vth CASTILE INTERNATIONAL CHORAL FESTIVAL ccccccc June 10-15, 2008

Introduction

Perform in Spain. Our Fifth Spanish international choir festival is being organized for June, 2008. The Festival will bring together in various cities of the Castilian Region, during a period of approximately a week, a selection of choral groups from around the world. This is an excellent opportunity not only for your choir to interpret choral music in magnificent, awe-inspiring settings/venues before appreciative audiences, but also to be introduced to the rich historical and artistic patrimony of the region and exchange experiences with choral groups from other countries

Castile, a marvelous backdrop for Choral Music
This is a one-of-a-kind festival in that it will be taking place in such cities as Toledo, Segovia, Avila and Salamanca, all of which have been named by UNESCO as Human Patrimony Sites for their artistic richness. In addition, performances will be given in numerous venues with excellent acoustic qualities and great historical value in other cities and villages of the region.

The Castile Region is located in the center of Spain and has Madrid as its principal city. It is considered one of the richest cultural-historic regions in Europe and as the birthplace of the Spanish language and Castilian culture contains innumerable outstanding examples of Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance Art. In addition, there are numerous military fortifications and castles, legacy of the Christian re-conquest of the Iberian Peninsula from the Moors. The origin of the name Castile, land of the “castillos” or castles, testifies to the number and importance of these fortifications.

During the past years, we have been preparing what we are sure will be a unique experience for participants: a Festival that will please the eyes and ears of both participants and audiences. Acoustically sublime concert venues in magnificent settings, interchange of ideas and experiences with other choir groups, and top quality accommodations. This is sure to be an experience not to be missed.

Dates
The Festival begins the 10th of June (day of arrival) and ends the 15th of June, 2008.

Calendar
The Festival begins on June 10th, 2008, the arrival date of the different choral groups to their designated Castile city. Upon arrival, groups will be met by organizers and taken to their lodgings. Before dinner, each choral group will meet another group staying in the same city in order to exchange experiences.

The mornings of the 11th, 12th, 13th, and 14th of June will be spent in visiting points of interest in the city of lodging: museums, monuments, cathedrals, etc., as well as meeting with other choral groups. After lunch (around 4 PM), each choral group will be taken to its designated concert site for rehearsal and subsequent performance. At the concert´s conclusion, the groups will have dinner and return to their respective hotels.

Selected venues
The four different performances guaranteed for each choral group will take place in each of the following: one of the cathedrals of the region, one of the Castilian Romanesque churches, an important historical building (castle, renaissance palace, theatre or auditorium), an open air venue (weather permitting), such as a plaza with excellent acoustic quality.

The length of each choral group´s repertoire will not be less than one hour. It is possible that on at least one of the performance days, one choir will sing together with another, or participate together in the same event, although the duration of each performance will always be an hour or more.

More information about the cities and the selected venues

The organization
Perform In Spain is responsible for organizing this international Choir Festival in Castile, in collaboration with various musical and cultural organizations in Spain as well as travel agencies throughout the world who specialize in musical tours.

We have been working over the last ten years in the organization of musical events and tours throughout Spain for numerous orchestras and choirs from overseas. Such experience as well as our in-depth knowledge of the Spanish tourist environment, are your assurance that the Festival will be efficiently and professionally managed, and that your choir group will receive personalized and top-notch assistance at all stages of your visit to Spain.

Types of Choirs
The Festival is open to any choir, whether child, youth or adult. However, it is requisite that all choral groups have an excellent level. In order to ensure such excellence, we ask, once we have received an indication of your interest, the submission as soon as possible of a detailed curriculum vitae of the choir and its director, as well as photos and recent recordings of your music. In collaboration with our musical agents, we will then decide on the possibility of your choral group´s participation in the Festival.

Repertoire
Repertoire While we are strict concerning the musical qualities of the groups accepted, as well as with the limitations on age, we are considerably more flexible concerning the repertoire. However, it is important to note that those choirs that have a varied repertoire are more likely of selection, all other factors being equal. For this reason, we ask that a tentative musical repertoire to be performed during the Festival be forwarded as soon as possible.

We need to know the type of choral music to be performed, and if it is ´a capella´ or to be accompanied by organ, piano or other musical instruments. Please note that at least 4 performances per group are guaranteed.

As you are no doubt aware, the majority of religious institutions, such as cathedrals and Romanesque churches, normally only permit the interpretation of religious or sacred music. It will be necessary therefore that a least some pieces of your repertoire include religious or sacred music.

Registration
September 15th 2006 to January 8th 2007
If you think you might be interested in participating in the Castile International Choir Festival, we ask that you fill out the following application form. We will contact you immediately to solicit more detailed information about your Choir and its necessities.

Once we will get the information and listen to your music, and once you are agree with our terms and prices, we will ask you for a certain deposit to guarantee your presence.

Since that moment we will be in touch with you and we will inform you about each performance and venue specifications. Towards the end of January 2008, you will receive all the data relating to your performances, as well as a final list of the choral groups that are going to participate in the Festival.
Please keep in mind that the quota for groups is limited and that participation in the Festival will depend on two fundamental factors: first, the quality of your choral group, and second, the date of your application to participate

Extensions to your trip

Do not forget that either at the start or the finish of your trip to the Festival, we can organize tours to other parts of Spain, such as Andalusia, Galicia, Barcelona, or the North of Spain and Portugal, where we have been organizing choral tours for more than a decade. info@performinspain.com

Choir Groups
On this web page, you will find a synopsis on the choral groups that are going to participate in the CICF 2008, as well as information on other choral group festivals in other European countries.

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