WorldFestivalAssociation

I N V I T A T I O N

  “OHRID YOUTH 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 Youth Choral Groups (mail,femail and mixed)) to participate on X International  OHRID YOUTH CHOIR FESTIVAL which will be held from 17 – 21 July   2024

  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 has the right to participate YOUTH CHORAL and VOCAL groups from all over the world 

 - 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 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 8-12 minutes. .

-         Section three – Folk music (the program must contain choral arrangements of folk songs or motives. The program should last 8-12 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.

                                             Program proposal

Day 1

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 Welcome reception with leaders and condactors of the choirs

Day 2 

 08.00 -10.00 Breakfast,

 10.30 -14.00 Ohrid sightseeing – visiting cultural monuments, visiting ethno museum ( 1 euro), visiting exibition "Ohrid in past" with degustation of traditional drinks (vine,rakija,soft drink -1 euro),  Samoil fortress (1 euro - enter) , Antique theatre, Plaosnik, St. Kaneo church, Bridge of the wishes… )

14.00 – 15.00 Lunch in hotel (if you choose option 3 meals per day)

      19.00 – 20.00 Dinner in hotel

21.00  Official opening of the festival

          - welcome speech and firewall ,

          - singing together

          - open air performances in old city

   Day 3 

 08.00 -10.00 Breakfast,

12.00 - 14.00 Singing in the church 

14.00 Competition part in Center of culture G.Prlicev

 20.00 - 21.00  Dinner in hotel 

21.00 Workshop with all participants in hotel Desaret - singing out of the box

  Day 4

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 12 euros per person),(lunch package),

19.00 – 21.00 Diner in hotel

21.00 – 00.00 Closing the festival, certificate for attendance, awards for the winners, exchange presents, disco party with wine degustation and soft drinks

 Day 5  

08.00 – 10.00 Breakfast

11.00 Departure of the participants

OPTIONAL – If you stay more days…

Day 5

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……),

   14.00 – 15.00 Lunch in hotel and free activities (swimming and bathing),

   20.00 – 21.00 Dinner in hotel

    21.00 Beach party

Day 6  

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

Day 7

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, )

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 and vocal groups 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 and vocal groups groups should have there own transport for arrival and departure,

Accommodation for the groups:

   -  87  euro per person for  3 nights with 2 meals per day)

-  119 euro per person for 4 nights with 2 meals per day)

-   104  euro per person for 3 nights with 3 meals per day)

-  139 euro per person for 4 nights with 3 meals per day)

Hotel accommodation in 3*** hotel Hotel is located on the coast of Ohrid Lake, in 3 or 4  bedrooms..for conductor,leaders and drivers 3/2 rooms without additional payment ..additional double rooms are on request and it is additional 10 euro per person per day..

Hotel Desaret (renovated) is 3* Lake resort with outdoor swimming pool and own beach  with 500 beds so the number of participants are limited.  

  Visit:

Hotel Desaret (hotel on the Lake) – https://desaret-hotel.macedonia-hotels.com/en/

Hotel Prestol  -www.hotelprestol.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 in the center of the city),

Festival organizers provide:

      -   for 24 participants  – one free ( 24+1) (48+2) 

-         souvenir and gift for each group,

-         certificate for attendance,

-         guide for the festival

-         Welcome cocktail with leaders and conductors

-   Statue for each Choir and vocal formation 

-         drinks during the performance,

-         free parking

-         advertising of the festival (press conference, 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

Tourist tax and insurance is 1 euro per person per day and it is additional payment..

.  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 33 euro per day and 28 for HB

 After Groups arrived in festival office, 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. 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 link  from the festival photos and videos.. 

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

 Last year over 380 participants from 6 countries had participate on the choir festivals in Ohrid city.

NUMBER OF SEATS IS LIMITED..