Music: Choir's own selection.

Jersey is a unique Island with a genuine choral tradition and character of its own. A very beautiful and historic Island, its situated just fourteen miles off the coast of France. Jersey offers a wonderful performance venue in which to sing, to compete and to relax.

The biennial International Choir Festival of Jersey was inaugurated in 1999 and has established itself as an intimate, friendly,well-organised event with an emphasis on making life as easy as possible for participating choirs and their directors.

Your choir does not have to compete in the competitions. Choirs can simply enjoy and participate in the concerts, any workshops, the parties and the general festival atmosphere. All the venues for concerts (mostly churches) and for the Competition (Victoria College and The Gloucester Hall in Fort Regent) has very good acoustics and are a joy to perform in.

A jury of up to three international judges with a wealth of experience and knowledge will give verbal and written adjudications of those choirs which compete and, of course, there are cash prizes and trophies to be won.

The Festival Programme

Choirs arrive in Jersey on the Thursday of the Festival and usually depart on the following Sunday. Each choir will be given a 'guide' who will be with them at every organised part of the Festival.

Thursday 9th October
Choirs arrive during the day and immediately have some free time in which to explore St. Helier. If rehearsal time is needed, this can be accommodated in the schedule. Dinner is taken in your hotel and afterwards an opening reception will be held at the St. James Centre in St. Helier. Guides will walk the choirs the short distance to St. James having met them in their hotel foyers at 7.50pm. After a few words of welcome over a drink or two, each choir will be introduced and will sing one song of its own choosing by way of introduction, for which a grand piano is available. Choirs need not dress in official choir uniforms as the evening is very informal. Many of the Festival helpers will be present to answer any last minute questions.

Friday 10th October
Your morning programme can vary according to your wishes:

(i) Concerts in Schools. Choirs perform a short (30/40 minute) concert in a school, which always proves a popular option.

(ii) Workshops. It may be possible for our jury members to host a workshop with either a large group or with just one choir that has requested some special help; a fun way to come together and make music.

(iii) Free Time. Free time or time for rehearsal.

In the evening, enjoy dinner in your hotel and, afterwards, a series of concerts (Parish Concerts) are held throughout the Island where choirs will perform a 30 minute programme. Usually, three choirs perform at each concert.

Saturday 11th October
Voice classes (Ladies/Mens/Mixed/Youth and Chamber) take place in the Great Hall at Victoria College from around 9.30am. The choir is required to give a 12 minute programme of music of its own choice and may be accompanied or unaccompanied. The voice classes usually conclude by 5pm with verbal adjudication at the end of each class. Written adjudication follows in the post in due course.

Non - competing choirs can attend the voice classes or enjoy free time.
The winners and runners-up from each voice class will compete in the evening's 'Choir of Choirs Competition' at Fort Regent. Each choir is required to give a 10 minute programme of music of its own choice and may be accompanied or unaccompanied. When the final competition and prize giving is over, choirs move into the 'Queens Hall' in Fort Regent for the final party which includes a full meal for everyone, dancing to a brass band and a final sing of your favorite 'party' pieces - the songs you love to show off with!

Sunday 12th October
Choirs depart after breakfast.

Land arrangement includes:

• Info not available at this time

Key dates:

• 30 June 2008 - closing date for entry forms
• 31 August 2008 - closing date for submission of repertoire forms