European Award for Choral Composers 2020/2021
The European Award for Choral Composers is the continuation of the “Golden Tuning Fork” Award, organised by AGEC over many years, and was first organised by the European Choral Association – Europa Cantat in 2011/2012.
The aim of the award is to discover unknown or less known choral works from different European countries, already published and/or performed or written for the occasion, that are good and interesting and can be performed by a good average choir, not just by a top-level choir.
Choral compositions can only be nominated by a national or regional federation, member of ECA-EC that can submit up to 3 works in each category, composed by one or different composers within the past five years.
25 compositions by composers from all over Europe have been entered in the competition. An internationally renowned jury, comprised of Josep Vila i Casañas (ES), Karin Rehnqvist (SE), Tadeja Vulc (SI), Ēriks Ešenvalds (LV), and Seán Doherty (IE) selected the following winning pieces and also awarded special mentions.
Winner of category A.
“Amor, io fallo”, for mixed choir, composed by Jan Van der Roost in 2018. It is published with Euprint ed and was submitted to the award by Koor&Stem.
Jan Van der Roost received his musical education at Lemmens Institute, Leuven (now LUCA School of Arts), and the Royal Conservatoire of Ghent. At the Royal Flemish Music Conservatoire of Antwerp, he obtained first prizes for choral conducting and composition. Until 2016, he taught counterpoint, fugue, orchestration and composition at Lemmens Institute.
Jan van der Roost is a sought-after adjudicator, guest lecturer and conductor, his educational and musical activities have taken him to over 50 countries on four continents. His over 150 compositions have been recorded by major labels world-wide and are regularly performed by some of the world’s leading ensembles and orchestras, including St. Petersburg State Orchestra, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo Philharmonic, the King’s Singers, the Polish Radio Choir and most Belgian professional ensembles.
Special mention in category A.
“Sanctus Amor”, for equal voices choir SSAA, composed by Hans Helsen in 2019. It is published with Euprint ed and was submitted to the award by the Flemish Federation of Young Choirs (VFJK).
Winner of category B.
“Autumn Soils”, for mixed choir, composed by Maarten Van Ingelgem in 2019. It is published with Euprint ed and was submitted to the award by the Flemish Federation of Young Choirs (VFJK).
While studying piano and composition at the conservatories of Brussels and Antwerp, Maarten Van Ingelgem(b. 1976) caught the choir bug. In 2001, he started conducting the Ghent-based chamber choir for contemporary music De 2de Adem. So far, he has performed 40 premieres with them. Furthermore, he was one of the bass singers in Aquarius and is regularly invited to conduct or reinforce the bass section of ensembles such as the Brussels Chamber Choir and the Flemish Radio Choir. He shares his passion for creativity in his role as Professor of Composition at LUCA School of Arts, Leuven.
His oeuvre as a composer ranges from solo pieces to string quartets and from chamber opera to piano concerto, and has been awarded several prizes. Amongst others, Maarten has already been laureate of the European Award for Choral Composers twice. He was the composer of the compulsory pieces for the European Music Festival for Young People Neerpelt and the International Choir Contest of Flanders and is artistic director of the 2021 World Choir Games in Flanders.
Special mention in category B.
“How sweet the Moonlight”, for equal voices choir SSA, composed by Vigdis Hansa Elst in 2018. It is published with Euprint ed and was submitted to the award by the Flemish Federation of Young Choirs (VFJK).