Copenhagen Chamber Choir Camerata has won the 2017 London International A Cappella Choir Competition at St John’s Smith Square (SJSS). The choir’s performance was described as ‘completely masterful, technically measured and yet expressive to the core’ by the jury.
Founded in 1965, the amateur choir is made up of 27 singers and is led by conductor Jakob Hultberg. It has previously won the European Choir Prize (2006), Holboe Competition in Horsens (2008) and Aarhus International Choir Competition (2010).
This year’s competition included a focus on the works of Arvo Pärt, with Pärt present to hand out the prizes at the final on 1 July. The jury was made up of Peter Phillips (chair), Graham Ross, Ghislaine Morgan, Tõnu Kaljuste and Carolyn Sampson.
Commented Phillips: “To see choirs from across the world singing a cappella music of all kinds – meeting and learning from each other – was a dream come true for me. To have Arvo Pärt there to give away the prizes was the icing on the cake.”
In addition to the trophy, the Danish choir also collected GBP3,000 (€3,400) in prize money plus a concert booking at SJSS.