The sixth Viet Nam International Choir Competition kicked off in Hoi An city in the central province of Quang Nam on May 15, drawing nearly 1,000 artists from 10 countries and territories.

Choir from Estonia perform at opening ceremony (Source: VNA)

The five-day event is jointly held by Interkultur, the world’s leading organiser of international choir competitions and festivals, and Hoi An city’s People’s Committee.

Twenty-two choirs come from Viet Nam, China, Estonia, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Singapore and the US. The host Viet Nam sends six choirs to the biennial event.

Teams are competing in men’s, women’s and mixed categories for chamber music, hymns and folklore. Children's and teenage competitions are also staged.

The organisers will present bronze, silver and golden diplomas to category winners.

The choir with a golden diploma and the highest score in each category becomes the Category Winner. Special Awards and a Conductor’s Award will also be awarded.

The major competitions will be held at Hoi An Beach Resort on May 16 and 17.

Choir teams will also join a public performance – the international melodies – at the rest-stop site on Bach Dang street, and Kazik Park on Tran Phu street on May 16 and 17.

The best teams will compete in the Grand Prize Awards on May 18.

Participating teams will then join a parade and a farewell gala in the old quarter of Hoi An on the evening of May 18.

The competition is expected to be an opportunity to promote Hoi An as a peaceful rendezvous for choirs, and a cultural exchange experience for Vietnamese and international choirs at the UNESCO-recognised World Heritage site.

In 2017, La Salle Chorale from the Philippines was awarded the top prize.

(Source: VNA)