WSCM 8 REPORT - World Symposium on Choral Music

Overview
<strong>WSCM</strong> 8 <strong>REPORT</strong>
The Eighth IFCM <strong>World</strong> <strong>Symposium</strong> on Choral Music (<strong>WSCM</strong> 8) took place in Copenhagen, Denmark, July
19-26 2008. It was arranged by the Danish project organization Choral Denmark in close cooperation with
The International Federation for Choral Music (IFCM). The central venue was the Opera House at the
harbor front where <strong>WSCM</strong> 8 started with an Opening Gala Performance on Saturday July 19, featuring a
series of Danish Choirs plus the theatre group Batida and the Tivoli Boys Guard.
The daily program began every morning at 8.45 with a Warm Up, followed by the Morning Sing, - a 45
minutes' common singing event with new choirs on stage every morning, singing from the <strong>Symposium</strong> Song
Book together with the delegates in the auditorium. Most of the participants arrived by the special harbor
ferry shuttle from the city to the Opera.
During the day it was possible to attend workshops, master classes and round table discussions, every
morning and afternoon 7 parallel offers, and at lunch time Opera concerts with four new choirs each day.
On Friday July 25 we offered a special late afternoon performance of the Canadian children's opera Ann
and Seamus, sung by Shallaway from Newfoundland.
In the evenings, concerts took place at different venues (churches and concert halls) in the city of
Copenhagen.
Wednesday July 23 - halfway through the <strong>Symposium</strong> - was a Tivoli Day with choirs singing all the afternoon
from the open air stages of Tivoli Gardens. The Tivoli Concert Hall hosted three events during this day: a
Songbridge Gala at 14.30, concerts with the vocal ensembles of DR (The Danish Radio Corporation) at
19.30, and a concert with Rhythmic Vocal Music at 21.30.
Final concerts took place in two big churches of Copenhagen. In the Cathedral, Britten's War Requiem was
performed by Danish choirs and the DR Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Michael Schønwandt,
while the Danish choir in residence, Ars Nova Copenhagen, was singing motets by Bach in the Garnisons
Kirke.
The <strong>Symposium</strong> also had an Expo in one of the ballet rehearsing rooms on the 4 th floor of the Opera where
the participants could visit about 30 publishing companies or music information booths. Choral Denmark
had its own booth, offering a wide range of Danish choral literature, cd's etc.
Choral Music meets its audience
This was the main theme of the <strong>Symposium</strong>. The <strong>WSCM</strong>8 Artistic Committee formulated it like this:
Today's world seeks to embrace the performing artists. We in the choral world must be creative and
consider how we can make our concerts and programs stimulating to our audiences, and at the same time

maintain a high artistic level. As we constantly strive to perfect our art, we shall at <strong>WSCM</strong> 8 look for new
ways to connect to our listeners through our stage deportment and our joy of singing.
And indeed many of the choirs, work shop holders and composers in residence followed up on this theme,
trying to find new ways of communication between stage and audience.
Our promises
This was what we promised the <strong>Symposium</strong> participants in the final invitation, which was published in July
2007, one year before <strong>WSCM</strong> 8 took place:
We are proud to present a <strong>Symposium</strong>, where each Nordic country for the first time will be represented by
choirs, and where 3 choirs from Latin- and South America, 3 from Africa, 5 from the Asian / Pacific region, 3
from North America, and 3 from Europe outside the Nordic region will perform.
We believe that many of the delegates will be interested in knowing more about our Scandinavian choral
world.
Following the Nordic Track, you will experience every day something special from the Nordic region.
Once again, a Songbridge project will be included in a world choral symposium. This has not been the case
since Rotterdam in 1999. In Copenhagen, the Songbridge will include children's and youth choirs from China,
Canada, Hungary and Denmark. Children from different parts of the world singing together is a real peace
creating project!
You will also find inspiration at the <strong>World</strong> Choral Expo, featuring music industry exhibits, festivals, agencies
etc.
During the <strong>Symposium</strong> days, you will spend the daytime in the Opera on the island of Holmen, crossing the
harbor by the <strong>Symposium</strong> shuttle ferry in the morning. Each day will begin with a Warm-Up and an Open
Sing, followed by Workshops, Master Classes and Concerts in the Opera at lunch time. In the late
afternoon, the ferry will take you back to the city and a little rest at your hotel before the evening concerts
start in the old city of Copenhagen. The venues will be churches, museums and other concert rooms, and
you can make your choice from a variety of at least 5 concerts starting at different times. The most eager
delegates may visit 2 or more concerts in the same evening...
Wednesday will be a very special day: Tivoli day! From the early afternoon the famous Tivoli Gardens will
echo with choirs singing from the open air stages, the Songbridge Gala Concert in the afternoon in the big
Tivoli concert hall and two big choir concerts in the evening.
Last, but not least, you will meet colleagues and choral friends from all over the world. Sit down in the glass
foyer with a cup of coffee, or in the sun outside the Opera, create contacts or just have a talk and enjoy the
spectacular harbor view!
The Nordic Track
From the beginning we were very focused on the idea of not only making a special presentation of
Denmark, which was quite natural, but presenting the entire Nordic choral universe, which has been
admired by the rest of the world: the special Nordic sound, the interesting composers, the Nordic leading
position in breaking new ways for the choir performances.
For the first time in the history of IFCM choirs from all Nordic nations were included in the same <strong>World</strong>
<strong>Symposium</strong> program, featuring Iceland for the very first time, and leading Nordic choir specialists were
engaged to hold workshops or master classes or participate in round table discussions. At the end we had 3
<strong>WSCM</strong> 8 Report page 2

Swedish choirs, 2 from Finland, 3 from Norway, 1 from Iceland and from Denmark Ars Nova Copenhagen as
choir of residence. 13 other Danish choirs were presented during <strong>WSCM</strong> 8 (see list below).
New compositions were commissioned from all Nordic countries.
In the printed program the Nordic track was marked with the logo of Nordisk Kulturfond (The Nordic
Cultural Foundation) who supported this part of the <strong>Symposium</strong> program.
Commissioned works
The following works were commissioned and world premiered during the <strong>World</strong> <strong>Symposium</strong>:
Karin Rehnqvist (Sweden): Der Herr ist mein Hirte.
Treble voices a cappella. Text: Ps.23, 14.
Adolf Fredriks Flickkör, Sweden. Conductor: Bo Johansson.
Jaakko Mäntyjärvi (Finland): Face The Music.
Mixed choir a cappella. Text: John Dryden, William Shakespeare.
EMO, Finland. Conductor: Pasi Hyökki.
Þorkell Sigurbjörnsson (Iceland): Psalmus CL. Text: Ps.150
Hamrahlíðarkórinn, Iceland. Conductor: Þorgerður Ingólfsdóttir.
Sunleif Rasmussen (Faroe Islands): Regin der Schmied.
Mixed choir, trombone and percussion. Text: From the Middle Ages.
Mogens Dahl Kammerkor, Denmark. Conductor: Mogens Dahl.
Trombone: Jesper Juhl Sørensen. Percussion: Mathias Reumert.
Vytautas Miskinis (Lithuania): Light Mass.
Mixed choir, jazz trio and additional piano. Text: Ordinarium Missae.
Conspirare, USA. Conductor: Craig Hella Johnson.
Pianos: Faith DeBow and Kristian Marcussen. Bass: Graig Earle. Drums: Kristoffer Juel Pedersen.
Butch Lacy (Denmark): Wo-de-O.
Mixed choir a cappella. Text: Butch Lacy.
Schola Cantorum Coralina la Habana, Cuba. Conductor: Alina Orraca Llama.
John Høybye (Denmark): The Magic Paint Brush.
Mixed choir a cappella. Text: Edward Broadbridge
Schola Cantorum, Norway. Conductor: John Høybye.
Per Skriver (Denmark): Duet.
Text: Alfred, Lord Tennyson
Taipei Chamber Singers. Conductor: Yung-Hung Chen.
Michael Bojesen (Denmark): Plant a Tree.
Equal voices and flügelhorn. Text: Lisa Freeman, inspired by a poem by Piet Hein.
DR National Girls Choir, Denmark. Conductor: Michael Bojesen.
Flügelhorn: Palle Mikkelborg.
<strong>WSCM</strong> 8 Report page 3

Jakob Lorentzen (Denmark): L'enfant mourant.
Equal voices, harp and triangle. Text: H.C.Andersen / Bent Deegen
Voci Nobili, Norway. Conductor: Maria Gamborg Helbekkmo.
Harp: Tine Rehling.
Peter Bruun (Denmark): Peace.
Male choir a cappella. Text: W. Owen, Gerard Manley Hopkins.
Svanholm Singers, Sweden. Conductor: Sofia Söderberg-Eberhard.
Songbridge
The <strong>WSCM</strong> 8 Artistic Committee decided at an early stage of the planning to have a Songbridge. Since the
<strong>World</strong> <strong>Symposium</strong> in Rotterdam 1999 no Songbridge had been connected to a <strong>World</strong> <strong>Symposium</strong>. The idea
of the Songbridge Project, created by the Finnish conductor Erkki Pohjola, is to bring 3 or 4 children's choirs
from different parts of the world together. Each choir brings its own music including a commissioned
composition which partly includes the other children's choirs. In a Songbridge Camp all the choirs meet and
work together some days before presenting the result in a Songbridge Gala Concert.
The following choirs were selected by the International Songbridge Committee and the <strong>WSCM</strong> 8 Artistic
Committee as participants in the Songbridge Camp and <strong>WSCM</strong> 8:
Shenzhen Middle School Choir, China. Conductor: Mei Liu.
Magnificat Childrens Choir, Hungary. Conductor: Valéria Szebellédi.
Shallaway, Canada. Conductor: Susan Knight.
National Church Choir, Denmark. Conductor: Ole Faurschou.
Songbridge Artistic Director: Kari Ala-Pöllänen (Finland), assisted by Sanna Valvanne (Finland).
The Songbridge Camp took place in the city of Holstebro, Denmark, and was arranged and hosted by FUK,
The National Organisation of Children's and Youth Choirs in the Church of Denmark. After the Camp the
choirs went to Copenhagen and performed the Songbridge Gala in the Tivoli Concert Hall July 23.
Delegates
Totally, <strong>WSCM</strong> had 1.160 delegates including workshop holders, board members and guests from 70
countries. The following countries and number of delegates were represented, - please notice that the list
does not include participating choirs and their leaders:
AFRICA
Algeria 1
Burundi 1
Cameroon 1
Congo 1
Egypt 1
Ghana 2
Kenya 2
Mozambique 2
Namibia 1
Nigeria 1
South Africa 28
<strong>WSCM</strong> 8 Report page 4

Zimbabwe 1
10 countries 42 delegates
ASIA
Armenia 1
China 17
Hong Kong 2
Japan 86
Kazakhstan 2
Malaysia 4
Philippines 1
Singapore 14
South Korea 28
Taiwan 18
Thailand 3
11 countries 176 delegates
EUROPE excluding the Nordic Countries
Austria 26
Belgium 15
Bulgaria 2
Croatia 2
Estonia 29
France 39
Germany 63
Greece 9
Holland (The Netherlands) 13
Hungary 5
Ireland 6
Italy 10
Latvia 3
Lithuania 5
Luxembourg 1
Poland 2
Portugal 2
Romania 1
Russia 2
Serbia 1
Slovenia 19
Spain 9
Switzerland 9
Turkey 4
United Kingdom 21
25 countries 298 delegates
<strong>WSCM</strong> 8 Report page 5

plus 6 Nordic countries with 272 delegates, total for Europe 567 delegates
LATIN AMERICA
Argentina 14
Brazil 8
Chile 1
Colombia 2
Costa Rica 1
Cuba 1
French Guyana 2
Mexico 2
Paraguay 1
Puerto Rico 2
Venezuela 7
11 countries 41 delegates
MIDDLE EAST
Israel 17
Lebanon 1
2 countries 18 delegates
NORDIC
Denmark 102
Faroe Islands 1
Finland 34
Iceland 8
Norway 47
Sweden 80
6 countries 272 delegates
NORTH AMERICA
Canada 49
USA 207
2 countries 256 delegates
SOUTH PACIFIC
Australia 42
Indonesia 1
New Zealand 14
3 countries 57 delegates
<strong>WSCM</strong> 8 Report page 6

Choirs
The list of participating choirs include the following:
NORTH AMERICA (3)
Conspirare (USA), cond. Craig Hella Johnson
Musica Intima (Canada) (no conductor)
Shallaway (Canada), cond. Susan Knight
LATIN AMERICA / SOUTH AMERICA (3)
Coro Camerata Antiqua de Curitiba (Brazil), cond. Helma Haller.
Schola Cantorum Coralina La Habana (Cuba), cond. Alina Orraca Llama.
Coro Universitario de Mendoza (Argentina), cond. Silvana Vallesi.
AFRICA (3)
MCC Mwamba (Uganda), cond. Jemimah K. Nsanga
University of Johannesburg Choir (South Africa), cond. Renette Bouwer and Sidumo Jacobs.
Winneba Youth Choir (Ghana), cond. John Francis Arthur Yamoah.
ASIA / PACIFIC (5)
Anyang Civic Chorale (South Korea), dir. Sang-Kil Lee.
Indonesian Youth Cordana Choir (Indonesia), cond. Aida Swenson.
Key Cygnetures (New Zealand), cond. Elise Bradley and Karen Grylls.
Shen Zhen Middle School Choir (China), cond. Mei Liu.
Taipei Chamber Singers (Taiwan), cond. Yun-Hung Chen.
EUROPE excl. NORDIC COUNTRIES (5)
Calicantus (Swiss), cond. Mario Fontana.
Jauniesu Koris KAMER (Latvia), cond. Maris Sirmais.
Mikrokosmos (France), cond. Loïc Pierre.
Rundfunkchor Berlin (Germany), cond. Simon Halsey and Stefan Parkman.
Romanian Radio Children's Choir (Romania), cond. Voicu Popescu.
NORDIC COUNTRIES (22)
Denmark (13)
Ars Nova Copenhagen, cond. Paul Hillier.
Camerata (Copenhagen Chamber Choir), cond. Michael Bojesen.
Chamberchoir HYMNIA, cond. Fleming Windekilde.
Copenhagen Girls Choir SAG, cond. Claus Vestergaard Jensen.
Copenhagen Royal Chapel Choir, cond. Ebbe Munk.
Danish National Girls Choir DR (Radiopigekoret), cond. Michael Bojesen.
Danish National Vocal Ensemble DR, cond. Stephen Layton.
Mogens Dahl Kammerkor, cond. Mogens Dahl.
National Church Choir (FUK), cond. Ole Faurschou.
Touché, cond. Jesper Holm.
University Choir Lille MUKO, cond. Jesper Grove Jørgensen.
Vocal Line, cond. Jens Johansen.
VoxNorth, cond. Jim Daus Hjernøe.
<strong>WSCM</strong> 8 Report page 7

Finland (2)
EMO, cond. Pasi Hyökki.
Rajaton (no conductor.
Iceland (1)
Hamrahlíðarkórinn (Hamrahlid Choir), cond. Þorgerður Ingólfsdóttir.
Norway (3)
Schola Cantorum Oslo, cond. Tone Bianca Dahl.
Voci Nobili, cond. Maria Gamborg Helbekkmo.
Vokal Nord, dir. Ragnar Rasmussen.
Sweden (3)
Adolf Fredriks Flickkör, cond. Bo Johansson.
Lunds Studentsångförening, cond. Thomas Caplin.
Svanholm Singers, cond. Sofia Söderberg-Eberhard
Morning Sing
Every morning choirs from different parts of the world presented music from their own region on stage,
singing it from the <strong>Symposium</strong> Songbook together with the delegates in the auditorium. The music - mostly
excerpts from compositions - was printed with generous permissions from editors all over the world. The
following choirs and conductors took part in the Morning Sing sessions:
Sunday
Danish repertoire.
Danish choir singers and volunteers conducted by Michael Bojesen, John Høybye, Jesper Grove Jørgensen
and Steen Lindholm.
Monday
Iceland and Sweden.
Hamrahlíðarkórinn (Hamrahlid Choir), cond. Þorgerður Ingólfsdóttir, and Adolf Fredriks Flickkör, cond. Bo
Johansson.
Tuesday
Asian repertoire.
Anyang Civic Chorale (South Korea), dir. Sang-Kil Lee, and Taipei Chamber Singers (Taiwan), cond. Yun-Hung
Chen.
Thursday
Latin American repertoire.
Schola Cantorum Coralina La Habana (Cuba), cond. Alina Orraca Llama, and Coro Universitario de Mendoza
(Argentina), cond. Silvana Vallesi.
Friday
Norway and Finland.
Vokal Nord, dir. Ragnar Rasmussen, and EMO, cond. Pasi Hyökki.
<strong>WSCM</strong> 8 Report page 8

Saturday
North American repertoire.
Anton Armstrong and Conspirare.
Workshops
<strong>WSCM</strong> 8 offered a total of 60 workshops on 34 different themes related to choral music:
1. Meet Iceland / Hamrahlíðarkórinn (Hamrahlid Choir), cond. Þorgerður Ingólfsdóttir, and the composer
Þorkell Sigurbjörnsson.
2. The Acoustic Phenomenon of Choral Singing / Harald Jers (Germany).
3. Body Percussion and the Voice / Keith Terry (USA).
4. Solfége with Children / Wilma ten Wolde (The Netherlands). This workshop was cancelled due to illness.
5. Communication between Choir and Conductor / Tone Bianca Dahl (Norway).
6. How to get the Media interested in Choral Music / Benjamin K. Roe (USA).
7. A Taste of New Zealand / Key Cygnetures, cond. Elise Bradley and Karen Grylls.
8. Improving Choral Blend / Sigrid Johnson (USA).
9. Body Work for Children / Wilma ten Wolde (The Netherlands). This workshop was cancelled due to
illness.
10. Boys singing Buxtehude / Royal Chapel Choir cond. Ebbe Munk (Denmark).
11. Meet the Composer / Eric Whitacre (USA).
12. Good, reasonable Choral Writing / John Høybye (Denmark).
13. Repertoire and Conducting / Naomi Faran (Israel).
14. The Musica Project / Jean Sturm (France).
15. Vocal Rhythmic Music. Three different Approaches / Touché, cond. Jesper Holm, Vocal Line, cond. Jens
Johansen, and VoxNorth, cond. Jim Daus Hjernøe (Denmark).
16. Rhythms of the Earth: African / Winneba Choir (Ghana).
17. Improvising with Gunnar / Gunnar Eriksson (Sweden).
18. A Taste of Balkan's Choral Temperament / Branko Stark (Croatia).
19. Exploring the Sound of Nordic Folk Music / Susanne Rosenberg (Sweden). Due to illness Ms. Rosenberg
was substituted by Åsa Grågarn Sol (Sweden).
20. Meet Finland / EMO, cond. Pasi Hyökki, and the composer Jaakko Mäntyjärvi.
21. From the ugly Voice to the classically trained Voice / Svend Prytz (Denmark).
22. A Taste of Indonesia / Indonesian Youth Choir Cordana, cond. Aida Swenson.
23. Sing'n move...Let us groove / Sanna Valvanne (Finland) and Cristian Grases (Venezuela).
24. Movement and Expression / Ana Yepes (Spain).
25. African Inspiration / Adrien Ntabona (Burundi).
26. An exciting Choir Project / Maris Sirmaïs and Jauniesu Koris KAMER (Latvia).
27. How to build a Choral School / Michael Bojesen (Denmark).
28. Renaissance of the German Volkslied / Volker Hempfling (Germany).
29. Meet Sweden / Adolf Fredriks Flickkör, cond. Bo Johansson, and the composer Karin Rehnqvist.
30. Interpreting the Afro-American Spiritual / Anton Armstrong (USA).
31. Rhythms of the Earth: Caribbean and Latin-American / Freddy Lafont Mena (Cuba).
32. Choral Movement on Renaissance and Baroque Dance / Ana Yepes (Spain).
33. Finding Performance Energy through Rhythm / Bob Chilcott (United Kingdom).
34. Meet Norway / Vokal Nord, cond. Ragnar Rasmussen.
<strong>WSCM</strong> 8 Report page 9

Master Classes
4 Master Classes were offered, 2 for conductors of mixed choirs and 2 for conductors of children's choirs.
1. Master Class Erwin Ortner (Austria): From Haydn to Webern. Music from Vienna. Choir: Ars Nova
Copenhagen.
Haydn: Die Beredsamkeit
Schubert: Chor der Engel
Brahms: Nachtwache 1-2
Schoenberg: De profundis
Webern: Entflieht auf leichten Kähnen.
2. Master Class Simon Halsey (United Kingdom): Contemporary Choral Music. Choir: Ars Nova
Copenhagen.
Thomas Adès: The Fairfax Carol
James Macmillan: Tenebrae Responsories
Tarik O'Reagan: Tu, Trinitatis Unitas
Eric Whitacre: When David heard
Julian Anderson: Beautiful Valley of Eden
3. Master Class Bo Johansson (Sweden). Children's choir. Choir: Adolf Fredriks Flickkör.
Lajos Bárdos: Magos a rutafa
Javier Busto: Salve Regina
Egil Hovland: O come let us sing
André Caplet: Sanctus
Pekka Kostiainen: Jaakobin pojaat
Gustav Holst: Ave Maria
Samuel Barber: To be sung on the Water
Arne Mellnäs: Aglepta
Francis Poulenc: Petit voix
4. Master Class Zimfira Poloz (Kazhakstan / Canada). Children's choir. Choir: National Church Choir (FUK).
Lyn Williams: Festive Alleluia
Eleanor Daley: O my dear heart
Eleanor Daley: Rise up, my love
Borodin: Polovtsian Dances
arr. Stephen Hatfield: O sapo
Round Tables
The <strong>WSCM</strong> 8 program included 5 Round Tables:
1. Choir Music as a Tool of Social Integration. Chair: Maria Guinand (Venezuela).
2. Composer's Round Table. Chair: Steen Lindholm (Denmark).
3. Exploring Choral Sound in Ancient Sacred Music. Chair: Jonathan Velasco (Philippines).
4. The Business of Choral Singing. Chair: Philip Brunelle (USA).
5. Creative and Innovative Programs. Chair: Jakob Lorentzen (Denmark).
<strong>WSCM</strong> 8 Report page 10

Choral Expo
The Choral Expo 2008 during <strong>WSCM</strong> 8 had 28 booths, each booth covering 9 m2. Originally the plan was to
create the best and biggest symposium exposition ever on one of the big back stages of the Opera.
However, an opera house is no exhibition building, and we had to realize that it was anything but simple to
establish the necessary facilities. After many considerations our conclusion was that no exhibitor would be
willing to pay the renting fees which would be the consequence of carrying out our original plan, and
<strong>WSCM</strong> 8 itself had no possibility to act as a sponsor of the Choral Expo. On the contrary, the <strong>Symposium</strong>
budget was foreseeing a nice profit from the expo, and we had to realize that this was not possible given
the conditions. In order to land somewhere near break-even a change of plans was necessary, so we
decided to move the expo to the biggest of the ballet rehearsal halls. This meant less costs, but
unfortunately also a smaller number of booths.
To minimize the economic risk for <strong>WSCM</strong> 8, the Choral Expo was contracted out to the two companies
Produktionskontoret and Art Attack, who ran it as a joint venture. When the first announcement of the
expo was made, the interest from music publishers, companies, organizations and institutions was not very
impressive, but after a reduction of the renting fees for the booths the interest rose remarkably. At the
end the number of booths might have been doubled, but due to the already mentioned establishing costs
this would only have led to a big deficit in the final accounts, and at this point it was not possible anyway to
find an additional room.
In general the exhibitors seemed to be very satisfied. The Choral Expo had many visitors, many items were
sold out, and several exhibitors had to require extra products during <strong>WSCM</strong> 8.
St. Olaf's College
Helbling Verlagsgesellschaft mbH
Alfred Publishing Co (UK) Ltd
Gehrmans Musikförlag
Canada Cuba Sports & Cultural Festivals
Bo Ejeby Förlag
Cantando Musikkforlag A/S
Wesmanss Musikforlag
Distinguished Concerts Intl
Music Information Center Finland
Editions A Coeur Joie
Annie Bank Edition
<strong>WSCM</strong> 8 Report page 11
The ballet rehearsal hall on the 4 th floor of the Opera was a nice,
light and friendly venue for the expo. However, the dancing floor
had to be protected, which was a challenge for an exhibition with
many booths and about 1.000 visitors per day. To solve this
problem the Danish carpet manufacturer Ege Tæpper was
approached, and the company helped the Choral Expo immensely
by sponsoring a specially designed <strong>WSCM</strong> 8 carpet (see photo). The
carpet also became a gimmick, as the score of the Danish
composer Niels W. Gade's Morning Song was included in the
design, combined with the <strong>WSCM</strong> 8 logo.
The exhibitors at the Choral Expo were the following companies or
institutions:
Carus Verlag
Oxford University Press
Festival 500
Mondial Choral Loto-Québec
Norsk korforbund
Singers Of United Lands
Europa Cantat
Peters edition
Small <strong>World</strong> Musicfolder
Music Sales Group
Choral Denmark

Media
Audio
All concerts in the Opera, the three concerts in the Tivoli Concert Hall plus the Final Concert in the
Copenhagen Cathedral were recorded by DR (Danish Broadcasting Corporation). 13 evening concerts (each
with 2 performing choirs) were recorded by the German company AVA in partnership with DR. CDs were
sold by AVA in the Opera foyer each following day.
During <strong>WSCM</strong>8 DR offered the following programs on our national radio channel P2:
Sunday, July 20 20.00-21.00: Concert recordings and reportage.
Monday, July 21 19.15-20.00: Concert recordings and reportage.
Tuesday, July 22 19.15-20.00: Concert recordings and reportage.
Wednesday, July 23 19.00-23.00: Direct transmission from Tivoli concerts.
Thursday, July 24 19.15-20.00: Concert recordings and reportage.
Friday, July 25 19.15-20.00: Concert recordings and reportage.
Saturday, July 26 20.00-22.00: Direct transmission from Final Concert plus interviews from the Cathedral.
Another DR channel, P4, also broadcast informations on <strong>WSCM</strong> 8.
In the fall of 2008 further recordings were broadcast on P2.
European radio stations have been offered the concert recordings from the Opera, and until now DR has
received 85 requests from 7 radio stations. Radio journalists from USA and Canada received copies of
recordings to be used for programs in their countries.
TV, Video
There were no Danish TV recordings, but TV teams from Finland, China and Japan visited the <strong>Symposium</strong>
and made recordings.
Press
Journalists from USA, Canada, Germany and Sweden were present during the <strong>Symposium</strong>.
Articles about the <strong>Symposium</strong> were printed in many journals on choral music all over the world. IFCM's own
Choral Bulletin brought an article in each edition during the last 1½ years up to the <strong>Symposium</strong>, and ACDA's
Choral Journal, the Europa Cantat Magazine and the Japanese Choral Organization all brought articles
about <strong>WSCM</strong> 8, just to mention some of the most important ones.
In Denmark, we had an article in the newspaper Kristeligt Dagblad before the <strong>Symposium</strong> started, plus
some smaller notices. During the <strong>Symposium</strong> <strong>WSCM</strong> 8 was described in a big reportage in the newspaper
Weekendavisen. In August the same newspaper brought another long article about <strong>WSCM</strong> 8. Several
Musical Journals, among them the Danish conductors' journal (Kapelmesteren), the Organists' journal
(Organist Bladet) and the journal for Danish Amateur Choral Federation/Danish Amateur Orchestra
Federation (DAM Magasinet) featured articles on the event.
Web
303.861 persons have contacted the <strong>Symposium</strong> homepage (hits), and total of 16.796 visitors were
registered.
<strong>WSCM</strong> 8 Report page 12

Direct presentations
The <strong>WSCM</strong> 8 project was a. o. presented at the following international meetings and festivals:
<strong>WSCM</strong> 7 in Kyoto, Japan
IFCM General Assembly in Kyoto, Japan
Europa Cantat General Assembly in Lyon, France
ACDA National Convention in Miami, USA
The <strong>World</strong> Choral Games in Xiamen, China
The Chorus America Convention in USA
Europa Cantat in Mainz
The International Choir Festival of Trelew, Argentina
The International Choir Festival of Magarita Island, Venezuela
America Cantat in Habana, Cuba
Meeting of Nordisk Korforum and SAMNAM, Oslo
Meeting of Finlands Svenska Sång- och Musikförbund i Ekenäs, Finland
The ABCD Choral Directors Convention in Newcastle, United Kingdom
Meeting of Greenlandic conductors in Nuuk, Greenland
Meeting of Körsam, Sweden
Europa Cantat General Assembly in Utrecht, Holland
SAMNAM General Assembly in Göteborg, Sweden
Evaluations
After the <strong>Symposium</strong> Choral Denmark has received many positive evaluations in words, mails and printed
articles. They are still arriving, and we take the liberty of printing a few examples:
Die ganze Welt der Chormusik: viele Anregungen für die Praxis und ein Konzertmarathon...
(Neue Chorzeit, Germany)
... I have participated in several <strong>World</strong> <strong>Symposium</strong>s on Choral Music, in Sydney, Minneapolis, Rotterdam,
Kyoto and Copenhagen. All were interesting for me as a choir conductor, but the <strong>Symposium</strong> in Copenhagen
gave the strongest impression of them all...
(Ingemar Månsson, Swedish conductor, in "Körledaren", journal of Swedish choir conductors).
All of us at Conspirare had a truly grand time being a part of your wonderfully conceived and planned
<strong>Symposium</strong>. It was an extraordinarily special honor for us to be a part of this very special gathering and I
thank you from the bottom of my heart for all that you did to make it such a meaningful and glorious
celebration...
(Craig Hella Johnson, conductor of the chamber choir Conspirare, USA).
Our contact with choral groups of the highest level made us reflect on new ways of how to present ourselves
in front of the audience...
(Voicu Popescu, conductor of the Romanian Radio Children's and Youth Choir).
Thank you so much for all your hard work, and for realizing such a wonderful symposium. We thoroughly
enjoyed the concerts and workshops, and of course, the well thought-out Gala Concert performance.
(Saeko Hasegawa (Japan), IFCM Vice President).
Congratulations for this marvelous and well organized <strong>Symposium</strong> in Copenhagen!
(Noël Minet, former President of Europa Cantat)
<strong>WSCM</strong> 8 Report page 13

Not only has it helped New Zealand choral music as a whole, but the students who participated gained
wonderful experiences in music and culture. These students cannot speak highly enough of their wonderful
experiences in your beautiful city...
(Moira Clarke, Key Cygnetures, New Zealand).
I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for the successful Songbridge in Holstebro and
Copenhagen. To make it a success artistically and to create the real spirit we needed to have all the little
pieces in this great puzzle in right places. We did it - all together!
(Kari Ala-Pöllänen (Finland), Artistic Director of the Songbridge project).
We think this Simposio was simply EXCELLENT and went beyond our expectations...
The <strong>World</strong> Choral family will always remember Copenhagen, the beautiful city, the wonderful and warm
friends, the unique Opera House, the boats, the churches, but especially the choirs, the music, the family and
the enthusiasm and love of the Danish Choral Family...
(Maria Guinand (Venezuela), IFCM Vice President and member of the <strong>WSCM</strong> 8 Artistic Committee).
From what I could see and hear, both the artistic and the organizational factors of this event were of the
highest standard... Copenhagen has now entered choral history with a remarkable <strong>WSCM</strong>...
(Jeroen Schrijner (The Netherlands), President of Europa Cantat ).
Sponsors and partners
<strong>WSCM</strong> 8 was sponsored by a large number of institutions, foundations and companies:
Dronning Margrethe og Prins Henriks Fond
Kong Frederik og Dronning Ingrids Fond
Kong Christian den Tiendes Fond
Kulturministeriet
Kunstrådets musikfaglige udvalg
Nordisk Kulturfond
CKU Center for Kultur og Udvikling
A.P. Møller og Hustru Chastine Mc-Kinney Møllers Fond til almene Formaal
Bikubenfonden
Augustinus Fonden
Knud Højgaards Fond
Oticon Fonden
Gangstedfonden
Erda og Christian Schrøders Fond
Skandinavisk Tobakskompagni's Gavefond
The Sydney Choral Foundation
Wonderful Copenhagen
Star Alliance
Dansk Kor Forbund
DAKU (Dansk Amatørkor Union)
Dansk Kapelmesterforening
Dansk Komponist Forenings Produktionspulje (Danish Composers' Society / KODA's Fund for Social and
Cultural Purposes)
<strong>WSCM</strong> 8 Report page 14

IFPI / KOPIFON
Dansk Musikforlæggerforening
Ege Tæpper
The following institutions / co-operating partners also gave us valuable support:
Det Kgl. Teater / Operaen
DR
Tivoli
Rytmisk Musikkonservatorium
Holstebro Kommune
OrkesterEfterskolen, Holstebro
Sankt Annæ Gymnasium
Dyssegårdskirken
Administration - Groups - Volunteers
Head of <strong>WSCM</strong> 8: Steen Lindholm, Executive Director.
Assistant Director: Thomas Kiørbye.
Choral Denmark Board:
Ejvind Callesen (President), Tom Møller Pedersen, Jesper Grove Jørgensen.
<strong>WSCM</strong> 8 Leaders' Group:
Steen Lindholm, Thomas Kiørbye, Ejvind Callesen, Tom Møller Pedersen, Jesper Grove Jørgensen, Lars-Ole
Hedegaard.
Administration Group:
Leaders' Group plus the following persons: Leif Glud Holm, Mogens Halken, Søren Nors Nielsen, Kaare
Christiansen, Edna Rasmussen, Marianne Grønholdt, Poul Emborg.
Assistants: Anne Lisbeth Willerup and Sigríður J. Pétursdóttir.
Executive Committee:
Ejvind Callesen, Choral Denmark
Tom Møller Pedersen, Choral Denmark
Martin Bender, Wonderful Copenhagen
Jean-Claude Wilkens, IFCM
Dolf Rabus, IFCM
Artistic Committee:
Philip Brunelle, USA
Maria Guinand, Venezuela
Volker Hempfling, Germany
John Høybye, Denmark
Jesper Grove Jørgensen, Denmark
Steen Lindholm, Denmark
Jonathan Velasco, Philippines
<strong>WSCM</strong> 8 Report page 15

Danish Advisory Music Committee:
Pia Boysen
Mogens Dahl
Niels Græsholm
Bent Grønholdt
Jesper Holm
John Høybye
Helle Høyer Mogensen
Jesper Grove Jørgensen
Steen Lindholm
Editorial Team:
Leif Glud Holm
Thomas Kiørbye
Steen Lindholm
Assistants:
Anne Ørbæk Jensen
Bent Mortensen
Anne Lisbeth Willerup
Expo Group:
Ejvind Callesen
Mette Haslund
Lars-Ole Hedegaard
Bodil Høgh
Bent Påske
Organizing the Volunteers:
Tom Møller Pedersen
Kaare Christiansen
Marianne Grønholdt
Søren Nors Nielsen
Edna Rasmussen
Opera Group:
Ejvind Callesen
Kaare Christiansen
Poul Emborg
Mogens Halken
City Concerts Group:
Jesper Grove Jørgensen
Erik Hildebrandt Nielsen
Jesper Holm
Klaus Lyngbye
Keld Mønniche
Media:
Bent Grønholdt
Dolf Rabus
<strong>WSCM</strong> 8 Report page 16

Internet:
Helle Christiansen
Communication and Press:
Thomas Kiørbye
Social Arrangements:
Claus Hanke
Tour Group:
Bente Hanke
Svend Mortensen
Songbridge Group:
Inge Marie Andersen
Gitte Preussler
Kari Ala-Pöllänen
Sanna Valvanne
Congress Organizer:
ICS A/S (International Conference Services)
Economy and some conclusions
When the budget for <strong>WSCM</strong> 8 was planned in 2005, the balance was about 11 million DKK (around 1.47
million €) based on at least 1.600 paying participants. The last revised budget for <strong>WSCM</strong> 8 in 2008 was
around 9.9 million DKK (c. 1.32 million €) based on 1.300 paying participants.
The final accounts show an income of 7.514.981 DKK (c. 1.001.998 €) and expenses of 7.900.452 (c.
1.053.394 €). Thus the final result is a deficit of 385.471 DKK (c. 51.396 €), which is covered by guarantees
and by the Choral Denmark organizations.
The main reason for the deficit was the number of paying participants. <strong>WSCM</strong> 8 finally had 1.160
participants which we considered quite satisfactory given the conditions. Just 150 participants more, each
paying on the average 400 € as registration fee, would have turned the deficit into a small profit.
Looking at the participation Africa and Latin America were probably better represented than ever at a
world symposium, and we also had a nice representation from Asia and South Pacific, some of these
participants having to travel far and pay much money for their transportation. Even if the number of
participants from North America and Europe including Scandinavia is not bad, we had expected more, but it
is obvious that the expensive hotel rooms and living costs in Copenhagen combined with the low exchange
rate of the US dollar at the end turned out to be prohibitive for many interested choir people.
<strong>WSCM</strong> 8 Report page 17