International choir festival opens today

Twenty-two choirs are taking part in this year's edition of the Malta International Choir Competition and Festival due to kick off today and run until Sunday.

The festival will open with a ceremony at the Opera House Ruins in Valletta at 7 p.m. followed by a parade in the streets of the city.

Choirs, the Versatile Brass Ensemble and Nafra will take part. An inter-religious service will be held at St John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta tomorrow at 7.30 p.m.

On Saturday, choirs accompanied by the national orchestra under the direction of Michael Laus will present a gala concert at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta at 7.30 p.m. The presentation of awards will be held at the same venue on Sunday at 5 p.m. Competing choirs will be in the following categories: The first category is for sacred music, which includes a cappella performances, performances with accompaniment and others.

The second category is open for sacred music for children's choirs and for youths with similar voices. Secular music a cappella is the third category, while the fourth is for choirs performing secular music in which accompaniment is allowed in some of the songs performed.

The fifth category involves choirs that perform folkloristic traditions or specific vocal traditions.

Tickets for the gala concert on Saturday sell at Lm8, Lm6, Lm5 and Lm4 and are available from the booking office of the Mediterranean Conference Centre. A limited number of tickets at a discounted price are available to students and senior citizens on a first-come first-served basis.