PRAGUE ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS CHORAL FESTIVAL

WITH PETR EBEN´S PRIZE

6^th – 7^th  December 2024 in Prague

We have the pleasure to inform you about the 32^nd Prague Advent and Christmas Choral Festival, which has been traditionally organised in one  Advent weekends in Prague. The festival is the oldest and most traditional Festival of Advent and Christmas music in Europe. The organiser of this festival is organisational and festival agency OR-FEA Prague in co-operation with Czech Choral Union. The festival takes place under the auspices of the City of Prague. The festival is open for the following amateur choirs: male, female, mixed and children´s choirs.

The main festival part is a contest but there is also a not competitive category for those choirs, which wish to perform outside the contest and their singing won´t be evaluated. Competing choirs are supposed to prepare a contest programme of Advent and Christmas music according to their own choice either a cappella or with instrumental accompaniment.

The festival will award Petr Eben´s Prize.

The competition will be evaluated by an expert jury selected by the organisers and consisting of outstanding figures of Czech as well as foreign choral music, according to the following criteria:
a) choice of compositions and programme structure
b) technical level of interpretation
c) general artistic impression                                                                                              

A special prize of the jury will be awarded for the best performance (arrangement, vocal qualities, conducting, etc.) The winners will get gift prizes. Petr Eben´s prize will be awarded regardless of other results for the best performance of his composition.

As a part of the festival programme there will be common singing of all participating choirs at the historic Old Town Square, where Christmas and Advent songs and also a composition by Prof. Petr Eben, composed specially for this occasion, will be sung.

Deadline for applications: 5^th September 2024

Festival participants will go through the following programme points:
• Official meeting of delegates of choirs and guests with a representatives of the City of Prague at the Old Town Hall – Friday
• Marionette opera, a performance of a black light theatre or river cruise – Friday – on request
• Competition of participating choirs – Friday and Saturday
• Open air public performances in Prague – Friday and Saturday
• Common concert of all participating choirs on the Old Town Square, Saturday
• Festive final evening with prize awarding, Grand Prix competition, Saturday