Eric Ericson (Sweden)

Eric Ericson (born 26 October 1918 in Borås), is a Swedish choral conductor and influential choral teacher. He graduated from the Royal College of Music (Kungl. Musikhögskolan) in Stockholm in 1943 and went on to complete his studies abroad, at the Schola Cantorum in Basel, Switzerland, and in Germany, Great Britain, and the United States. Renowned for his innovative teaching methods and the wide-ranging nature of his repertoire, Ericson was the principal conductor of the Orphei Drängar choir at Uppsala University from 1951 until 1991, and choirmaster until 1982 of the Swedish Radio Choir which was established on his initiative in 1951. Also in 1951, he began his teaching career at Musikhögskolan, where he became a legendary and inspirational figure, and he was appointed to the chair of choral conducting there in 1968.

In 1997 Ericson shared the Polar Music Prize with Bruce Springsteen. The citation was for "pioneering achievements as a conductor, teacher, artistic originator and inspirer in Swedish and international choral music". He has also guest conducted many leading vocal groups, such as the Netherlands Chamber Choir, Groupe Vocal de France, BBC Singers, RIAS Kammerchor, Vienna State Opera Choir and many more. On the occasion of his 80th birthday in 1998, the Swedish bank Swedbank endowed an "Eric Ericson Chair in Choral Directing" to Uppsala University. Recordings

Adolf Fredriks Girls Choir (Sweden)

For the past 30 years Adolf Fredrik's Girls Choir has been active as one of the most Internationally recognized children's and youth choirs throughout the world - a musical achievement that is difficult to equal. The girl's choir is a representational choir from Adolf Fredrik's Music Classes in Stockholm, Sweden's oldest specialized school, founded in 1939; a distinguished institution of music well known throughout the world. Each year approximately 10 new choral members are inducted into the girls choir, and each and every year their leader and conductor, Bo Johansson, succeeds in bringing forth musical professionalism and wondrous tones which distinguish Adolf Fredrik's Girls Choir. Adolf Fredrik's Girls Choir has won many first awards in different choir competitions, including the BBC's "Let the peoples sing". The choir has participated in several TV and radio programs, major concert and opera performances, several recordings, major official ceremonies etc. The choir is often invited to participate in International Choir Festivals and has received many top awards for some of the most prestigious choir competitions. In 2001 the choir was selected as a "Choir of the European Federation and Cultural Ambassador" (for the years 2001 - 2004), and in October 2001 the choir got the exclusive Swedish award "Choir of the Year". Recordings

The Danish National Radio Choir (Denmark)

The Danish National Radio Choirwas founded in 1932 with the purpose of performing the wide-ranging repertoire of oratorios, and symphonic works for choir and orchestra. The choir numbers 74 professional singers, 31 of whom are permanently employed forming the chamberchoir. The remaining 43 singers, who form the symphonic choir, are under 5-year contracts. Every season the choir appears regularly within the Thursday Concert Series of the Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra.

In 1937 the smaller full time professional chamberchoir was established in order to develop the art of a cappella singing and to inspire the composers to investigate new possibilities in this field. Throughout the years the DNRC has performed with special acclaim under conductors such as Fritz Busch, Rafael Kubelik, Sergiu Celibidache, Kurt Sanderling, Gustav Kuhn, and the chief conductors of the Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra Herbert Blomstedt 1967-77, Lamberto Gardelli (1984-1988), Leif Segerstam 1989-1995 and, from August 1995, Ulf Schirmer. Since 1989 Stefan Parkman has been Chief Conductor of the DNRC and in 1992 Uwe Gronostay was appointed Principal Guest Conductor.

The DNRC has toured extensively in recent years both in Denmark and abroad, including the USA, Australia, Canada, Finland, Great Britain, the Netherlands, France, Stockholm New Music Festival, Ultima Festival in Oslo, the Alte Oper in Frankfurt. In 1992 the DNRC appeared with the Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra at the Schleswig-Holstein Festival and at the BBC Proms in Royal Albert Hall, London. In June 1996 the choir performed a concert version of Carl Nielsen's opera Maskarade in the Vienna Konzerthaus and in Brussel's Palais des Beaux-Arts together with the DNRSO. In co-operation with the Nederlands Kamerkoor and The Sixteen the DNRC form the Great Choirs of Europe, where, since 1994, an annual concert series with all three choirs has been performed in each of the three capitals Den Haag, London, and Copenhagen. Recordings

Jubilate Choir (Finland)

The Jubilate Choir consists of 40 singers and was founded by its present conductor, Astrid Riska. Since its formation, Jubilate has played an active part in Finnish musical life. Its repertoire includes a range of styles, from Gregorian chant to 20th century works, but with a strong partiality to Finnish music.

The choir has collaborated with a number of Finnish orchestras, including the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra and the Avanti! Chamber Orchestra. Among the choir's collaborators outside Finland have been the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra and the Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra. In connection with those and other engagements the choir has had the privilege of working under Gary Bertini, Bruno Rigutto, Eliahu Inbal, Jean-Pierre Wallez, John Alldis, Gennadi Rozdestvenskij, Jukka-Pekka Saraste and Esa-Pekka Salonen.

Astrid Riska originally trained as a primary school teacher. She then continued her studies at the Sibelius Academy, qualified as a cantor, organist and music teacher, and received a diploma in organ playing in 1963. She continued to study organ playing in Paris and took a special interest in children's choirs and voice training. She has worked as a music teacher in Finnish schools, has taught the organ at the Sibelius Academy and acted as organist for the Church of St. Thomas. For 25 years she sang in the Finnish Radio Chamber Choir and was for a time also its conductor. In 1989, Astrid Riska was awarded the Fazer Music Prize for distinguished service in the realm of musical education. In 1995, she received the main prize of the Swedish Cultural Foundation and in 1997 she was named Choral Conductor of the year. Recordings

Philomela Female Choir (Finland)

The Helsinki-based women's choir Philomela was started in 1984 at the instigation of the Helsinki Chapter of the Finnish Amateur Musicians' Association (SULASOL) and the Culture Board of the City of Helsinki. Philomela has 45 members, half of whom are students and the other half already in working life. Philomela aspires to perform choral music as extensively and ambitiously as possible. The choir aims at mastering both traditional and modern music, sacred masses and light music, singing styles originating from the Finnish national epic, the Kalevala, as well as the works of contemporary composers, many of whom have dedicated works to Philomela. The choir is known for its experimental choreographies and its chameleon-like ability to transform its style and appearance according to each occasion and venue. In spring 1998, the choir appeared in the Helsinki City Theatre production of The Sound of Music. PhilomelaÕs goals were set high at the outset. Due to goal-oriented work, the choir has risen to the top of Finnish choral music, and it has also received acclaim abroad. Philomela has produced numerous radio recordings, and in 1991 it received the Amateur Music Award of the Finnish Broadcasting Corporation (YLE). In the same year, Philomela was nominated Choir of the Year by the Finnish Women's Choir Association.

Philomela's conductor, Marjukka Riihimaki, graduated from th Sibelius Academy of Music in 1974. Presently she is teacher at the Sibelius College in Helsinki and also conducts the Klemetti Institute's Women's Choir and Grex Musicus Mixed Choir and in 1993 she was the winner of the prestigious Klemetti Prize. She is characterized as one of the most prominent choir conductors in Finland today, a pioneer of female choir singing and inspiring instructor at domestic and international choir seminars. Recordings

Tapiola Choir (Finland) This Finnish childrens choir is considered one of the best in the world with an emphasis on both individuality and the singer's ability to blend with the other voices. The basic element is the young singer's own voice, moulded by the vernacular. The ideal sound is that of a stringed instrument: it is warm, light and translucent, the phrasing is musical and the singing gives the impression of being easy and effortless. But the ideal sound of the Choir is not just one closely-defined concept; it is a combination of different choral timbres and is always adapted to the music being performed.

Ever since the 1960s the Choir has been associating with many of Finland's leading composers. The result has been new repertoire of a high standard, free of all the mannerism of "songs for children". This collaboration has not been confined merely to premiering new works but has involved active participation in the process of composition.

Since winning the Silver Rose Bowl, the main prize in the prestigious BBC Let the Peoples Sing Competition in 1971, the Choir has been on almost 60 international concert tours, three of them round the world, taking in Europe, Israel, the United States, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines, Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand. The Choir sings in more than 30 languages, since according to its principle, it always performs foreign songs in the original language. Recordings

Swedish Voices Chamber Choir: Swedish Rhapsody

A generous collection of 26 finely-crafted folk, spiritual and traditional songs, with some light accompaniment, all sung in Swedish, by the acclaimed mixed-voice Swedish Voices Chamber Choir. Some favorites: "Uti ar hage (Out in the Meadows)," "Och jungfrun hon gar I dansen (The Maiden dancing in the Ring)," "Si god afton och god kvall (Evening Greeting Song)," "Tre korvisor (Three Choral Ballads)," ""Lustwins wijsa (Lustwin's Ballad)," "Sommarmarsch fran Osterbotten (Summer March from Osterbotten)," "Brusala," and the soulful "Sverige (Sweden)". There are a few all-instrumental songs here, but largely amazingly beautiful choral music from Sweden's finest! Nicely designed liner notes with info about the music.