WorldFestivalAssociation

 INVITATION

SINGING FOR YOY,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 to participate on  XX International Festival of Choirs and orchestras “SINGING FOR YOU,St.Kliment Ohridski” `in Ohrid  which will be held on 04– 08 of August  2026.

 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   Youth choirs and  adult choirs 

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 2 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 – 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 perform in 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.

Festival organizers provide:

Accommodation in hotels and apartments, according to the price selected;

2 double rooms per group with no supplement to be paid (one for the leaders of the group and another for the drivers of the bus). The rest of the rooms are with 3 and 4 beds;

Tourist guides for sightseeing of the town (on request only);

Advertising of the festival (press conference, radio, TV channels, posters and flyers);

Professional sound equipment: (2 bass speakers, 4 satellite speakers, 2 monitor speakers…);

Professional light equipment;

Certificates for participation in the festival;

Drinks during the performance;

Souvenir and gift for each group;

DVD and photos of the festival.

Participation fee:

Basic category - villas and apartments:

- 129 euro per person for 4 nights half board accommodation (breakfast and dinner)

- 161 euro per person for 5 nights half board accommodation (breakfast and dinner)

Advanced category - hotels: 

- 143 euro per person for 4 nights half board accommodation (breakfast and dinner)

- 178 euro per person for 5 nights half board accommodation (breakfast and dinner)

Advanced category - Hotels 4*:

At the request of the groups

If there are 24paying participants in a group, the 25th will be free of charge.

Supplement for double room is 8 euro per day per person.

Supplement for accommodation in a single room is + 50% of the price to be paid for the single person accommodated in such room.

*On your request you can continue your stay in Ohrid, for a 30 euros per person, per day - FB (breakfast, lunch and dinner), and the price is special for the participants in the festival. For additional days we will prepare special program for you.

Participation fee does not include:

On request, a professional guide can be hired to accompany the group on their excursions, but the travel guide expenses will be covered by the group.

Health insurance (First Aid and Medical Hospital will be available, medical services must be covered by the group).

Free parking for the bus in the central area of the city.

Tourist guide expenses. Macedonian tourist tax (0.80 cents euro per person per day).

Program:

Day 1

13:00 Arrival in Ohrid, Welcome by the Organizer, meeting to discuss the program during the Festival, accommodation in a hotel

19:00 - 20:00 Dinner at the hotel

Day 2

09:00 - 10:00 Breakfast

10.00 - 14.00 Tour of Ohrid - visit to cultural monuments (Church of St. Sophia, 3 euro entrance fee, Samuel's Fortress, Ancient Theater, Plaoshnik, 2 euro entrance fee, St. Jovan Kaneo Church, Bridge of Desires...)

18:00 Dinner at the hotel

19:00 Parade of Ensembles (Old Town)

20.00 Official opening of the festival

- Welcome speech 

- Outdoor performance

- Festival evening, Dancing together of all groups

Day 3

09:00 - 10:00 Breakfast

10.00 - 15.30 Boat cruise on Lake Ohrid 15 euros organized ticket for groups, visit to the Water Museum and the most famous tourist resort, the monastery of St.Naum Ohridski

17:00 - 19:30 Dinner at the hotel -Parade of the participating Ensembles

20:00 Festival evening, Dancing together of all groups.

Day 4

08:00 - 10:00 Breakfast

10.00 - 14.00 Visit to Stara Karšija, the oldest tree called - Cynar, BiljaniniIzvori, Ohrid pearl factory, shopping... or visit to Struga and Kališta

19:00 - 24:00 Macedonian joint dinner, portion of 2 meats with side dish, salad, appetizer, and unlimited drink, 25 euros per person, Live music, entertainment, Awarding of Certificates for participation in the Festival.

Day 5

09.00 Breakfast

11.00 Departure of the participants

    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 link from the festival  for each group and photos. 

All detailed information will be supply after your confirmation the participation.

Last year over 400 people from 9 countries had participate on the choir festivals in Ohrid city..