Choral Postcards

Choral Postcards, developed by Chamber Choir Ireland, is an opportunity for young composers to learn about choral composition from top professionals and to hear their music performed by singers from a professional choir. During the project, participants compose “choral postcards” - short choral pieces for a four-part mixed choir that fit on a postcard - and Helsinki Chamber Choir creates video recordings of the pieces.

Over the course of the autumn of 2024 and January 2025, participants take part in group meetings and receive personal coaching and feedback from composition teacher Matthew Whittall, conductor Elisa Huovinen, and the singers of the choir. During the course, participants also learn how to use music writing software, as well as how to find appropriate texts to use for a composition from different sources. The teaching takes place both online and in person in Helsinki, and at the end of the course all compositions are recorded by the Helsinki Chamber Choir. Participating is free of charge. 

The course is directed at young people from all over Finland born in the years 2006-2009 who are interested in writing choral music. The ability to read music is required, but previous experience in composition is not necessary. The application period is until 17th May 2024, and you can apply through the link provided. The teaching languages are Finnish and English. If you have any questions, please contact [email protected].

Application form: application period has ended

Schedule:

19.10.2024 Group Zoom meeting
October-December Private composition tutoring sessions with the composition teacher over Zoom
11.1. 2025 Group workshop day in Helsinki with the tutors and other participants
25.1.2025 Group recording day in Helsinki

The course also requires independent work.

Choral Postcards is an educational programme developed by Chamber Choir Ireland.
 

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Elisa Huovinen graduated with top marks both from Sibelius-Academy (MMus) and Metropolia University of Applied Sciences. She has won prizes both in Finland and abroad (including Choral Conductor of the Year 2024, II Prize in the Fosco Corti choral conducting competition in Turin in 2021, I prize in the Gheorghe Dima choral conducting competition in Cluj-Napoca in 2018, and I prize in the Finnish choral conducting competition in 2018). Currently Huovinen is the artistic director of Somnium Ensemble, the Finnish Youth Choir, Men’s Chorus Valkia and Akademiska Sångföreningen. She also teaches at the Sibelius-Academy.

Matthew Whittall: https://www.mwhittall.com/