Between October 29 and November 5, 2019, Bel Canto Choir Vilnius took part in the prestigious Tolosa International Choral Competition in the Basque province of Gipuzkoa, northern Spain. The contest is part of the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing, the best known and most prestigious network of choral contests in Europe.

Bel Canto Choir Vilnius competed in the polyphonic and folk/pop music categories and received a combined rating of 8.1 points (81 percent) out of 10 (100 percent). At this year’s contest, the highest number of points (9.4) was awarded to the Batavia Madrigal Singers (Indonesia).

Bel Canto Choir Vilnius was invited to participate at this prestigious European contest for the second time.

“It is a great recognition and honor for our young and ambitious team. I am particularly happy that, in comparison with our results from 2016, we greatly improved our results in the folk/pop category and received particularly generous evaluations from the audience and the organizers of the contest. Internationally we are considered to be a strong eight and that is a huge achievement for a ten-year-old choir,” said Dr. Egidijus Kaveckas, the artistic director and conductor of Bel Canto Choir Vilnius.

In addition to two performances on the competition stage in Tolosa, Bel Canto Choir Vilnius performed four more concerts in various towns and cities around the Spanish Basque country. The choir’s performances in Tolosa, San Sebastian, Zarautz, Lazkao and Uharte attracted approximately 3,600 concertgoers.

The Bel Canto Choir Vilnius’ trip to the Tolosa International Choral Competition was partially financed by the Lithuanian Council for Culture.

Photos by Mantas Gudzinevičius.
Lasting moments from the trip can be found in our gallery.