The 12th World Choir Games Sees South Korean City Play Host
The 10-day global choral competition and festival (3-13 July) of the World Choir Games (WCG) is well underway in Gangneung, South Korea.
The 10-day global choral competition and festival (3-13 July) of the World Choir Games (WCG) is well underway in Gangneung, South Korea.
With over 324 choirs from 46 countries participating, the World Choir Games is undoubtedly Asia’s largest choral and music event. It is not only a choral competition, but host to its very own opening and closing ceremonies, Parade of Nations, General Conference of the World Choir Council and also workshops.
Most of the events are taking place at prominent buildings including the Gangneung Arena and the Gangneung Art Center.
This year, over 100 representatives from over 96 countries are participating at the General Conference of the World Choir Council to discuss and exchange about the future development of the international choir culture. It took place at the Gangeung City Council (8 July).
Special guests included Vognyk, a girl choir from Ukraine. Established in the 1970s, Vognyk has already toured worldwide. Led by its current conductor, Olena Solovei, its participation at Gangneung is made possible through the joint efforts of the WCG 2023 Gangneung Organizing Committee and the Joint Action Committee for Supporting Ukraine.
The opening ceremony on 3 July themed ‘Harmony of Peace’ features the voices of nature in Gangneung. Accompanying the traditional Gangneung sounds and images is live music arranged and composed by composer Woo Hyo-won.
The ceremony also featured Go Young-yeol, the vocalist of ‘RabidAnce,’ Lee Dong-gyu, the world’s most acclaimed countertenor, next-generation soprano Park Hye-sang, Korean pop stars Kyuhyun and Gummy.
Led by the Gangneung City Symphony Orchestra, the Gangneung City Choir, Wonju City Choir, and Chuncheon City Choir also made appearances.
The closing ceremony is also an equally important event. Taking place this 13 July at Gangneung Arena, it will start with a parade of participating countries. To mark an 11-day journey celebrating people from various nations, it also symbolizes unity in the pursuit of peace.
“WCG 2023 Gangneung will be a significant event where we recall the message of peace left by the 2018 Winter Olympics and once again sing together with people from around the world, expressing everyone’s aspiration for peace in one voice,” said Huh Yongsoo, President of the WCG 2023 Gangneung Organizing Committee.
“I believe that our Korean partners will deliver a highly successful, flawlessly organized, and truly unforgettable event for all attendees. From our perspective, the collaboration with the local team over the past years has been nothing short of exceptional.”
— Günter Titsch, President of INTERKULTUR and Founder of World Choir Games.
CHAMPIONS of the World Choir Games Gangneung 2023 as below:
C2 – Children’s Choirs
Young People’s Chorus of New York City – Cantare, USA
conducted by Elizabeth Núñez
C3 – Youth Choirs of Equal Voices
Diocesan Boys’ School Chor, China/Hong Kong SAR
conducted by Felix Shuen
C8 – Mixed Choirs
Diocesan Choral Society, China/Hong Kong SAR
conducted by Ronnie Kay Yen Cheng
C12 – Male Choirs
Diocesan School Old Boys’ Association Choir, China/Hong Kong SAR
conducted by Ronnie Kay Yen Cheng
C15 – Musica Sacra a cappella
iSing Silicon Valley, USA
conducted by Jennah Delp
C17 – Music of Spirit and Faith
Singakademie Graz, Austria
conducted by Maria Fürntratt
C18 – Musica Contemporanea Equal Voices
Young People’s Chorus of New York City – Cantare, USA
onducted by Elizabeth Núñez & Francisco J. Núñez
C23 – Pop Ensembles
Sparkling Singers, Indonesia
conducted by Dinar Primasti
C25 – Scenic Pop/Show Choirs
Calling Choir, Republic of Korea
conducted by Mina Gye
C26 – Folklore a cappella
Karangturi Choir, Indonesia
conducted by Petrus Wahyu
C28 – Scenic Folklore
Paduan Suara Mahasiswa Universitas Hasanuddin, Indonesia
conducted by Anshari Sansusi
12th World Choir Games Gangneung 2023 – The Open Competition Part 1 winners as below:
O2 – Children’s Choirs
Anyang Civic Children’s Choir, Republic of Korea
conducted by Gun Yoon Lee
O3 – Youth Choirs of Equal Voices
Sam Tet Voices, Malaysia
conducted by Terence Eng Yee Au
O6 – Vocal Ensembles (mixed and equal)
Song For You Choir, Republic of Korea
conducted by Byung Ro (Ben) Kim
O8 – Mixed Choirs
Dream Lotus Insightful Praises Choir, Chinese Taipei
conducted by Yu Chung Johnny Ku
O10 – Female Choirs
Buk-gu Women’s Choir, Republic of Korea
conducted by Gi-Hwan Lee
O12 – Male Choirs
Gangneung Male Chorus, Republic of Korea
conducted by Lee Chung il
O14 – Senior Choirs of Equal Voices
Zelkova Male Chamber Choir, Republic of Korea
conducted by In Joong Kim
O15 – Musica Sacra a cappella
Northwestern University – Saguday Chorale, Philippines
conducted by Sherberk Cabrales
O17 – Music of Spirit and Faith
Dream Lotus Insightful Praises Choir, Chinese Taipei
conducted by Yu Chung Johnny Ku
O23 – Pop Ensembles
TuneAde, Republic of Korea
O26 – Folklore a cappella
Nowon Women’s Choir, Republic of Korea
conducted by Hyo Jung Suh
O28 – Scenic Folklore
D’B3 Voices Unhas, Indonesia
conducted by Muhammad Mahazir Thamrin
Ticket & Participation Information
Tickets for the Closing Ceremony can be purchased through YES24, and the competitions, Award Ceremonies, and Friendship Concert can be attended free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis at the venue.
For more detailed information about the event, please visit the official website at www.wcg2023.com.
The 13th World Choir Games in 2024
Next year, the annual choral festival will be held in Auckland, New Zealand. To join WCG2024 information session dedicated to your country/region, please register here.
The World Choir Games is organized by INTERKULTUR, an organizer of choir competitions and festivals since 1988. For more information about its future choir events, click here.
