Choirs from Ukraine to the Philippines gather in Jūrmala for competition

From September 18 to 20, the Dzintari concert hall in Jūrmala is hosting the 9th International Baltic Sea Choir Competition. This year eight choirs from seven countries are taking part, representing a range of choral traditions, with participants coming from as far apart as Ukraine and the Philippines.

History of the competition

The Baltic Sea Choir Competition was first held in 2016. Even then, its founder, Jānis Ozols, aimed to create an event in Latvia capable of competing on an international level and, over time, to have it included in the European Grand Prix choir competition system.

Ozols says he has never hidden the fact that Latvia is a major choral nation on a global scale, yet lacked a large, high-quality international choir competition of its own. From the very first year, his ambition was not only to establish an annual competition of high standard in Latvia, but also to eventually make it one of the stages of the European Grand Prix — a goal he says has now been achieved.

This year's edition brings together ensembles from very different geographic and cultural backgrounds, underlining the competition's international scope and its appeal to singers from across the world.