Sunday Times 2
The choral extravaganza is on
An event from a previous Asia Pacific Choir Games
The “4th Asia Pacific Choir Games” got underway at Temple Trees last evening ,October 21, and will continue till October 28 bringing together 72 choirs from nine nations in a choral extravaganza, the likes of which Sri Lanka has not seen before. The week-long festival will see three competitions unfold, each of which will have 10 categories for participants to compete under.
Choirs from all over the Asia Pacific region, regardless of their present level of achievement, will have the opportunity to participate in the Open Competition. Choirs with international competitive experience will participate in the Asia Pacific Champions Competition and choirs that have competitive experience in international choral competitions, will compete against each other at the Grand Prix of Nations.
All the daily competitions, friendship concerts, Sacred Concerts (October 23 and 26) and the “Parade of Nations”(October 25) are open to the public free of charge. Competitions will be at the Nelum Pokuna Theatre and the Lionel Wendt Theatre from 9 a.m to 9 p.m.
Two special celebration concerts featuring international choirs will take place on October 22 and 26 at Temple Trees and NelumPokuna respectively. The limited tickets for these shows are available on tickets.lk.
The concert programme is as follows: October 22 (Sunday) Nelum Pokuna Theatre
2 p.m. – Open Competition – Adult Choirs
7.30 p.m. – Open Competition – Folklore Acappella
Nelum Pokuna Open Air Stage
5 p.m. – Friendship Concert and Common Singing with Neil Jenkins (Great Britain)
Temple Trees
7 p.m. – Celebration Concert – “Asian Celebration”
October 23 (Monday) Nelum Pokuna Theatre
10.30 a.m. – Open Competition – Gospel, Spiritual, Music of Spirit & Faith
2.30 p.m. – Asia Pacific Champions Competition – Adult Choirs
7.30 p.m. – Asia Pacific Champions Competition – Folklore Acappella
Lionel Wendt Theatre
10.30 a.m. – Open Competition – Musica Sacra with Accompaniment
3.30 p.m. – Open Competition – Youth Choirs
7 p.m. – Asia Pacific Champions Competition – Musica Sacra with Accompaniment
St. Mary’s Church
3 p.m. – Friendship Concert – “Sacred Concert”
Nelum Pokuna Open Air Stage
5 p.m. – Friendship Concert and Common Singing with Johan Rooze (Netherlands)
October 24 (Tuesday) Nelum Pokuna Theatre
9 a.m. – Asia Pacific Champions Competition – Gospel, Spiritual, Music of Spirit & Faith
11.30 a.m. –Grand Prix of Nations – Adult Choirs
2 p.m. – Grand Prix of Nations – Folklore and Acappella
4 p.m. – Grand Prix of Nations – Gospel, Spiritual, Music of Spirit & Faith
Lionel Wendt Theatre
10 a.m. – Asia Pacific Champions Competition – Youth Choirs
2 .m. – Grand Prix of Nations – Musica Sacra with Accompaniment
4 p.m. – Grand Prix of Nations – Youth Choirs
Nelum Pokuna Open Air Stage
5 p.m. – Friendship Concert and Common Singing with Soundarie David Rodrigo (Sri Lanka)
Temple Trees
7.30 p.m. – Official Events – “Awards Ceremony 1”
Categories: Open Competition/ Asia Pacific Champions Competition/ Grand Prix of Nations – Youth Choirs, Adult Choirs, Musica Sacra with Accompaniment Gospel, Spiritual, Music of Spirit & Faith, Folklore and Acappella
October 25 (Wednesday)
5 p.m. – Official Events – “Parade of Nations” (starting from Nelum Pokuna to end at Nelum Pokuna Open Air stage for “Evening of Celebration”)
October 26 (Thursday) Nelum Pokuna Theatre
10.30 a.m. –Open Competition – Folklore with Accompaniment
3 p.m. – Open Competition – Jazz, Pop, Show
7 p.m. Celebration Concert – “Europe Meets Asia”
Lionel Wendt Theatre
11 a.m. – Open Competition – Children’s Choirs
5 p.m. – Open Competition – Chamber Choirs/ Vocal Ensembles
8 p.m. – Open Competition – Musica Sacra Acappella
St. Mary’s Church
10 a.m. – Friendship Concert – “Sacred Concert”
Nelum Pokuna Open Air Stage
5 pm – Friendship Concert and Common Singing with Susanna Saw (Malaysia)
October 27 (Friday) Nelum Pokuna Theatre
11 a.m. – Asia Pacific Champions Competition – Folklore with Accompaniment
3.30 p.m. – Asia Pacific Champions Competition – Jazz, Pop, Show
7 p.m. – Grand Prix of Nations – Folklore with Accompaniment
9.30 p.m. -Grand Prix of Nations – Jazz, Pop, Show
Lionel Wendt Theatre
9.30 a.m. – Asia Pacific Champions Competition – Chamber Choirs/ Vocal Ensembles
2 p.m. -Asia Pacific Champions Competition – Musica Sacra Acappella
4 p.m. – Asia Pacific Champions Competition – Children’s Choirs
c– Chamber Choirs/ Vocal Ensembles
Nelum Pokuna Open Air Stage
10 a.m. – Friendship Concert
5 p.m. – Friendship Concert and Common Singing with Thomas Caplin (Norway)
October 28 (Saturday) Lionel Wendt Theatre
9.30 a.m. – Grand Prix of Nations – Musica Sacra Acappella
11.30 a.m. – Grand Prix of Nations – Children’s Choirs
Temple Trees
6 p.m. – Closing Concert
7.30 p.m. – Official Events – “Awards Ceremony 2”
Categories: Open Competition/ Asia Pacific Champions Competition/ Grand Prix of Nations – Children’s Choirs, Chamber Choirs/ Vocal Ensembles, Musica Sacra Acappella,Jazz, Pop, Show, Folklore with Accompaniment
For more information check updates on the 4th Asia Pacific Choir Games event page on Faceboo and the website http://www.interkultur.com/events/asia-pacific-choir-games/colombo-2017/