International Choral Competition Gallus
Course of competition
The competition is consisted out of 8 female, male and mixed choirs composed of at least 12 and no more than 48 singers and vocal groups with up to 11 members. The programme for the Grand Prix of Maribor has to have at least 3 pieces. One of them can be from the obligatory or free programme, one of them can be a folk song, one can have a instrumental accompaniment, and should not exceed 15 minutes. Due to the novelties and improvements prepared by the artistic council of the competition, the form and contents of the competition have become internationally recognized.
Competition takes place over the weekend: there is a reception of the choirs on Friday, the competition in mandatory and free programme on Saturday, and the competition for the Grand Prix of Maribor on Sunday. In 2013 the obligatory programme for participants was not to exceed 12 minutes and had to include original Slovene choral compositions, a Romantic composition, and a piece of choice from Gallus' collection Monumenta artis musicae Slovenie.
Programme orientation
Choirs have to present 3 to 4 programmes: a rounded programme with characteristic music of the land from which the choir comes (non-competitive performance); a programme of historical periods; a free programme, and an extra programme in the final. The competition is extremely challenging because throughout the contest a choir can repeat only one song and fully has to prepare around 45 minutes of pure music.
It is evaluated by a 5-member jury: 2 members from Slovenia and 3 from abroad. The jury member selection is conducted according to strict criteria – each jury member must have internationally recognisable achievements of high artistic value. The criteria are adapted to the most demanding international competitions.