Acta Musicae, Norway
Conductor: Irina Ødegaard Korchuganova

Acta Musicae is a women’s choir from Kongsberg, founded in 1997. The choir currently has around 30 active singers and is led by conductor Irina Ødegaard Korchuganova. The name Acta Musicae means “musical acts”, reflecting the choir’s artistic approach and commitment to performance. Its vision, “We want to shine”, expresses a desire to share singing joy, musicality and quality with both singers and audiences. Musical experiences are at the heart of the choir’s work, with a strong emphasis on ensemble playing, vocal colour, musical expression and communication. At the same time, the choir provides a safe and inclusive environment where each singer can develop individually, with plenty of humour and fellowship. Its varied repertoire ranges from folk and classical choral music to sacred music, pop, jazz, songs and spirituals. The choir has competed in Norway and abroad and has released two CDs.

Bergens Kvinnelige Studentersangforening, Norway
Conductor: Regine Cornelia Forthun

Bergens Kvinnelige Studentersangforening is a young adult choir with a rich history and strong ambitions for the future. Founded in 1942 and re-established in 2022 after a period of inactivity, the choir is today made up of 28 dedicated singers with varied experience from student choirs in Bergen and other Norwegian cities. Together with its brother choir, Studentersangforeningen i Bergen, it serves as an official representative choir of the University of Bergen. The choir aims for a high musical standard and an adventurous repertoire spanning classical music, folk music, jazz, ballads and pop. Its work is also inspired by the Nordic academic choral tradition. Across its projects, particular emphasis is placed on vocal technique, musicality and blend. Each year, the choir presents several concerts and undertakes commissioned performances.

Brilliant Harmony, Japan
Conductor: Ko Matsushita

Brilliant Harmony was established in 1988 and is led by Musical Director and conductor Ko Matsushita. The ensemble continually explores new possibilities and deeper forms of expression for the female choir. It has performed widely in Japan and abroad and has received major national and international recognition, including the Grand Prix at the Tolosa Choral Contest and the Best Equal Voice Choir Award at the Seghizzi International Choral Singing Competition. In 2005, Brilliant Harmony became the first Asian female choir to be nominated for and participate in the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing. The choir has also performed internationally at events including MusicFest Vancouver. In 2013, it toured Norway, singing at venues such as Bergen Cathedral, Troldhaugen and Grieghallen, and collaborating with CANTUS. In 2017 the ensemble performed the film theme music of Sekigahara. Recently they have actively promoted new repertoire for female choirs through commissions for new arrangements of renaissance choral works, which they have performed.

Cantabo, Norway
Conductor:Tove Annette Holter

Cantabo is a women’s choir founded in Bergen in 2018 and consists of experienced singers from the city and surrounding region. The choir is committed to maintaining a high musical standard while exploring a broad repertoire across genres and periods. Its programmes combine a variety of musical styles and are shaped by a desire to create strong artistic experiences for both singers and audiences. Cantabo also has ambitions to participate in competitions in Norway and abroad and has achieved good results in the competitions it has entered. Under the skilled leadership of conductor Tove Annette Holter, the choir works continuously to refine its sound, musical expression and ensemble skills.

Cantus Vokalensemble, Sweden
Conductor: Birgitta Urbán

Cantus Vokalensemble is a mixed choir from Sweden with around 30 singers aged 18–35. Based in Alnö Församling, in the northern part of Medelpad, the ensemble grew out of a youth choir, with some members having sung together for more than a decade. This long-standing connection has created strong social unity and a well-developed musical blend. The choir has a particular foundation in church music and regularly participates in Sunday services at Alnö Church, as well as performing in other churches in the region. Its repertoire ranges from classical works by Händel, Mozart and Vivaldi to contemporary choral music by composers such as Ola Gjeilo, Kim André Arnesen and Sven-David Sandström. With a warm, balanced sound and broad musical range, Cantus Vokalensemble seeks to deepen the experience of worship and move audiences through both traditional and contemporary choral music. The choir is conducted by Birgitta Urban, cantor of the congregation, who has led the ensemble since its foundation.

Carl Johans Kammarkör, Sweden
Conductor: David Molin

Carl Johan Chamber Choir, formerly known as Härlanda Chamber Choir, was founded in Gothenburg in 2007 and is led by conductor David Molin. The choir brings together singers aged 20–40 with extensive choral experience and a strong ambition to perform at the highest level. It is known for excellent resonance, a warm and inviting sound, and a strong stage presence. The repertoire ranges from newly written contemporary works to well-known classics. Many singers are also instrumentalists or soloists, allowing the choir to incorporate instruments and solo performances into its programmes. Carl Johan Chamber Choir has participated in several international competitions, including Jūrmala, Tolosa and Marktoberdorf, with strong results. Its Christmas album A Bright Star Shineth has received excellent reviews and reached around half a million streams on Spotify, and a new recording is scheduled for release in 2026. In autumn 2024, the choir performed on Swedish Television’s best-known classical music programme.

Choir of the University of Environmental and Life Sciences in Wroclaw, Poland
Conductor: Alan Urbanek

The Choir of the University of Environmental and Life Sciences in Wroclaw has worked with artistic director and conductor Professor Alan Urbanek since 2009. Its members are mainly students of the university, together with students from other institutions in Wroclaw. The choir is an active part of the city’s musical life, presenting art projects, participating in New Year gala concerts and performing large-scale oratorio works with other academic choirs. Its repertoire includes a cappella music, particularly by Polish composers, as well as vocal-instrumental works. The choir has achieved numerous international competition successes, including first prizes in Lloret de Mar, Freamunde and Korfu, as well as awards in Rimini and Preveza. It has also toured extensively in Europe, the United States, Canada and China, including performances with Polish artist Piotr Rubik and at the European Capital of Culture events in Wroclaw. In 2024, the choir received a third prize in folklore and a silver medal in sacred music at Canco Mediterranea in Lloret de Mar.

Dragefjellets damekor, Norway
Conductor: Maria Therese Bersås

Dragefjellets Damekor is a women’s choir founded by neighbours from Nøstet, Nordnes, Sydnes and Møhlenpris in 2013 and was formally established under its current name in spring 2016. Since then, the choir has performed extensively in the local community and collaborated with other choirs in Bergen. Its repertoire is broad, ranging from classical music, jazz, songs and medieval ballads to folk music and pop. In 2024, the choir prepared a mass together with two other choirs, with a similar project planned for spring 2026. Since spring 2023, Maria Therese Bersås has been the choir’s permanent conductor. The choir has around 30 members spanning a wide range of ages and rehearses every Monday in central Bergen. Each semester it also holds a Saturday rehearsal seminar followed by social activities. Dragefjellets Damekor regularly takes part in New Year concerts and Norwegian Choir Association events. In connection with its tenth anniversary in 2026, the choir is preparing to enter a competition for the first time.

Dysonans Chamber Choir. Poland
Conductor: Magdalena Wdowicka-Mackiewicz

Dysonans Chamber Choir traces its history back to 1991, when a group of young people decided to form a choir. Since the beginning, the ensemble has been led by Professor Magdalena Wdowicka-Mackiewicz, pedagogue and director of the Conducting Institute at the I.J. Paderewski Academy of Music in Poznań, with Michał Plichta as second conductor. Dysonans performs across Europe and regularly takes part in leading international choral competitions. Recent highlights include the Grand Prix at the Gaude Cantem International Festival of Choirs in 2022, three first prizes at the Cançò Mediterrània International Choral Festival the same year, and major awards at the Seghizzi competition in 2016. Success at Gaude Cantem also led to an invitation to the Stefan Stuligrosz Grand Prix of Polish Choral Music in Poznań. The choir’s 2025 activities included a recording of E. Wagner’s Salve Regina and a trip to Mexico for an international choir festival.

E STuudio Girls’ Choir, Estonia
Conductor: Külli Lokko

The third generation of the E STuudio Girls’ Choir has been active since 2022 and has quickly established itself on the international choral scene. The choir achieved second place in the youth category at the Tallinn International Choral Festival in 2023, followed by first place in the same category in 2025. In 2024, the ensemble won the youth choir category at the Kalamata International Choir Competition and Festival in Greece, took second place in sacred music and advanced to the Grand Prix round. In 2025, the choir won the youth category and the gold champion title in contemporary choral music at the World Youth & Children’s Choir Festival in Hong Kong, as well as the festival’s Best Equal Voice Choir award. The choir also performed at the International Choral Festival in Missoula, USA, in 2023. Its members are young women aged 16–21, almost all with formal music education and years of solo and choral experience. Founder and conductor Külli Lokko has worked with choirs for 38 years; Bergen marks her 50th international concert tour and competition outside Estonia.

Female Choir Usmev, Slovakia
Conductor: Daniela Januchova

Female Choir Usmev developed from the former children’s and girls’ choir of the same name, one of Slovakia’s most successful youth ensembles in the 1980s and 1990s. The adult choir began its new chapter in 2017 and has since performed throughout Slovakia and elsewhere in Europe. Its recent achievements include gold prizes and overall winner titles at Slovakia’s Viva il canto competition, two gold diplomas at the Rimini International Choir Competition in 2019, category wins at Music & Sea in Greece and gold diploma at the International Festival of Advent and Christmas Music in Bratislava in 2024. In 2025, the choir received two category winner titles and a special award for outstanding dramaturgy and sensitive interpretation of tradition at Canto sul Garda in Italy. The repertoire covers sacred and secular music from the baroque period to contemporary works, with a special focus on Slovak folk-song arrangements. The choir has 23 active members and is led by conductors Anezka Balušinská and Daniela Januchová.

Fjellkoret, Norway
Conductor: Jan L. Jacobsen

Fjellkoret is a mixed choir from Øygarden, just outside Bergen on Norway’s west coast. For more than four decades, the choir has been an active cultural contributor in the local community and has developed a reputation for ambitious productions, musical versatility and a warm stage presence. Musical storytelling, artistic collaboration and the joy of singing together are central to its identity. The repertoire ranges from classical choral music and Nordic folk traditions to sacred music, contemporary works and popular musical theatre. In recent years, Fjellkoret has presented large-scale themed concerts and stage productions, including Broadway-inspired programmes and anniversary projects connected to Norwegian culture and emigration history. The choir regularly collaborates with musicians, soloists and cultural institutions in the Bergen region. With singers from different generations and backgrounds, Fjellkoret aims to create meaningful musical experiences that connect people through harmony, energy and genuine singing joy.

Fryd, Norway
Conductor: Jorunn Bakke Nydal

Fryd is a women’s choir from Florø on the west coast of Norway. It was established in August 2007 as part of the Flora Municipal School of Music and Performing Arts and became an independent choir in 2014. As of January 2026, the choir has 37 members aged 25–65 and is affiliated with the Norwegian Choir Association. Its stated aim is to create high-quality choral singing and support musical development in a positive social environment, while contributing an engaging and innovative cultural offering to the local community. The choir works across many genres, including classical, sacred, folk, jazz, ballads and musical theatre. Over the years, Fryd has collaborated with artists such as Berit Opheim, Trio Mediæval and Brass Brothers, and has performed works including Benjamin Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols and Ellen Andrea Wang’s Magnificat. The choir is conducted by Jorunn Bakke Nydal, who has 25 years of experience as a musician and conductor and has led several major productions.

Kammerpikene, Norway
Conductor: Hege Monica Eskedal

Kammerpikene is a women’s chamber choir of 21 singers from Vesterålen in Northern Norway, led by conductor Hege Monica Eskedal. Primarily an a cappella ensemble, the choir focuses on high musical standards and a repertoire rooted in classical and contemporary music, complemented by Norwegian folk songs, smooth jazz and selected pop songs. Commissioned works have played an important role in several of the choir’s projects. In 2017, Kammerpikene created Requiem in Requiem with Cellolyd, combining Henrik Ødegaard’s newly commissioned “Eit nynorsk requiem”, with texts by Jon Fosse, and Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem. In 2022, the choir toured Vesterålen with “E du nord”, a programme of ten Northern Norwegian song treasures specially arranged for the ensemble. Kammerpikene regularly competes nationally and internationally, notably received an award for best dramaturgy and several gold diplomas at the 2018 Bratislava competition, and won the women’s A class at the Norwegian National Competition for Choirs in 2023. Recent projects include Vinterlys with Ensemble Blå and Magnificat with Ellen Andrea Wang at Sortland Jazz Festival in 2025.

Korensemblet Stas, Norway
Conductor: Rannveig Skillingstad

Korensemblet Stas was established in 2018 and is a mixed regional amateur choir from Trøndelag in Norway led by conductor Rannveig Skillingstad. They enjoy tight harmonies and playful tonality, and perform varied repertoire, from folk songs to classical pieces and popular music. Stas is a Norwegian term meaning joy or enjoyment, which they try to live by in their music.

Kören Decibel, Sweden
Conductor: Roger Rådström

Decibel is a mixed choir based in Östersund, Sweden, founded in 1998 and led by conductor Roger Rådström. Rådström is an accomplished arranger and composer whose work for chamber ensembles, orchestras and choirs has helped shape the ensemble’s distinctive sound and ambitious repertoire. The choir consists of experienced amateur singers aged roughly 25–60 and is known for musical versatility, technical precision and expressive performance. Its repertoire ranges from serene, lyrical music to dynamic and powerful arrangements, often featuring five to eight vocal parts and wordless rhythmic elements. In addition to annual Christmas and spring concerts, Decibel regularly performs at corporate events and conferences and has sometimes served as a backing choir for well-known Swedish artists. Originally a 12-member vocal ensemble, the group has grown into an established mixed choir with success in the Swedish Choral Championships and the international Tampereen Sävel competition in Finland.

Mixed Choir of the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga, Latvia
Conductor: Lauris Goss

The Mixed Choir of the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga was founded in 1994, the same year as SSE Riga, and has played an important role in the school’s social and cultural life ever since. The choir continues the rich choral tradition of the Baltic region and brings together current and former students from Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania who share a passion for singing. As a multicultural ensemble, the choir’s repertoire crosses national, historical and stylistic boundaries. Its programmes may include medieval and Renaissance music, sacred repertoire, jazz, popular music and musical traditions from India, Africa, Indigenous Australia and Native America. The choir has toured widely in Europe and takes part in the Latvian Song Festivals, Baltic Student Song Festivals and many other events.

Ole Bull Kammerkor, Norway
Conductor: Halldis Rønning

Ole Bull Chamber Choir is a Bergen-based ensemble with a strong passion for classical choral music. Its repertoire spans a wide range of a cappella works, from the 1500s to the present day, including newly written pieces and world premieres. The choir brings together singers from Bergen and the surrounding areas and is normally led by conductor and artistic director Jon Flydal Blichfeldt. At the festival, the guest conductor is Halldis Rønning. Ole Bull Chamber Choir also aims to make classical choral music accessible beyond traditional rehearsal and concert settings. Since 2023, the choir has developed activities throughout the year that include workshops for children and young people, informal concerts, performances in nursing homes and free admission for students at integration schools. The initiative is supported by the Grieg Foundation. Through these projects, the choir seeks to make choral music a meaningful part of everyday life and to contribute to well-being and community across generations in Bergen and the surrounding region.

Os Vocalis, Norway
Conductor: Ørjan Hartveit

Os Vocalis is a women’s choir in its prime. The choir maintains a high level of activity; they organize their own concerts, travel abroad, and recorded a Christmas album a few years ago. This year’s program features Fauré’s Requiem, a choir café event, and the Edvard Grieg International Choir Festival. The choir places great importance on performing high-quality music and having a fun time together. Conductor Ørjan Hartveit sings professionally with the Edvard Grieg Choir. In addition to being a highly inspiring and knowledgeable conductor, he has also earned the title of “Norway’s most patient man.” We look forward to singing for the audience and fellow singers at the choir festival!

Oslo Domkirkes Ungdomskor, Norway
Conductor: Sindre Hugo Bjerkestrand

Oslo Domkirkes Ungdomskor (ODU) was founded in 1987 by Heidi Granlund and Terje Kvam and is a choir for young singers aged 16–30. The ensemble performs a varied repertoire with a particular emphasis on art music and folk songs, while aiming to provide its singers with a steep and rewarding musical learning curve. In addition to its own concerts, ODU regularly sings at services in Oslo Cathedral and takes part in tours in Norway and abroad. The choir also participates in international festivals and competitions. The ensemble is currently led by conductor Sindre Hugo Bjerkestrand.

Salhuskoret, Norway
Conductor: Jan L. Jacobsen

Salhuskoret was founded in 1987, and for nearly four decades we have been firmly rooted in our local community in Bergen. The choir consists of 25 singers who meet every week to sing, laugh and enjoy the special sense of fellowship that only a choir can offer. We love moving between pop, rock and a cappella, creating concert programmes that range from heartfelt ballads and catchy crowd-pleasers to rich, multi-part harmonies and challenging a cappella pieces. Our goal is always the same: to give our audience a musical experience that warms the heart. We are a choir that thrives on stage, and we greatly enjoy travelling together. Performances throughout the region, choir festivals and trips abroad are an important part of our choir life. In 2027, we are planning a special trip to London to celebrate the choir’s 40th anniversary.

Sandefjord Vokalensemble, Norway
Conductor: Erlend Leinan Lund

Sandefjord Vokalensemble is an ambitious women’s choir from Sandefjord, founded in autumn 2000. The ensemble consists of around 24 experienced and well-trained singers and aims to give audiences powerful musical experiences through focused work and high artistic standards. Its varied repertoire ranges from classical sacred music to contemporary Nordic works, with particular emphasis on choral sound, musicality and communication. Sandefjord Vokalensemble has established itself both nationally and internationally, winning the women’s choir class at the Norwegian National Competition for Choirs in 2021. The choir has also achieved strong results in several international competitions, most recently earning two gold diplomas in Lisbon in 2023. The ensemble is conducted by Erlend Leinan Lund, who trained as a conductor at the Norwegian Academy of Music and has a background as both singer and conductor. He provides clear artistic direction and focused work on sound and expression, always with a touch of humour.

Seim Songkor, Norway
Conductor: Arild Rohde

Seim Songkor is a mixed choir from Seim village north of Bergen. Founded in 1974 by enthusiastic singers who wanted to share their love of music, the choir has grown into a well-known and much-loved part of the regional cultural scene. Today, the ensemble has 26 members and has been conducted by Arild Rohde since 2018. Its repertoire ranges from traditional folk songs to modern popular music, combining a warm and powerful choral sound with the individual expression of its singers. The choir has presented ambitious local productions, including “Cats in Lindås” and “Dampen”, the latter developed with former conductor Leif Egil Vatnøy, and has also participated in competitions abroad. Seim Songkor places strong emphasis on creating performances that engage audiences emotionally while maintaining a distinctive ensemble sound.

Skule Choir, Canada
Conductors: Amanda Yu, Lauren Levorson-Wong, Elaine Wang

Skule™ Choir is a SATB mixed chorus based in the University of Toronto that performs a wide range of music. We hold a major concert every semester and perform at various university events, striving to provide students with a unique community and musical experience! We have travelled to New York to perform in Carnegie Hall and the Lincoln Center, and debuted Ola Gjeilo’s new work, Twilight Mass, both internationally and in Canada. We partner with talented artists from across Turtle Island, and provide musical opportunities to all people in the University of Toronto community!

Stavanger Studentsangforening, Norway
Conductor: Åsta Sirnes

Stavanger Studentsangforening (SSS) is the official choir of the University of Stavanger and the city’s only academic choir. As one of the region’s largest mixed choirs, it brings together singers from the student community and beyond. The ensemble hosts its own concerts throughout the year and regularly performs at public and private events. SSS is an active part of the academic choral tradition and takes part in gatherings such as the Nordic Student Singer Summit and Akademisk kortreff, both of which it has also hosted. The choir has been conducted by Åsta Sirnes since 2009. Under her direction, SSS has received national recognition, including first prize in the mixed choir category at the Norwegian National Competition for Choirs, and has performed at international festivals. Sirnes combines musical precision with an inclusive and expressive approach.

Studentersangforeningen i Bergen, Norway
Conductor: Ole-Andreas Førde                       

Studentersangforeningen i Bergen is a male choir founded in 1935 on the initiative of Bergen Student Society, eleven years before the University of Bergen was established. The choir has retained a strong connection with the university and the city’s student community and serves as an official representative choir of the University of Bergen. It regularly performs at university and Studentersamfunnet events and maintains close contact with the other student choirs in Bergen. The ensemble is part of the Nordic academic choral tradition and has longstanding exchange with university choirs across Norway and the Nordic countries. Studentersangforeningen i Bergen is also an active participant in the local Bergen choral scene. For many years, one annual highlight was the 17 May concert at Bergen City Hall, a tradition that continued for more than five decades before a brief interruption during the pandemic. The choir also undertakes representative assignments for Bergen Municipality, especially during international Hanseatic Days.

Vox, Sweden
Conductor: Josefine Domargård

Vox is a women’s choir based in the Råda congregation just outside Gothenburg. Founded in 2011, the choir has 30–35 singers of different ages and has been conducted by Josefine Domargård since 2018. Domargård is an organist and conductor educated at the Academy of Music and Drama at the University of Gothenburg. The choir sings one- to four-part repertoire, both a cappella and with accompaniment, with classical music as its foundation and jazz, hymns, folk and sometimes world music and gospel. Three pillars for the choir are musical development, social platform and spiritual forum. A defining feature of Vox is its commitment to the idea that every voice matters and is needed. The name Vox means “voice”, and through its concert projects the choir seeks to create dialogue between the past, the present and the future.

Young Voices, Slovakia
Conductor: Zuzana Dirbáková

Young Voices Slovakia is a girls’ choir founded in 2017 from older singers of the Lienka Children’s Choir. Based at the Private Elementary School of Arts “Múza” in Humenné, the ensemble now has 28 singers aged 12–22 and is led by conductor Mgr. art. et Mgr. Zuzana Dirbáková, with Nadežda Spišáková DiS.art. as accompanist. The choir has built an impressive competition record, with gold and silver bands, category victories and Grand Prix appearances at events in Slovakia, Greece, Italy and Spain. Highlights include international success at Music & Sea in Paralia, the Perugia competition and an international competition in Calella, as well as awards at Slovakia’s Mládež spieva and Musica Camerata competitions. In 2025, the choir received a gold plaque in Serbia, two gold medals and special awards in Olomouc, and the City Award from the Mayor of Humenné. Most recently, in May 2026, Young Voices won another gold band and a regional award for programme dramaturgy.