Rome, the city of history, the city of art, the city of Christianity. Imagine yourself singing in this perfect scenario, with centuries of art and culture all around you. Imagine meeting other singers and music lovers from all over the world in a city that has been the cradle of civilization. Imagine combining the emotions of a musical performance with an all-round artistic experience. Can you think of a better place for a music festival? Well, we couldn’t. That is why we planned the International Music Choir Festival.

Dear Choirmasters, Choristers and Friends of choral music, it is with great joy that I invite you and your choir to the beautiful City of Rome for the VI International Music Choir Festival which will be held from July 16th – 19th, 2010. You will have the unique opportunity to sing in the most beautiful Roman Basilicas and Churches, and perform during the Holy Mass in St. Peter's Basilica or other Roman churches.

Last but not least, you will take part in the marvellous Choir parade and/or in open air concerts in the streets of the Eternal City. For further details, please contact the Festival Secretariat which will be glad to answer all your queries.

We hope, dear choir conductors and singers, that you will take part in our festival and take this unique chance to meet other choirs from all over the world in the most beautiful possible setting. Looking forward to meeting you in Rome and having a wonderful time together, we remain with best regards.

Sen. Dr. Dr. h.c. Hans-Albert Courtial President and Founder of the Festival	Mons. Valentino Miserachs Grau Rector of the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music	Mons. Pablo Colino Emeritus Director of Music of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican

July 2009: Choirs from all over the world have taken part in the V edition of the Festival. The Opening Concert held in the beautiful basilica of S. Ignazio was attended by a huge audience: each choir performed the best songs of their repertoire. The result was an unforgettable concert. In the evening choirs dined in a typical Roman restaurant and sang in a joyful and pleasant atmosphere.

The following day in the morning, all choirs, wearing their traditional costumes, sang in the famous Navona Square surrounded by the marvellous churches and unique fountains typical of the Eternal City. Choirs performed in front of a crowd of tourists and Romans and at the end of the open air concert, in front of the impressive Bernini’s Fountain in the middle of the square, they sang together the “Gaude Mater Poloniae”.

In the afternoon choirs performed individual concerts. Choirs from Greece, Italy and Russia performed in the lovely town of Lanuvio, 30 km from Rome, in front of local authorities and a vast audience of local and choral music lovers. After the concert, choirs were invited to a dinner party with traditional food and drinks offered by the Municipality of Lanuvio who organized everything in the streets of the historical centre.

During the afternoon and also during the whole Sunday choirs sang during the Holy Mass in St’ Peter’s Basilica and other Roman churches as St. Paul inside the Walls.

On Sunday choirs from Italy, Poland and Romania performed in the enchanting town of Nemi located in the well-know Colli Albani Area at 30 km from Rome. The local authorities and the large audience enjoyed very much this second concert and at the end of it, choirs were offered local food and drinks in the streets of this charming town.

PRELIMINARY PROGRAM - 2012

Friday, July 13th
Afternoon: meeting with all the choir conductors. Welcome by the organizer of the Festival. Each conductor will make a short introduction of each choir. The staff will review the whole program of the Festival and will be at choir disposal for any kind of question.

Evening: Inaugural Concert with all the choirs in the basilica of S. Ignazio. With its classical baroque style it is probably the most beautiful among all Roman basilicas. The most characterizing elements of the Basilica are the brightness, the acoustics and the invitation to devotion. When the sun shines, the lines, the arches, the columns and the cornices become a brilliant escape from classical schemes and transmit an harmonious movement; the vault, with its breathless beauty and richness of characters, colours, movements and games of light and shade which brighten the chiaroscuro of the nave, strengthens the magnificence of the whole.

Night: all choirs will meet for a Welcome Dinner (PIZZA PARTY). Choirs will have the chance to meet and this will be the perfect occasion to stay together and to learn from each other’ experiences during an informal venue. The dinner will take place in a typical Roman restaurant: choirs will taste the world-wide known Italian food and in this contest and will sing all together in a joyful and informal atmosphere.

Saturday, July 14th
Morning: choir parade/opening air concert in the enchanting streets of the Eternal City: choirs, wearing typical costumes of their countries, will sing in the open air in some suggestive spots of the historical centre of Rome crowded with Romans and tourists attending with enthusiasm the beautiful event. At the end of the performance, choirs will sing the common chant “Gaude Mater Poloniae”.

Afternoon/Evening: a first group of choirs will perform in the charming villages of the Roman countryside. Choirs will visit and sing in one the towns of Frascati, Castelgandolfo, etc. located in the Alban Hills (Castelli Romani). The Alban Hills where in the past Roman noble families and Popes had their castles. This is why the region is called Castelli Romani (Roman Castles). On the way to the concert place you will enjoy picturesque villages and small towns, partly built in ancient times, a various landscape, beautiful views and a most refreshing air.

Sunday, July 15th
Possibility to participate in the Holy Mass at St. Peter's Basilica the living hearth of Catholic Cristianity with its unique façade (45 meters high) and its enormous dome (136 meters). St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest church in the world, overlooks the square that carries the same name that was designed by Bernini and which is surrounded by a colonnade. Magnificence and majesty: this is the sensation that one gets walking up Via della Conciliazione towards Piazza San Pietro. As an alternative choirs can sing during the Mass in other beautiful and well-known Roman Basilicas and churches.

Aftenoon/Evening: a second group of choirs will sing in the charming villages of the Roman countryside. Choirs will visit and sing in one the towns of Marino, Nemi, Lanuvio, etc. located in the Alban Hills (Castelli Romani). The Alban hills are a beautiful place situated 25 Km in the hills southeast of Rome. Nearby there are the two little lakes of Albano and Nemi. On the way to the concert place you will enjoy picturesque villages and small towns, partly built in ancient times, a various landscape, beautiful views and a most refreshing air.

Monday, July 16th
- morning departure or possibility to extend your stay in Italy visiting Florence, Assisi, Venice etc. where we can organize for you other wonderful concerts.

The organizer reserves the right to make any changes required for technical reasons.