International Federation for Choral Music

This Catalan and International choral music event serves as a distinguished occasion for the choral arts, featuring the premieres of the works awarded in the 10th Catalunya International Choral Composition Awards of the Catalan Federation of Choral Entities (FCEC) and in the 5th Orfeó Català International Choral Composition Competition.  

These two biennial awards are regarded as leading benchmarks in Europe, actively supporting and promoting the creation of contemporary choral music. 

The 5th Edition of the Orfeó Català International Choral Composition received 204 works submitted by 128 composers representing 24 different nationalities. The Catalunya International Choral Composition Awards of the Catalan Federation of Choral Entities (FCEC) has become an essential platform for promoting works inspired by the Catalan language and its traditions. In this edition, 88 works by 49 composers took part in the competition and representing 9 different nationalities.

Results 10th Catalunya International Choral Composition Awards of the FCEC

• Best a capella choral composition on a Catalan language text, for mixed voices: Tardoral, by Jesús Debón Alcodon
• Best a cappella choral composition on a Catalan language text, for equal voices: La nit s’estén, la mar ressona, by Pau Vallès Martínez
• Best a cappella harmonization of Catalan language traditional songs, for mixed voices: Nit de vetlla, by Pau Vallès Martínez
• Best a cappella harmonization of Catalan language traditional songs, for equal voices: Vou, veri, vou, by Joan Pérez-Villegas

Results 5th Orfeó Català International Choral Composition Competition

• Maria Font Bernaus Award- Best choral composition for mixed choir (ex aequo):
  • Cantate Domino, by Raúl Torrico Redondo
  • La pineda, by Andreu Diport
• Honorable mention in the same category: Fum, fum, fum, by Jordi Calpe i Planells
• Best choral composition for equal voices: Murmuri de tes rieres, by Andreu Diport
• Best choral composition for children’s choir: From a railway carriage, by Chris Artley
• Special mention for the best work based on a Catalan text: Els Reis, by Albert de la Fuente

All these works, already premiered, will be published by the FCEC and distributed among choirs across Catalonia and around the world to ensure their continued circulation and performance.  

Many Catalan choirs performed in this premiere concert:

• Cor Vivaldi, conducted by Pilar Paredes, with piano accompaniment
• Cor de Cambra Femení Scherzo, with pianist Daniel Ruiz
• Cor de Cambra de Granollers, conducted by Josep Vila i Jover
• Cor de Cambra del Palau de la Música Catalana, conducted by Xavier Puig, with organist Álvaro Metzger

Further details can be found in the official program here.

Historical context

In 1904, the Orfeó Català launched the first Festa de la Música Catalana. This initiative, held until 1922, aimed to expand the choral repertoire of Catalan composers and awarded outstanding works in various categories, including mixed voices, treble voices, male choirs, female choirs, chamber music, symphonic compositions, and more.

In February 2016, the initiative was restored and adapted to the needs and particularities of the 21^st Century, and organized jointly with FCEC.

Additional commissions

Last year, the FCEC commissioned two additional works:

• Te Deum by Adrià Barbosa, premiered at the closing concert of the 60th International Choral Singing Festival in Barcelona;
• Peace by Anna Campmany, premiered by the World Youth Choir last year’s session in Catalonia.

Press Release by Montserrat Cadevall, Secretary of the executive board of the FCEC