World Choir Games

Choir performing at the 4th World Choir Games in Xiamen, China The choir singer Günter Titsch organised the first transnational choir competition with participants from Hungary and Germany in Budapest, beyond the then "Iron Curtain", as early as 1988. To further develop and expand the concept, Titsch then founded the support association Interkultur e.V. in 1990 as the parent organisation for the competitions. The association's name was intended to express the organisers' aim of uniting different cultures through their events. The first international Choir Olympics organised by Interkultur, later renamed World Choir Games, were held in Linz, Austria, in 2000, in the style of the Olympic Games, and involved choirs from 60 countries. An integral part of the Games is that they are not only open to ensembles with previous competitive experience. Choirs can decide for themselves whether to participate in the competition and are not dependent on a formal invitation from the initiators. The Games are hosted biennially (every even year) in a pre-selected city across the globe, where choirs compete in selected categories. In 2012, for instance, there were 23 categories, and in 2016 there were 29 categories, among them "Senior Choirs" and "University Choirs". The Games consist of competitions in two classes (Champions and Open), festival concerts, artistic workshops, and various ceremonies. As part of the festival aspect of the Games choirs may also choose to participate in artistic workshops featuring renowned choral instructors, as well as friendship concerts and free public concerts where choirs share their music with choristers and audiences from different parts of the world. Ceremonies that form part of the Games include opening and closing ceremonies where up to 20,000 choristers join in a single venue, as well as the award ceremonies where the outcomes of the Open Competition and Champions Competition are announced. During the proceedings of the Games, the host for the next edition of the Games is usually also announced. ==Competitions==

The European Culture Award, which honours contributions to a peaceful Europe, has been awarded to the support association Interkultur in 2006 and 2016. At the World Choir Games 2010, then US President Barack Obama sent a message of greeting to the participating choirs, in which he acknowledged the contribution of the Games towards international understanding. ==Selected participant choirs==

Listing of choirs that either achieved records in the Champions Competition of the WCG or whose participation in the event was special due to their background, composition or history. Participation in the event has been open to all choirs since its foundation. The choir furthermore holds the World Choir Games world record with a score of 99 (out of a possible 100) points in the category "Mixed Choirs" at the World Choir Games 2014 in Riga (Latvia). • Noor-e omid - first mixed-gender Afghan SATB choir (participation in WCG 2016) • Amaranthe - Belgian women's choir that became World Choir Games champion for the second year in a row at WCG 2023. • Changsha Dream of Wings Blind Children's Choir - Chinese choir of blind children who participated in the WCG 2016 and other events. • Carmen Manet - Slovenian Women's Choir and Eurovision Choir of the Year 2017 • UMOJA Men's Chorus - US prison inmate choir that participated in the 2012 World Choir Games. • Tianjin Dolphin Hearing Disabled Children's Choir - Chinese children's choir whose members have hearing impairments. (Participation in WCG 2016) ==Criticism==

In connection to the Choir Olympics 2004 in Bremen, the support association was accused of "non-transparent financial dealings". According to newspaper reports, participating choirs were encouraged to arrange their accommodation via the agency "M&C Music Contact", which was said to have a close relationship to INTERKULTUR e.V. The agency justified the criticised price level by stating that the accommodation packages offered would also include a contribution to the organisational expenses, free admission to the competition concerts and a complimentary city tour. Participants from "poorer countries" would also have had to pay a reduced participation fee. In this context, the association organ of the German Singers' Association insinuated a lack of distinction between commercial and non-profit activities. but admitted that Interkultur would work for a better organisation ==See also==