NEWS

17/4/2010
First prize in the international series of the V International Leevi Madetoja Male Voice Choir Competition to KYL

The first prize in the international series of the V International Leevi Madetoja Male Voice Choir Competition has been awarded to KYL (Helsinki Academic Male Voice Choir), conducted by Matti Apajalahti. In the national series, the first prize was awarded to Porin Mies-Laulu, conducted by Guido Ausmaa. The competition was held in Espoo Cultural Centre on 17 April.

The winner of the international series, KYL, received 2000 euros. In addition, the choir was awarded with a 500 euros special prize, donated by the Society of Finnish Composers, for the best performance of the living Finnish composer's work. The second prize, 1500 euros, was given to Tehnikaülikooli Akadeemiline Meeskoor (Academic Male Choir of Tallinn University of Technology) from Estonia, conducted by Peeter Perens. In addition, the choir was awarded with a 600 euros special prize, donated by the Finnish Broadcasting company YLE, for the best performance of Leevi Madetoja's work in the international series. The third prize, 1000 euros, was given to Gradski zbor Brodosplit choir from Croatia, conducted by Vlado Sunko. The best conductor prize in the international series, 500 euros, was awarded to Anneli Julén of Hämeenlinnan Mieskuoro (Hämeenlinna Male Voice Choir).

The winner of the national series, Porin Mies-Laulu, received 900 euros. The conductor of the choir, Guido Ausmaa, was awarded with the best conductor prize in the national series, 300 euros. In addition, the choir received a 400 special prize for the best performance of Leevi Madetoja's work in the national series. The second prize in the national series, 600 euros, was given to Etelä-Pohjanmaan Mieslaulajat Jussit (South Ostrobothnian Male Voice Choir Jussit), conducted by Tommi Niskala. In addition, the choir received a 500 euros special prize, donated by the Society of Finnish Composers, for the best performance of the living Fnnish composer's work. The third prize, 400 euros, was awarded to Joensuun Mieslaulajat (Joensuu Male Voice Choir), conducted by Kari Väänänen. The fourth prize, 300 euros, was awarded to Mariehamns-Kvartetten, conducted by Tom Björkman.

The special prize, donated by the Estonian Male Choirs' Association (Eesti Meestelaulu Selts) for the best performance of an Estonian composer's work, was awarded to Rauman Mieslaulajat (Rauma Male Voice Choir).

The jury in the international series was chaired by Professor Matti Hyökki. Other members included Robert Sund (Sweden) and Kari Pappinen from Finland. The jury in the national series included Chairman Juha Kuivanen, Hirvo Surva (Estonia), Rita Varonen and Heikki Liimola.

The Finnish Male Voice Choir Union wants to thank all participating choirs and conductors for the fine performances, and all partners and supporters for helping to organise the event. Welcome again to the next competition in a few years' time!

17/3/2010
There have been minor changes in the composition of the competition juries. The other members of the jury in the international series, chaired by Professor Matti Hyökki, include choral conductors Robert Sund from Sweden and Kari Pappinen. The jury in the national series consists of choral conductors Juha Kuivanen (chairman), Hirvo Surva of Estonia, Rita Varonen and Heikki Liimola.

1/2/2010
Ticket sales to all events on the competition weekend has started for the competing choirs. The choirs can book concert tickets (incl. opening concert and gala concert) as well as tickets for the post-concert party by using the on-line booking form at this website. Also the accompanying competition merchandise (incl. T-shirts, pins and bags) can be book with the same form. All reservations shall be made by 15 February 2010. Ticket sales to events will be opened for the general public at the end of February, after receiving the advance bookings from the competing choirs.l

28/1/2010
The lots to decide the competition order of the participants in the 5. International Leevi Madetoja Male Voice Choir Competition in 2010 have been drawn. The competition will start in the Tapiola Hall of Espoo Cultural Centre on Saturday 17 April at 9 am and conclude at 5 pm.

Competition schedule (pdf)

4/12/2009
Registration to the 5th international Leevi Madetoja Male Voice Choir Competition has closed. We can now proudly inform that there will be 30 male voice choirs competing in Espoo in April 2010: 11 choirs will take part in the international series and 19 in the national series, respectively. Alltogether there are over 1000 men singing in the participating choirs, so the event will once again show the excellent power of the male choir singing. On November 21, the board of the Finnish Male Voice Choir Union has confirmed the qualification of all registrated choirs and still before Christmas all choirs will be contacted. Later in January the choirs will receive a full information package concerning the practical details of the competition.

Welcome to the competition, the warmest Season's Greetings and all the best for the competition year of 2010!

1/10/2009
Final countdown for the registration has started! The participating choirs shall enroll to the competition by 31 October, 2009. By this date the registration form and related practical details (e.g. competition fee, score music and other documents) need to be submitted to the competition organiser. PLEASE NOTE that due to the questions related to the Finnish version of the competition rules regarding especially the duration of the competition performance, the board of the Finnish Male Voice Choir Union has clarified the rules for both series in the following way: "The total duration of the competition performance including moving to/from the stage and possible pauses between the songs may not exceed 15 minutes." If the choir has already registered and submitted the competition programme which exceeds 15 minutes, the choir will be given a possibility to update their programme.

6/8/2009
The office of The Finnish Male Voice Choir Union and the 5th International Leevi Madetoja Male Voice Choir Competition has move to new premises during the summer. The new address, effective on 1 June 2009, is Klaneettitie 6-8, FI-00420 Helsinki. Other contact details such as phone numbers and email addresses remain the same. The new address shall be taken into account when sending the competition documents to the organiser! (Materials can be sent also to the address mentioned in the competition rules.)

4/8/2009
The registration to the competition has continued actively during the spring and summer. Today there are some three months time left to do the registration, so please hurry-up and enroll also your choir to the competition! We have added some more information to these internet pages, including the tentative agenda for the competition weekend and details for the cooperating hotels in order to start practical arrangements. Ticket sales for the choirs participating the event will start in November. Welcome!

15/10/2008
Registration to the competition has started! The easiest way to do the registration is to use the official registration form, which is available on this internet site between 15.10.2008 and 31.10.2009. Please remember that in addition to the information in the registration form, the participating choirs are also liable to submit to the competition organiser e.g. presentation of the choir and the conductor, picture material and sheet music of the competition programme.

Now it is the right time to review your long-term plans up to spring 2010 and set your choir’s target to the V International Leevi Madetoja Male Voice Choir Competition. Welcome to compete and enjoy male voice choir music in Espoo in 2010!

29/9/2008
Official competition flyer is now available also in Finnish and Swedish. The contents of the flyer is equal to the English version and also this flyer can be downloaded from the competition website.

4/8/2008
Official competition flyer has been published and its low resolution internet version can be downloaded from here. Flyer contains all up-to-date key information regarding the competition such as competition rules, tentative schedule and supporting key partners.

4/7/2008
Competition website has been opened with all latest information. Registration to the Fifth International Leevi Madetoja Male Voice Choir Competition will be opened in October 2008 and the registration time will continue until the end of October 2009. Welcome to Espoo and Finland in 2010!

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INTRODUCTION

Welcome to the official website of the V International Leevi Madetoja Male Voice Choir Competition and Choral Weekend!

In April 2010, it is again time to welcome thousands of male voice choir music lovers to Finland and give the stage to the wide range of international male ensembles.

The competition will be held in the beautiful city of Espoo, located inside the metropolitan area of Helsinki and 10 minutes away from the city centre of this Finnish capital. The competition, organised now already for the fifth time, has become one of the most distinguished European competitions for male voices and it will again gather a number of male voice choirs and hundreds of friends of choral music from all around the world. The main organizer of the competition and choral weekend is the Finnish Male Voice Choir Union with the kind support of KuoroEspoo organisation and the City of Espoo.

The main scene of the male voice choir competition and choral weekend will be Espoo Cultural Centre. The competition itself will take place on Saturday the 17th of April in 2010. From this website you can find all latest information concerning the competition and related events. On-line registration will be opened in October 2009.

Welcome to compete and enjoy male voice choir music in Espoo in 2010!

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Espoo Cultural Centre – the heart of the competition. Picture: Archives of the Espoo Cultural Centre

PROGRAMME AND EVENTS

The tentative programme for the V International Leevi Madetoja Male Voice Choir Competition and Choral Weekend has been presented below. Ticket sales to the events will commence in February 2010. Discounted prices apply for children, students and conscipts.

The opening concert for the competition and choral weekend will be given by a 110-year-old notable Finnish male voice choir from Espoo, the Polytech Choir (PK), in Tapiola Church on Friday 16 April 2010. The Polytech Choir is an academic Finnish male choir renowned for its open-minded attitude to music and life. Consisting of singers from Helsinki University of Technology, the choir draws its strength from its members' enjoyment of working together and rising to new challenges. PK refuses to compromise over its musical ambition and high standard of performance. The choir also regularly joins forces with leading symphony orchestras both in Finland and on tour abroad. Juha Kuivanen has been the artistic director of the choir since 2004.

The Fifth International Leevi Madetoja Male Voice Choir Competition will commence at Espoo Cultural Centre on Saturday the 17th of April in 2010 at 9 am. Throughout the day there will be performances of participating choirs all around Tapiola area and in addition, a special church concert of male voice choirs will take place in Tapiola Church starting at 3 pm. Gala concert featuring the most interesting choirs, some surprise programme and including the announcement of the competition results will be held at Espoo Cultural Centre on the same evening. After the gala concert the day will be concluded with a post-concert party.

The competition has two series: international and national. Chairman of the jury for the international series is Professor Matti Hyökki from Sibelius Academy, Finland. While holding the highest office in choral conducting at the Sibelius Academy, Professor Hyökki has for a considerable time had a central position in Finnish choral music. Hyökki is much in demand as a jury member in international choral competitions. Other jury members in international series include choral conductors Robert Sund from Sweden and Kari Pappinen from Finland. Chairman of the jury for the national series is Juha Kuivanen , the conductor of the Polytech Choir. Mr. Kuivanen works today also the chorus master of the Finnish National Opera. Other jury members in national series include choral conductors Hirvo Surva from Estonia, Rita Varonen and Heikki Liimola.

On Sunday the choirs will still convene to a church service at Tapiola Church. The Finnish Male Voice Choir Union and the Tapiola Parish (Tapiolan seurakunta) have commissioned a new work for male voice choir and organ (lyrics based on Psalm 21) by a prominent Finnish composer Kaj-Erik Gustafsson for the competition, and this new work will be premiered. In addition, male voice choirs will sing other repertoire in the mass (participation is voluntary). In the church service Leevi Madetoja and veterans will be honoured by sending wreaths both to Madetoja’s and soldiers’ memorial graves. All events during the weekend and competition programme will be constantly updated to this official website of the competition.

  Polytech Choir from Espoo, Finland.
  Photo: Mikko Reinikainen

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COMPETITION RULES AND PRIZES

Competition rules have been confirmed by the board of the Finnish Male Voice Choir Union on 16 February 2008. Please find the detailed rules below.

Competition rules are available in six different languages (Finnish, Swedish, English, German, French and Japanese) and can be downloaded from the enclosed links.

Competition rules in English (pdf)
Competition rules in Finnish (pdf)
Competition rules in Swedish (pdf)
Competition rules in German (pdf)
Competition rules in French (pdf)
Competition rules in Japanese (pdf)

Competition prizes total EUR 5000 in international series and EUR 2500 in national series. In addition, a special Leevi Madetoja prize will be awarded for the best performance of Leevi Madetoja’s male voice choir work.

Registration to the competition will start in October 2008 and needs to be made no later than 31 October 2009. Registration can be made either with written applications or by using registration form at the competition’s this official website. Registration form will be opened in October 2008.

Competition rules

EVENT SITE
Espoo Cultural Centre (Address: Kaupinkalliontie 10, 02100 City of Espoo, Finland)

DATE
Saturday, 17 April 2010

PARTICIPANTS
The competition has two series: international and national. Finnish choirs may freely choose their series. The competing male voice choir must have a minimum of 20 members. Professional singers are not eligible.

COMPETITION PROGRAMME
International Series
Compulsory work:
Leevi Madetoja: Valkeat kaupungit
(Vita städer, Weisse Städte, op. 8:5)

Furthermore, the choir must perform one song by any living contemporary composer from the choir’s own native country. In addition to above mentioned pieces, the choir performs an optional and freely selected a cappella programme. Total duration of the competition performance including the compulsory works may not exceed 15 minutes. The language of the competition programme is free.

National Series (Finnish choirs only)
Compulsory work:
Leevi Madetoja: Ilta (op. 81:7)

Furthermore, the choir must perform one song by any living Finnish contemporary composer. In addition to above mentioned pieces, the choir performs an optional and freely selected a cappella programme. The total duration of the competition performance including moving to/from the stage and possible pauses between the songs may not exceed 15 minutes. The language of the competition programme is free.

SHEET MUSIC
Competing choirs may use copyrighted sheet music only. The competition organiser reserves the right to check the sheet music legitimacy.

REGISTRATION
Written applications must be sent to the organiser’s following address by 31 October 2009: Suomen Mieskuoroliitto ry, Fredrikinkatu 51-53B, FI-00100 HELSINKI or by email: mieskuoroliitto@sulasol.fi.
Within the registration the choir is liable to provide the organiser with the following information:
Official name of the choir and name of the conductor
Choir’s contact information and contact person
Number of participating singers
Competition programme

In addition, the choir is liable to send the following material to the organiser by the registration deadline:
Presentation of the choir (International series: also in English)
Presentation of the conductor (International series: also in English)
Picture of the choir (high resolution)
Picture of the conductor (high resolution)
Sheet music of the competition programme

PARTICIPATION FEE
Entrance fee EUR 300 must be paid to the Finnish Male Voice Choir Union’s bank account (Nordea Bank Finland Plc, SWIFT/BIC-code: NDEAFIHH,
IBAN FI3612713000083646) within the registration, no later than 31 October 2009. In case the choir cancels its participation after 31 December 2009, participation fee will not be refunded. Each participating choir is fully responsible for own expenses.

PRIZES
Competition prizes total EUR 5000 in international series and EUR 2500 in national series. In addition, a special Leevi Madetoja prize will be awarded for the best performance of Leevi Madetoja’s male voice choir work.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
All participating choirs will receive written feedback from the jury after the competition. The competition organiser has an unlimited right to record, broadcast, televise, film or photograph all competition performances and concerts. Choirs named by the competition jury are liable to give performances without any extra compensation in the gala concert in the evening of 17 April 2010.

Competition rules confirmed on 16 February 2008

The Finnish Male Voice Choir Union
Board

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Professor Matti Hyökki.
Photo: Maarit Kytöharju

Juha Kuivanen. Photo: Aila Teräväinen

LEEVI MADETOJA

Leevi Madetoja (1887-1947) was by nature basically a national romantic composer. He was a natural talent and learnt to compose not only from his teachers, among them himself Jean Sibelius, but also simply by composing, thus managing to acquire the means of writing both choral and orchestral music without any apparent effort. Leevi Madetoja has been regarded as the leading choral composer in Finland, considering both the extent and quality of his output.

Especially Madetoja’s works for male voices have always constituted the backbone for the repertoire of Finnish male voice choirs. In 1987, the 100th anniversary year of the composer, The Finnish Male Choir Union initiated the competition as a celebration for this great Finnish choral composer.

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CITY OF ESPOO

The second largest city in Finland, Espoo, is well known as a centre for high technology, as well as a vital, cultural city. Its archipelago, seaside and wildlife areas offer splendid surroundings for refreshing nature trips. Thus, Espoo is a metropolis surrounded by nature, in close proximity to the Finnish capital city of Helsinki.

Espoo is also renowned for its many fine choirs, such as the world-famous Tapiola Choir and the award-winning EMO Ensemble, as well as excellent Polytech Choir and Dominante ensembles, both originating from the Helsinki University of Technology, located also in Espoo.

Espoo – city of culture and choirs. Photo: Archives of the Espoo Cultural Centre

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Leevi Madetoja – the leading Finnish choral composer. Photo: Collections of the Northern Ostrobothnia museum 

PARTNERS

Event organizer

The Finnish Male Voice Choir Union

Partners

SULASOL

Espoon Musiikkifestivaalit yhdistys ry / KuoroEspoo

City of Espoo

Espoo Cultural Centre

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PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Sheet Music
Sheet music for compulsory works is available via SULASOL (The Finnish Amateur Musician’s Association). Please contact sales@sulasol.fi or visit SULASOL’s website at www.sulasol.fi/en.

Accommodation
The participating choirs will book their own accommodation and will be fully responsible for their all expenses. The competition organiser has booked limited number of quotas to some cooperating hotels, which are presented in the table below. When booking these hotels, please remember to mention the booking code: "Leevi Madetoja -mieskuorokilpailu" i.e. Leevi Madetoja Male Voice Choir Competition in Finnish.

Please use the following booking code: "LEEVI MADETOJA - MIESKUOROKILPAILU"

In order to find out further options, including sightseeing tips, please visit e.g. Espoo Travel website.

CONTACTS

Latest information relating to the competition, including competition programme news and other choral events during the weekend, will be updated to this website.

In all competition-related questions, you can contact also Competition Secretary
Ms Sanna-Mari Hiekka at Finnish Male Voice Choir Union.

International Leevi Madetoja Male Voice Choir
Competition and Choral Weekend 2010
SULASOL / Finnish Male Voice Choir Union
Klaneettitie 6-8
FI-00420 Helsinki, Finland
+358 10 8200 236 (tel), +358 10 8200 222 (fax)
mieskuoroliitto@sulasol.fi
www.mieskuoro.fi/madetoja2010/en

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