The semi-finalists of the International Competition for Young Choral Conductors organised by IFAC (French Choral Institute) under the auspices of the ECA-EC (European Choral Association - Europa Cantat) will display their talents alongside the Centre de musique baroque de Versailles choir Les Chantres.

After Turin, Saint Petersburg, Budapest and Vienna, the International Competition for Young Choral Conductors is to be held for the first time in France, organised by the French Choral Institute and under the auspices of the European Choral Association. The CMBV choir Les Pages & les Chantres under musical director Olivier Schneebeli and assistant conductors Fabien Armengaud and Clément Buonomo form the ‘test choir’ for the selection round and the semi-final. The semi-final will be open to the public and will take place in the Royal Chapel at the Palace of Versailles. This exceptional event will feature the CMBV choir Les Chantres conducted by 12 young contestants from all over Europe. Those selected will compete in the final round the next day, this time conducting the Orchestre de Paris choir. They will take on different musical challenges, Sergueï Rachmaninov’s Vespers and a specially commissioned work by British composer Cecilia McDowall. The international jury will also give a special CMBV award for the best performance of a piece of French baroque music.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Admission is free for the semi-final, saturday 19 October, in the Royal Chapel at the Palace of Versailles:

• public admission between 9 am and 9:30 am for the morning session (end of session at 1 pm)
• public admission between 1:30 pm and 2 pm for the afternoon session (end of session à 17h30)

Public admission at the Royal Chapel at the Palace of Versailles will be obligatorily by the grid of the place Gambetta. Once the sessions have started (at 9:30 am and 2 pm), the doors of the Chapel will be closed and public access will no longer be possible.