Grand Prix in the Contest for Vocal Ensembles goes to NEÅ

In this year’s Contest for Vocal Ensembles at the Tampere Vocal Music Festival, 1st prize in the acoustic category and the Grand Prix were won by NEÅ from Finland. This is the first time since 2003 that a Finnish ensemble has won the Contest.

The other prizewinners were Octavians from Germany and Jyvä Ensemble from Finland in the acoustic category, and HALS from Austria and Naapurit from Finland in the amplified category.

“Once again, the standard in the Contest for Vocal Ensembles was very high. There were ensembles representing very different musical styles and aesthetics. I myself was particularly delighted with the high number of young Finnish ensembles and with how good and how diverse they were. Many of the participating ensembles were founded quite recently and can be expected to do well going forward,” notes Jussi Chydenius, chair of the jury.

The other jury members were Susanna Lukkarinen (Finland), Kim Nazarian (USA), John Potter (UK) and Morten Vinther Sørensen (Denmark).

There were ten ensembles in the final round of the Contest for Vocal Ensembles this year, from Austria, Latvia, Germany and Finland. The Contest was organised in cooperation with the Kalle Kaihari Cultural Foundation.

The Tampere Vocal Music Festival continues until Sunday 15 June with a wide range of concerts, courses, panel discussions and pop-up performances that can be enjoyed free of charge around the city under the heading Kuule Sävel! [Feel the Festival!]. In the Chorus Review, which began on Thursday and continues through Sunday, merit awards will be given at the Chorus Review Gala on Sunday at 14.00.

Prizewinners

Grand Prix: NEÅ, EUR 4,000

Category for acoustic ensembles
Octavians, EUR 2,000
Jyvä Ensemble, EUR 1,000

Category for amplified ensembles
HALS, EUR 2,000
Naapurit, EUR 1,000