From 3 April to 7 April, the 3rd International Choir Competition “Rīga Sings” will take place in Riga, during which the Imants Kokars Choir Award will also be presented.
Latvia is internationally associated as the "land that sings", while Riga in 2025 will once again confirm its status as an ideal venue for international choral singing events. Based on the excellent performance of the World Choir Olympiad in Riga in 2014, the Nations Grand Prix Riga and success of the 3rd European Choir Olympiad in 2017, Riga has become a hub for international choral competitions.
“Riga Sings” – the International Choir Competition and Imants Kokars Choir Award was held for the first time in 2019. This year, the competition will welcome participants from 12 countries – Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Greece, Norway, Poland, Turkey and Latvia – a total of more than 1200 singers who will compete in categories of various choral music genres and levels of difficulty, and whose performances will be judged by an international jury.
This event honours the world-renowned Latvian choir conductor and teacher Imants Kokars, whose contribution to the development of choral singing is well known both in Latvia and around the world.
The competition will be held in 13 different categories for mixed and single voice choirs, folk music, pop and jazz category. Several friendship concerts will also be held during the competition, which will introduce Riga residents to the choral singing traditions of different nations and allow foreign guests to experience Latvian hospitality.
The jury of the 3rd International Choir Competition will include conductors Andris Veismanis (LV), Joy Hill (UK), and Hirvo Surva (EE). The jury of the Imants Kokars Choir Award: Andris Veismanis (LV), Joy Hill (UK), Hirvo Surva (EE), Romāns Vanags (LV), Aira Birziņa (LV).
The special moment of the event will be the final competition between the category winners, who will compete for the "Imantas Kokars Choir Award" – a unique monument to our outstanding choir conductor.
The competition and concerts will take place at the Small Guild, Jāzeps Mediņš Riga 1st Music School, the Palace of Culture “Ziemeļblāzma”, St. Mary Magdalene Church, the concert hall “Ave Sol”, etc.
You can follow the competition news on the social media accounts of "Riga Sings 2025". The opening and closing events of the competition will be broadcast live on TV4.