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University of New HampshireUniversity of New Hampshire Scholars' RepositoryUNH International Educator Newsletter Global Education CenterFall 2009Fall 2009, UNH Choirs shine in prestigiouseuropean competitionCenter for International EducationFollow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/international_newsThis News Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Global Education Center at University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. Ithas been accepted for inclusion in UNH International Educator Newsletter by an authorized administrator of University of New Hampshire Scholars'Repository. For more information, please contact nicole.hentz@unh.edu.Recommended CitationCenter for International Education, "Fall 2009, UNH Choirs shine in prestigious european competition" (2009). InternationalEducator: the Newsletter of the UNH Global Engagement Editorial Board. 73.https://scholars.unh.edu/international_news/73UNH Center for International Education Newsletterhttp://unh.edu/cie/newsletter/2009/fall/main-kempster.html[7/11/2016 3:16:27 PM] SearchCenter for International Education Fall 2009Kempster with UNH Chamber Singers in the Czech Republic.In this IssueFeatured StoriesAdditional ArticlesFaculty Travel ReportsDownload thisnewsletter as a .pdfCenter for InternationalEducation HomeUNH choirs shine in prestigious European competitionProfessor William Kempster traveled to the Czech Republic with members of the UNH Concert Choirand UNH Chamber Singers to participate in a prestigious European competition.Along with AntonínDvořák, Bohuslav Martinůis the most reveredcomposer in his nativeland, now known as theCzech Republic. Littlewonder, therefore, that acompetition bearing the composer’s name draws thebest choirs in the country, as well as from abroad, tothe town of Pardubice for the International BohuslavMartinů Festival and Choir Competition. This year inJune, at the sixth such staging of the competition,choirs from Finland, Serbia, Hungary, theNetherlands, Slovakia, Israel, Estonia, Belgium,Slovenia and the USA joined with numerous Czechchoirs not only to compete against each other, but alsoto celebrate singing as a transcendent art formbringing people from all cultures together.On this occasion, the sole representative from the United States was the University of New Hampshire. The UNH Concert Choir, agroup of 24 singers, and the 10-member UNH Chamber Singers each competed in two categories. All 33 15-minute performancesgiven by the individual choirs at the competition were judged by a jury of seven of the most pre-eminent figures in choral music inEurope, and choirs were awarded either a Gold, Silver or Bronze “zone” for each complete performance, based on an overallaveraged mark out of 30. Both UNH groups received one Gold and one Silver in their two respective categories.In addition, we were awarded a Special Jury Prize for the best interpretation of a Czech work by a foreign choir for ourperformance of Dvořák’s Napadly písně v duši mo. It is a tremendous honor to have this kind of recognition for our interpretationof a piece which – as we have learned this week – is so well-known here, and so very near and dear to Czech choristers.The Concert Choir also placed first in Category G, making them eligible to compete for the Grand-Prix at the competition.Although there were seven categories at the competition, the Gold “zone” was not awarded in all of these, so just four choirs wereasked to “sing-off” for the Grand-Prix prize of CZK50,000. Besides the UNH Concert Choir, those competing included two choirsfrom the Czech Republic and one from Serbia.UNH Center for International Education Newsletterhttp://unh.edu/cie/newsletter/2009/fall/main-kempster.html[7/11/2016 3:16:27 PM]Prof. William Kempster, right, andsophomore student David Jacobsen in the oldtown square at Pardubice, Czech Republic.The winning choir was the renowned JITRO girls choir from Hradec Králové, Czech Republic, a group that has established itselfas one of the world’s great choral institutions over the past 20 years. Their performances at Pardubice were an inspiration to all,and were particularly appreciated by the members of the UNH group, who saw every one of their performances at the festival, aswell as those of the younger – but also outstanding – ‘feeder’ group JITŘÍČKO.After the competition was completed, all four of these choirs were invited toperform at a special concert in Polička, where Martinů made his home, andwhere his body is buried. Due to travel complications and the need for two ofthe choirs to get home, only JITRO and the UNH Concert Choir were able toperform at this prestigious concert, which was attended by a large audience, andpresided over by the current mayor of Polička, a direct descendent of Martinůhimself. To be on the same program as JITRO was perhaps the highlight of thetrip for many of the UNH group.The UNH groups also participated in a concert performance in Pardubice, andpresented a full program at the renowned Cathedral of St. Barbara in KutnáHora, near Prague, on their way back to that city after the completion of thefestival and competition.The tour was not all work for us. When not rehearsing we enjoyed the sightssounds, smells and tastes, not only of Pardubice, a regional capital, but also of Prague itself, one of the great cities of the world.Overall, both musically and culturally, this was a trip of a lifetime for these students, and they represented themselves, theircountry and their university, not only with great distinction – as the competition results confirm – but also with pride, decorum andhonor. Many friends were made and relationships for the future forged!  Copyright © 2015, Center for International Education  •  The University of New Hampshire223 Hood House  •  89 Main Street  •  Durham, NH 03824tel: 603-862-2398  •  fax: 603-862-0169study.abroad@unh.edu  •  international.affairs@unh.edu

Fall 2009, UNH Choirs shine in prestigious european competition

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Fall 2009, UNH Choirs shine in prestigious european competition

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