IX International Choir Festival & Competition ”OHRID PEARL”
Location: OHRID, Macedonia
Director: Z S. & WOFA
Application Deadline: 5 January, 2025
I N V I T A T I O N
“OHRID PEARL” choir festival is very famous festival in region…... Organizers of the festival are: Association of culture and art “Models”, Youth culture center in cooperation with National Institutions, Ohrid municipality and World Festival Association.
With pleasure we INVITE you ( Choir and Vocal groups, Children's, Youth & Adults) to participate on XI International Choir festival & Competition “OHRID PEARL” which will be held from 21 – 25 July 2022.
Ohrid and Struga are cites which lie on the cost of Ohrid Lake. There are famous cultural and tourists resorts in Macedonia but also in the region.
Nowadays, there are cultural, spiritual and tourist centres. 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 ….. Struga is called “City of poetry” due to famous festival “Struga poetry evenings” which is held in Struga almost 60 years ago. It is city with many churches, cathedrals, mosques, river Crn Drim…..See more www.struga.org.mk
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”.
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 and singing formation and orchestra 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).
The application deadline is 01 March. 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 has two parts – competitive and not competitive .
Choirs can choose competition or only festival PARTICIPATION ( no contest program). Concert programs of choirs chosen to participate in the competition will be judged by a jury and will determine the grand prize winner of the festival: statue "OHRID PEARL". If there are more than three Choir in each category / uniform, mixed, children / jury will select the winner in each category. It must be more than 5 choral groups for competition part.
The choirs participate in self- competition program .
FESTIVAL has 3 sections:
- Section one – performances - Open air, ( is required to perform a 15-20 minute program of their choice at several outdoor public locations)
- Section two – Pop music (program must contain choral arrangements of pop songs. The program should last 8-14 minutes. .
- Section three – Folk music (the program must contain choral arrangements of 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.
MORE PHOTOS FROM THE FESTIVAL IYOU CAN SEE ON LINK: https://youtu.be/MK85OjLZMds
Program proposal
21.07. Thursday
12.00 – 14.00 Arriving in Ohrid , hotel accommodation,
14.00 – 15.00 Lunch in hotel and free activities (swimming in Ohrid Lake),
18.30 – 20.00 Dinner in hotel,
21.00 Meeting with director of the festival
22.07. Friday
08.00 -10.00 Breakfast,
10.30 -14.00 Ohrid sightseeing – visiting cultural monuments (, Samoil fortress, Antique theatre, Plaosnik, St. Kaneo church, Bridge of the wishes…(3 euro per person entres )
19.00 – 20.00 Dinner in hotel
21.00 Official opening of the festival
23.07. Saturday
09.00 -10.00 Breakfast,
10.20 -14.00 Visiting St Sophia church (singing in the church), Stara carsia, oldest tree called – Cinar, Biljanini springs, Ohrid pearl ,manufactory for old paper….. shopping…
18.30 – 20.30 Dinner in hotel
21.00 – 23.00 Singing in the city
24.07. 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 9 euros per person),
19.00 – 20.00 Diner in hotel
21.00 – 00.00 Free time or Macedonian evening party(optional)
25.07. Monday
09.00 – 10.00 Breakfast
12.00 Departure of the participants
OPTIONAL – If you stay more days…
25.07 Monday
09.00 -10.00 Breakfast,
10.30 – 14.00 Visiting Struga city
- singing in the church St.Petka
- Visiting house of Miladinovci brothers, river Crni Drim, Kalsita cave church……), (5 euro per person)
14.00 – 15.00 free activities (swimming and bathing),
20.00 – 21.00 Dinner in hotel
21.00 Beach party
26.07. Tusday
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
27.07 Wednesday
08.00 – 09.00 Breakfast,
09.00 – 14.00 Departure to Skopje city with guides ( visiting monuments of Alexander 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
- On competition part must be more of 5 choral groups,
- Age of the participants are not limited (see sections),
- Choirs and orchestras 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:
- 65 euro for 3 HB ( 3 nights with 2 meals per day)
- 93 euro for 4 HB ( 4 nights with 2 meals per day)
Hotel accommodation in 3*** hotel
Hotel is located on the coast of Ohrid Lake, in 1/2 or 1/3 bedrooms. Hotel Desaret is 3*star Lake resort with outdoor swimming pool, with 500 beds so the number of participants are limited.
Visit:
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 Apartmants (hotel on the Center of the city)
Hotel Apartmant Fortuna (hotel on the Center of the city)
Hotel Cingo (hotel in the center of the city)
Hotel 4* is Hotel Maiva is 69 euro 3 HB and 105 euro 4 HB, visit th elink: https://hotelklimetica.
Festival organizers provide:
- for 21 participants – one gratis
- souvenir and gift for each group,
- certificate for attendance,
- tourist guides for sightseeing of the town
- drinks during the performance,
- free parking,
- advertising of the festival (press relese, social media promotions, posters and flayers).
For competitors:
- Certificate
- statue "OHRID PEARL"
For competition must be 5 and more choirs.
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 HB will be special discount price of 24 euro per day.In 4* hotel it is 29 euro HB.
Tourist tax and insurance is 1 euro per person and it is additional paymant.
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. You can arrive in Ohrid airport and we will make a 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 DVD from the festival program for each group and photos.
Any group should confirm by the Form of attendance and after confirmation it should paid a vans of 250 euros on account of organizers. The rest of money should be paid after the group arrived in hotel in Ohrid.
. All detailed information will be supply after your confirmation the participation.
Last year over 350 participants from 10 countries had participate on the choir festivals in Ohrid city..
NUMBER OF SEATS IS LIMITED!!
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Reviews from the groups:
This festival has review of 16 groups and average estimation is VERY GOOD - 8,7/10