino, conductor Natalia Vadillo (Argentina); Maze, conductor Merel Martens (Netherlands); Mosaica Singers, conductor Nedy Muna (Jordan); Portland State Chamber Choir, conductor Ethan Sperry (USA); Shallaway Youth Choir, conductor Kellie Walsh (Canada). We are also thrilled to announce the two professional ensembles which will be participating in WCE 2022: Kammerchor Stuttgart, conductor Frieder Bernius (Germany) and Ordinarius Vocal Group (Brazil). A regional committee of Portuguese choral conductors has been created to focus on the participation of local choirs and vocal ensembles.

In the context of the 5-day WCE, each invited choir and vocal ensemble will perform in one gala concert (approximately 20 minutes), one evening concert (approximately 30 minutes), and two afternoon concerts (approximately 30-40 minutes each). As part of the choral education component of WCE, invited choirs will take part in two morning workshops – one artistic workshop with another invited choir during which the two choirs will rehearse several joint works to be performed in an afternoon concert and one pedagogical/ demonstration workshop with participating choirs and delegates. As well, conductors of invited choirs have been invited to offer workshops for individual participants. Registration for individuals includes access to all components of the WCE.

Choirs, vocal ensembles, and individuals from all over the world can now register to participate in the education and exchange program of the WCE. Don’t miss the opportunity to join this exceptional choral cultural exchange festival!

Conditions of Participation for Choirs and Vocal Ensembles

  • Option to perform two 30-minute concerts (free choice of repertoire).
  • Common workshops with other participating/invited choirs and the opportunity to meet, exchange, sing, and perform in some of the most extraordinary venues in the historical city of Lisbon.
  • All travel, accommodation, and meal expenses during the WCE are the responsibility of the choirs and vocal ensembles.
  • Participation fees:
    • Choirs (15 singers and more): 350 Euros for the entire choir, conductor(s), accompanists, staff, and chaperons.
    • Vocal Ensembles (from 2 to 15 singers): 250 Euros for the entire ensemble.

Special offer for choirs and vocal ensembles from Portugal: FREE participation!

Conditions of Participation for Individuals

For conductors, singers, and choral enthusiasts who want to join all segments of our festival:

  • Full access to the entire WCE 2022 program
  • Participation fee: 150 Euros per person
  • All travel, accommodation, and meal expenses during the WCE are the responsibility of the individual participants.

Special offer for students:

  • Participation fee: 100 Euros per person. Proof of student status will be requested.

Special offer for individuals and students from Portugal: 50% discount!

For more information regarding the conditions of participation and the registration forms for choirs and vocal ensembles as well as individual participants, visit www.worldchoralexpo.com.

And last, but not least, WCE 2022 will include the celebration of IFCM’s 40th anniversary with a special exhibition dedicated to IFCM 40-year history in the Palacete of dos Condes de Monte Real and the launch of a 40th anniversary publication. Choirs, vocal ensembles, and individuals are invited to join the international choral community to celebrate the joy, and privilege, of singing together again!

Don’t miss this extraordinary possibility to work with celebrated choral personalities, to interact with like-minded choral musicians from around the world, and to experience some of the finest choral singing on the planet. Vemo-nos em Lisboa!