XI International Choir Festival ”St. KLIMENT OHRIDSKI ”
Location: OHRID, Macedonia
Director: Mr. Zoran Strezovski and WOFA
Application Deadline: 1 May, 2024
I N V I T A T I O N
“ST.KLIMENT OHRIDSKI” choir festival is most significant and dedicated Choir festival in the region…... Organizers of the festival are: Association of culture and art “Models”, Youth culture center in cooperation with Municipality of Ohrid and World Festival Association
With pleasure we INVITE you (Children's, Youth & Adults Choral groups) to participate on XI International Choir Festival “St.Kliment Ohridski”in Ohrid which will be held on 04 – 08 of August 2021.
The intention of our invitation is to invite you to celebrate together the day of St. Kliment Ohridski, 08 of August, Patron of the Ohrid city, in Ohrid (city of St. Kliment and St.Naum – best students of St. Cyril & Methodius). The Festival light motive is to present and promote choral music of different countries, exchange experience and to provide an opportunity for the members of groups to get together, to establish friendships and culture presentation.
Nowadays, Ohrid is cultural, spiritual and tourist centre. During this period there are a lot of tourists from Holland, Finland, Poland, Sweden, Germany, Serbia, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Turkey …Due to exceptional beauty and culture heritage Ohrid Lake and Ohrid city is protected by UNECO. There are a lot of hotels, apartments, a lot of traditional restaurants and café, shops, entertainment. Ohrid&Struga during the summer period lives 24 hours. Ohrid lake coast is 35km with beautifully sands beach, tourist attractions and entertainment. Temperature of the water in the lake is 25C degree and it is suitable for swimming, diving, yachting …..
Ohrid is one of the oldest settlements in Macedonia. According to famous television game show “who wants to be a millionaire “ in 2007 on British Television ,Ohrid is declared as the oldest city in the world, with continuous civilization advancement! Indeed, according to many historians, Lychnidos-the city of light (the ancient name of Ohrid ) was build in the 4th century B.C, but humans have lived there for more than 8.000 years.Here in Ohrid, from its beginning until today, life still goes on, without ending.That is why it‘s also called “the kingdom of archaeologists”.
However, Ohrid is the only place in the world where 2 recognized saints actually lived in the same time - St. Clement of Ohrid (840-916) and St.Naum of Ohrid (830-910), putting an extremely strong stamp of their existence.
These 2 exceptional persons, the best students of Cyril and Methodius, were in fact the most educated persons in the world in their time. Among other achievements, they will always be remembered as establishers of the first University in Europe (893), located in Ohrid Old Town, long before the University in Bologna (1088)! Besides that, St. Clement and St.Naum of Ohrid were founders of the Cyrillic Alphabet. As a result of their creativity and incredible work, today more then 200 million people still use this alphabet, mostly in Southeast and Eastern Europe.
Ancient ruins, beautiful amphitheatre, 3 citadel walls, St.Sofia Cathedral, St.Jovan Kaneo church, St.Naum monaster (one of the most beautiful monasteries in Macedonia and an important pilgrimage place. Breathtaking setting on a plateau over Ohrid Lake and Galicica mountain towering from behind. It was founded in the 910 by St.Naum, but the present-day church was built in the 16th c. Of the original church just the side chapel with the grave of St.Naum still stands), gallery of exclusive icons, museums, workshops for hand-made paper, woodcarving and famous Ohrid pearls, are among hundreds sites for tourists worth to visit. There is also a strong Roman connection to the city, since Lychnidos was along the famous route Via Egnatia, build in the 2nd century B.C., connecting the Adriatic and Aegean sea. Considering the number of churches located in the Old town (365 churches according to the immemorial legend, for local people to celebrate every single day by honouring another saint), Ohrid is called “the Balkan Jerusalem”, successfully playing the role as the biggest pilgrimage spot for all the Orthodox Christians in the world. More information on www.ohridinfo.mk
REGULATIONS
Every choir, singing formation and orchestras has the right to participate. Children's choirs (2/3 of the participants must be 16 or younger), Youth choirs (2/3 of the participants must be 27 or younger), adult choirs (1/3 of the participants must be older than 27).
In order to apply, application form must be sent, including a photograph of the choir and the conductor as well as a recent audio recording. The requested materials can be sent by email, recording audio can be put on your web site or send by post.
Festival is not competitive and has 3 sections:
- Section one – obligatory performance - Open air, ( is required to perform a 15-20 minute program of their choice at several outdoor public locations)
- Section two – spiritual music (program must contain choral arrangements of spiritual songs. The program should last 8-14 minutes..
- Section three – Pop or Folk music (the program must contain choral arrangements of pop or folk songs or motives. The program should last 8-14 minutes.
All choirs are required to performin at least two sections.
By applying to the Festival the choir agrees to respect and to regulate the legal rights of the authors of the works it performs and agrees to give right to the Festival to use any material recorded during the Festival.
Festival program will be held on the outdoor public location - historical places in Ohrid and Struga cities and Centres for culture.
Program proposal
04.08.Thursday
12.00 – 14.00 Arriving in Ohrid , hotel accommodation,
14.00 – 15.00 Lunch in hotel and free activities (swimming in Ohrid Lake),
19.00 – 21.00 Dinner in hotel,
21.00 Welcome reception
05.08. Friday
08.00 -10.00 Breakfast,
10.00 -14.00 Ohrid sightseeing – visiting cultural monuments (Samoil fortress, Antique theatre, Plaosnik, St. Kaneo church …)
14.00 – 15.00 Lunch in hotel
18.00 – 20.30 Dinner in hotel
21.00 Official opening of the festival
- welcome speech and firewall,
- singing together
- open air performances in old city
06.08. Saturday
09.00 -10.00 Breakfast,
10.00 -14.00 Visiting St Sophia church (singing in the church) Stara carsia, oldest tree called – Cinar, Biljanini izvori, Ohrid pearl, manufactory of old paper, …..shopping…
14.00 – 15.00 Lunch in hotel
18.30 – 20.30 Dinner in hotel
21.00 Festival evening
23.00 Cocktail party
07.08. Sunday
09.00 -10.00 Breakfast,
11.00 -15.30 Cruising with boat on Ohrid Lake and visit Museum on water and most famous tourist resort St.Naum-culture place, also swimming in most popular beach –(price 7 euros per person),(lunch package),
19.00 – 20.00 Diner in hotel
21.00.Closing the festival, certificate for attendance, exchange presents, Disco party with wine degustation and soft drinks for the kids
08.08. Monday
09.00 – 10.00 Breakfast
12.00 Departure of the participants
OPTIONAL – If you stay more days…
08.08 Monday
09.00 -10.00 Breakfast,
10.30 – 14.00 Visiting Struga city (house of Miladinovci brothers, river Crni Drim, Kalsita church……),
14.00 – 15.00 Lunch in hotel and free activities (swimming and bathing),
20.00 – 21.00 Dinner in hotel
21.00. Singing in Struga city or Macedonian evening party
09.08. Tuesday
09.00 -10.00 Breakfast,
10.30 – 14.00 Free activities (sunbathing and swimming in Ohrid Lake, walking in the city square… ) or visiting Vevcani (ethno village),
14.00 – 15.00 Lunch in hotel and free activities,
20.00 – 21.00 Dinner in hotel
21.00.- 00.00 Macedonian evening party
10.08 Wednesday
08.00 – 09.00 Breakfast,
09.00 – 14.00 Departure to Skopje city with guides ( visiting monuments of Aleksandar of Macedon, Museum of Macedonian struggle, Macedonian GATE, Stone bridge, Memorial Centre of Holocaust )
14.00 Departure from Skopje city
Participating conditions are:
- The number of participants are limited,
- Each group should consist of most 50 members including singers, managers and musicians
- Age of the participants are not limited (see sections),
- Choirs should have prepared at least 2 performance for two sections, 8-14 minutes each with or without instruments,
- To send short CV and photos of the choirs by mail,
- To bring a flag of the country,
- Choir groups should have there own transport for arrival and departure,
Accommodation for the groups:
Hotel accommodation is
- 86 Euro for 4 FB ( with 3 meals per day).
- 66 for 3 FB (3 meals per day)
Hotel is located on the coast of Ohrid Lake, in 1/2 or 1/3 bedrooms. Hotel resort Desaret has outdoor swimming pool with 500 beds so the number of participants are limited….
Hotel Desaret (hotel on the Lake) – www.hoteldesaret.com.mk,
Hotel Plaza (hotel on the Lake)- www.galebiplaza.com.mk,
Hotel Montenegrin (hotel on the Center of the city) – www.montenegrininn.com
Hotel De Lux Apartmant (hotel on the Center of the city)
Hotel apartament Fortuna (hotel on the Center of the city)
Festival organizers provide:
- for 21 participants – one gratis,
- souvenir and gift for each group,
- certificate for attendance,
- tourist guides for sightseeing of the town,
- Welcome cocktail,
- Drinks during performance,
- Free parking
- reception in city hall,
- advertising of the festival (press release, social media promotion, posters and flayers).
Insurance:
Personal responsibility and health insurance are within the other obligations of the groups. First Aid and Medical Hospital will be available, medical services must be covered by the group.
On your request, You can continue your stay in Ohrid. For additional days we will arrange special program. In 3*** hotel FB will be special discount price of 22 euro per day.
After Groups arrived in Hotel will be given detailed program of the festival and each group will have guide during festival.
Transportation: The festival will organize the transport for the groups coming by plane by picking them up from Ohrid airport, during the festival days and back to the same Ohrid airport. You can also arrive through Skopje, Tirana or Thessaloniki Airport which are only 200 km from Ohrid. The cost of the transportation will be covered by the group and will be additionally agreed according to their number. Also you can arrive in Ohrid airport and we will arrange transfer to the hotel free of charge.We will also assist you in obtaining visa for Macedonia if necessary.
After the festival finish organizers will send you a link where you can take the photos and videos from the festival.
Last year over 420 people from 10 countries had participate on the choir festivals in Ohrid city..
NUMBER OF SEATS IS LIMITEDON 400 PARTICIPANTS OR 10-12 GROUPS!!
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