Host Choir

Bulgarian Host Choir - Morski Zvutsi

"Morski Zvutsi”: (Sounds of the Sea), is the representative Varna city choir, which was founded by Professor Marin Chonev in 1956. It is one of the most eminent among Bulgarian choral societies and has been awarded distinguished prizes, eight of which were first prizes, at the International Choral competitions in Gorizia - Italy, Cork - Ireland, Varna - Bulgaria, Middlesbrough - England and Cantonigros - Spain. The choir had toured throughout Europe and the U.S.A. It had the privilege to perform at the National Convention of The American Choral Directors Association in San Diego, CA in 1997 and at a number of other cities in California. The choir also participated in an East-Coast tour in 2000.

Guest Choirs

KOLEINU

KOLEINU is the Jewish Community Choir of Columbus, Ohio.  Founded in 1993, the choir is comprised of adults from several area congregations – Reform, Conservative and Orthodox.

KOLEINU has represented the Columbus Jewish Community in a broad range of community activities, including the Mayor's Holocaust Service, the Columbus community‑wide Yom Hashoah Service, the community Yom Ha‑atzmaut Celebration, the Bexley Schools Jerusalem Week Concert and interfaith choral festivals.  The choir has been broadcast on the local classical music station and has performed at the Ohio State Fair, Ohio Historical Society, the Columbus Museum of Art, the Capitol Theatre in the Riffe Center, Mershon Auditorium and Columbus City Center.  KOLEINU also performed at the renowned North American Jewish Choral Festival in New York in the summer of 2005, visited Kfar Saba and Israel in 2005 as part of the Partnership 2000 relationship between Columbus and Kfar Saba, and is preparing to be involved in the Songs of Life International Choir Festival.

The Tel-Aviv Chamber Choir, Israel

Michael Shani founded the Tel-Aviv Chamber Choir in 1987. Since its founding, it has become one of the most active and well appreciated choirs in Israel.

The choir’s varied repertoire includes secular as well as liturgical music. It has preformed with many different orchestras and conductors including: the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Zubin Mehta; the Berlin Philharmonic under the baton of Claudio Abbado; the New Israeli Opera with Gary Bertini, Daniel Oren and Frederic Chazlan; and Ariel Ramirez and his ensemble.

During its existence and under the direction of Mr. Shani, it has earned a reputation as one of Israel’s leading choirs, performing in Israel and abroad.

In 1996, the choir was awarded first prize in the "Palestrina International Choir Competition". That same year, the choir also completed a highly lauded concert tour in Italy and was invited to appear at the Vatican. In 1998, it gave a concert tour in Prague, Pilsen and Budapest with excellent critical reviews. In 1999, the choir was invited to participate in the highly acclaimed "Riga Festival for Chamber Choirs" and performed in Berlin and Nuremberg in 2000.

The choir performs regularly at the very popular Abu-Gosh festival and many of its concerts have been recorded for broadcast on Israeli television and radio. The Tel-Aviv Chamber Choir has premiered numerous Israeli compositions and many of those pieces have been written especially for the choir.

And your choir, too!

We will include a photo and bio of your choir when you register to take part in Songs of Life.
Check back often for an up-to-date listing of all the performers.