Part one of the festival · Information & registration
The Competition
Ten selected choirs compete during the festival. Stage time for each competing choir is 25 minutes in the semi-final and 20 minutes in the final, to which five choirs will be selected.
(01) Rules & category
One category
Category: Mixed adult choir, minimum 32 and maximum 45 singers.
Accompaniment: No prominent instruments allowed.
The semi-final programme must include
- One freely chosen work by Hugo Alfvén
- One freely chosen work composed after 2010
- Works of free choice
(02) Assessment
How the choirs are judged
The choirs are judged by an international jury. The jury may award 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes. Each jury member awards points according to a 100-point scale, and the final score is the average of the jury’s points.
If a choir exceeds the time limit by more than 30 seconds, 4 points per extra minute will be deducted from the total score.
Technical skills
Intonation, tempo, dynamics, articulation, sound, homogeneity.
Artistic skills
Interpretation, stylistic understanding, expression, and the choir’s ability to create music within the given framework.
General impression
The performance as a whole.
The judges’ evaluation sheets with comments will be available electronically after the festival. The jury may award special prizes.
(03) The Final
Five choirs, twenty minutes
Five finalists are selected by the jury from the participating choirs in the competition. Stage time in the final is 20 minutes, and finalists perform works of their own choice.
The winner of the final is the choir with the highest score, the average of the jury’s points. The jury’s decision is final and cannot be appealed.
(04) Festival concerts
Friendship concerts
Friendship concerts will be arranged with participating choirs in central Uppsala and the surrounding areas. Concerts take place in churches and concert halls.
(05) Registration
Deadlines and materials
Deadline for registration: 1 September 2027. Send to choralcompetition@alfvensallskapet.se
Together with the application
- Short choir biography
- Photo of the choir
- Recording of the choir, no more than two years old. The audio or video files must contain two different choral works: one composed before 1920 and one after 1990.
By 20 February 2028
- Competition programme and five copies of each score
- Concert programme
(06) Fees
Registration and participation fees
- Registration fee€ 250 per choir, non-refundable
- Participation fee€ 50 per participant, includes entry to all festival events
- Deadline for registration1 September 2027
- Deadline for final payment20 February 2028
The registration fee (€ 250) must be paid after confirmation from the organiser. Remaining participation fees must be paid by 20 February 2028. Net rates are calculated and given in EURO.
- Holder of account
- Alfvénsällskapet
- Account number
- —
- Bank
- —
- IBAN
- —
- Swift / BIC
- —
(07) Practicalities
Cancellation, travel and rules
Cancellation
Cancellations must be submitted in writing. The choir’s registration fee of 250 euros cannot be refunded in case of withdrawal. Before 20 February 2028, 70% of the fees paid for the singers (50 euros per singer) will be refunded. After 20 February 2028, no refund can be expected.
Travel and accommodation
At the expense of participating choirs. Accommodation can be booked online, and transfers to and from the airport can be arranged on request. Festival venues are within walking distance in central Uppsala.
General rules
The Organising Committee accepts no legal responsibility whatsoever regarding any aspect of a choir’s participation in the festival. Participation implies acceptance of all rules and regulations. The festival reserves the right to use radio and TV recordings at its discretion, without any fees to participants.