5th International Young Choir Director’s Competition

The fifth international young choir conductor’s competition, organised by the Public Fund for Cultural Activities in Slovenia in co-operation with the organisation Europa Cantat, took place in Ljubljana March 26-30.

The seven-member international jury, made up of well known choir directors, president Stojan Kuret (Slovenia), Martina Batic (Slovenia), Peter Broadbent (Great Britain), Èva Kollár (Hungary), Ragnar Rasmussen (Norway), Kurt Suttner (Germany) and Bernard Tétu (France), decided to award four types of prizes: three competition prizes, two special competition prizes, an Europa Cantat prize and an AEGC prize to the youngest finalist in the competition.

First Prize went to Dani Juris of Finland, who also won the AGEC prize for the youngest contestant as well as the Europa Cantat prize. Second prize went to Andreas Felber of Switzerland, third went to Jerica Gregorc Bukovec from Slovenia. The University of Ljubljana award two special prizes on the recommendation of the jury: the prize for best interpretation of a renaissance work went to Matteo Valbusa of Italy, while the prize for best performance of the obligatory work (Time by Lojze Lebi?) went to Stefan Vanselow of Germany. The Europa Cantat Noel Minet Fund scholarship for the most promising conductor for activities in 2009 or 2010 was awarded to Russian conductor Alexander Samokhvalov. Maud Hamon of France earned a recommendation from the jury for Europa Cantat members to consider her for leading choral seminars or similar events. The two favourite conductors of the participating choirs were Dani Juris and Stefan Vanselow.