Continuing the more than century-long traditions of choral singing and choral conducting in the Baltic States, the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music (JVLMA) is pleased to announce the 7th Jāzeps Vītols International Choral Conductors Competition, to be held in Riga from 23–27 November 2026.
Applications must be submitted by 9 September 2026.
Competition regulations, repertoire, application requirements, and further information are available at vitolakonkurss.lv/ccc.
Applications are now open to choral conductors from around the world aged up to 30. Across three competition rounds, participants will compete for the title of Best Young Choral Conductor. Contestants will have the unique opportunity to work with five distinguished Latvian choirs: the Latvian Radio Choir, the State Choir LATVIJA, the Riga Chamber Choir AVE SOL, the Mixed Choir of the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, and the Riga Cathedral Girls’ Choir TIARA. The competition will take place at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music and in the Great Hall of the University of Latvia. Contestants will be evaluated by an international jury comprising five renowned experts.
The competition repertoire places particular emphasis on the choral music of Jāzeps Vītols, whose works will be performed as compulsory pieces in all three rounds. The programme also features choral works by leading contemporary Latvian composers, including Pēteris Vasks, Ēriks Ešenvalds, Rihards Dubra, Vilnis Šmīdbergs, Andris Dzenītis, and Jēkabs Jančevskis. Alongside Latvian music, contestants will perform motets by Josef Rheinberger, as well as works by Orlando di Lasso, Claudio Monteverdi, Carlo Gesualdo, Jacob Handl (Gallus), Heinrich Schütz, and William Byrd.
The competition aims to provide young conductors with an opportunity to demonstrate their artistic excellence in an international competitive environment, foster collaboration among choral conductors and conducting teachers from different countries, and promote Latvian choral culture and the Song and Dance Celebration tradition internationally. It also seeks to strengthen the continuity of the European choral conducting tradition and enhance the prestige of the conducting profession.
The Latvian school of choral conducting has earned widespread international recognition, and the competition further strengthens its global reputation while demonstrating the continuity and vitality of Latvia’s conducting tradition. The education of highly qualified conductors is essential to ensuring the sustainability of the Latvian Song and Dance Celebration tradition and promoting Latvia’s cultural identity worldwide. Since the establishment of the JVLMA Choral Conducting Department in 1944, more than 700 choral conductors have graduated from the Academy and its predecessor institution. Together with internationally acclaimed ensembles such as the Latvian Radio Choir, the State Choir LATVIJA, the Riga Chamber Choir AVE SOL, and many of Latvia’s leading amateur choirs, these graduates have helped establish Latvia as one of the world’s leading centres of choral excellence.
The competition is organised by the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music in cooperation with the Latvian Conductors’ Association.
Follow the Competition on Facebook!
Contact Information:
- Artistic Director: Aira Birziņa, Professor, Choral Conducting Department, Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, e-mail aira.birzina(abols)jvlma.lv
- Project Manager: Agita Rimšēviča, e-mail: ccc(abols)jvlma.lv
- Public Relations Coordinator: Madara Boka, e-mail: ccc(abols)jvlma.lv