Competition rules 1st festival category (WITHOUT COMPETITION)- In this category, which is separate from the competitions, choirs present a freely selectable program with a maximum duration of of 16 minutes. The program will be performed in the presence of a member of the International Jury. Afterwards, the juror in question will comment on the performance, also to give the choir in question valuable tips for its future choral work. - At the end of the festival, the choirs receive a certificate with the technical and artistic evaluation of their performance, together with a certificate of participation in the festival. - All choirs can register in this category. There are no restrictions regarding the number of participating choir members. - Choirs registered in this category will not be classified in the festival competition. - Accompaniment by musical instruments is permitted, prior approval by the jury is not necessary. Choirs are requested to state the number of pieces accompanied by instruments and the type of instruments. - Choirs that have registered in this category can of course also take part in all festival events, such as the open-air concerts and the parade. 2. COMPETITION CATEGORIES The choir competition is open to male, female and mixed choirs, children's and youth choirs and vocal ensembles. The competition provides for the following categories, all without a level of difficulty and without a compulsory piece: Category M1             Male choirs from 35 voices Category M2             Male choirs up to 34 voices Category F1               Women's choirs from 35 voices Category F2               Women's choirs up to 34 voices Category X1              Mixed choirs from 35 voices Category X2              Mixed choirs up to 34 voices Category Y                Youth choirs Category C Children's choirsCategory V                Vocal ensembles The choirs register in the respective category according to their choral strength. Registration in a higher category is not permitted. Participation in more than one category is permitted, if the choir line-up (number of singers) and the musical program clearly change. The male and female voices of the mixed choirs can also participate in the same-voiced categories. 3. repertoire The repertoire in all categories A cappella folk songs before, Original compositions are not permitted. The competition program must at least one folk song from the home country of the participating choir and at least one folk song from the European language area be included. All folk songs must be sung in the original language. Accompaniment by musical instruments is only permitted for one piece; prior approval by the jury is not necessary. Choirs are requested to indicate the number of pieces accompanied by instruments and the type of instruments. The Performance duration is at least 12 and maximum 20 minutesThe time of the entire performance, i.e. from the beginning of the first song to the end of the last song, is not to be understood as the pure singing time. A performance in a key other than that of the score is permitted, but must be announced to the jury in advance. 4th jury The decisions of the International Jury are final. Legal recourse is excluded. The jury will deliberate in camera. Choir conductors will be given the opportunity to talk to the judges after the award ceremony. All competition events are open to the public. 5. evaluation criteria a) Technical designb) artistic execution 6. prizes and diplomas Gold, silver and bronze medals are awarded in all categories. Based on the maximum score of 100 points, the medals are awarded according to the following points table:90.00 - 100.00 points:         Gold80.00 - 89.99 points:                        silver70.00 - 79.99 points:                        Bronze Up to 69 points:                                    Certificate of attendance In addition, a one-off cash prize will be awarded to the choir with the highest score in each category. The amount of this prize depends on whether the highest score is in the gold, silver or bronze medal range, as indicated below.Highest score for

Category	Gold	silver	Bronze
Category M1	€500	€250	€125
Category M2	€350	€150	€100
Category F1	€500	€250	€125
Category F2	€350	€150	€100
Category X1	€500	€250	€125
Category X2	€350	€150	€100
Category Y	€350	€150	€100
Category C	€350	€150	€100
Category V	€350	€150	€100

The above amounts are valid if at least three choirs register for the respective category. Prices will be reduced in the event of lower participation. It is also at the discretion of the jury to divide or award multiple prizes. In addition, the jury may award special prizes for outstanding achievements. Please note that the cash prize is a gross amount (minus taxes). Conductor's PrizeFor outstanding artistic achievements by individual conductors, the jury may award prizes of € 250 awarded. Europe, your songs" trophy The "Europe, your songs - International Choir Festival Barcelona" trophy will be awarded to the choir that achieves the highest score in all categories.7 All rights to image and sound recordings and their further use are the exclusive property of the organizer. PRELIMINARY PROGRAM01.10.2026 – THURSDAY- Arrival at the accommodation in Barcelona and surroundings, hotel check-in in the afternoon: Meeting of the choirmasters with the jury in the church of S. Maria del Pi and discussion of the course of the competition with the drawing of lots for the order in which the choirs will perform in their respective categories at the competition - evening: Opening concert of the choir festival "Europe, your songs" in the church of Santa Maria del Pi by the Belcanto Chamber Choir, Germany, conducted by Michael Rinscheid 02.10.2026 – FRIDAY - Morning: Rehearsals for the competition performances in the church of S. M. del Pi (Pl. S. M. del Pi);- Morning: I. Part of the choir competition in the church of S. M. del Pi (Pl. S. M. del Pi);- Afternoon: rehearsals for the competition performances in the church of S. Maria del Pi (Pl. S. Maria del Pi);- Evening: Part II of the choir competition in the church of S. Maria del Pi (Pl. S. Maria del Pi). 03.10.2026 - SATURDAY- In the morning: rehearsals and performances by the choirs in the Festival category (choirs not participating in the competition) - In the morning: announcement of the winners, award ceremony with prize winners' concert, joint performance by all choirs with the "Ode to joy" by Ludwig van Beethoven, movement: Felix Resch: "Fiesta Catalana" and farewell greeting from the President of the Choir Festival. 04.10.2026 - SUNDAY- In the morning: Open-air concerts in the most important squares in Barcelona - End of the festival and departure.Program subject to change for technical or organizational reasons If the required minimum number of participants is not reached by the deadline, the competition will be converted into a choir festival. The registered choirs are then entitled to participate in the choir festival - i.e. in all concerts, parades and other events - or to demand a refund of the registration and participation fees paid. President: Dr. h.c. Hans-Albert Courtial International jury Michael Rinscheid, President Choir and Music Director, Germany, President of the Jury of the International Choir Festival "Europe, Your Songs". Michael Rinscheid works as a choral conductor and lecturer. He is President of the FDC - FACHVERBAND DER CHORLEITER, member of the Music Council of the NRW Choir Association, jury member of national and international choir competitions (Verona, Prague, Budapest, Barcelona, etc.), professor of choral conducting and honorary citizen of Nebraska and its state capital Lincoln (USA). He works with outstanding choirs and ensembles throughout Europe and has himself won first prize at major national and European choral competitions. Concert tours have taken him to the USA, Canada, Russia, Japan, Israel, Jordan, Italy, France, Hungary and other European countries. His successful career was preceded by intensive studies at the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, where he is considered a proven expert in German and international choral romanticism.Kai Tõe Ellermaa Musician and choir director, Estonia. Kai-Tõe Ellermaa is the founder and has been the conductor of Elise Girls' Choir since 1990. She began her choral conducting studies at the Tartu Music School. She completed her higher musical education in 1984 at the Tallinn Conservatory in the class for future choir conductors under the direction of A. Üleoja. She conducted the girls' choir "Nurmenukk", the children's choir "Pöial-Liisi" and the chamber choir "Ave Canto" of the city of Pärnu. She herself sang for many years in the Estonian Choir Conductors' Chamber Choir. She has also taken part in the "Europa Cantat" workshop in Austria, international festivals and seminars in Vana-Vigala and Sauga (Estonia). Felix Resch Musician and choirmaster, Italy. Felix Resch is Professor of "Harmony and Form Theory" at the "C. Monteverdi" Academy of Music in Bolzano (Italy) and works as a composer and choral conductor. He was born in Brixen (Italy) in 1957 and studied choral music and choral conducting at the Music Academy of Bolzano. He has taken part in contemporary music festivals and has won several prizes at national and international competitions in Antwerp, Trieste, Uster, Interlaken, Verona, Szombathely, Riva del Garda, Arezzo, Recklinghausen, Innsbruck, Spittal a.d. Drau, Bolzano, Brunico and Prague. His choral and orchestral collaborations have been broadcast on television (Rai, ORF, SFS), radio and CD.Jury members of previous events of the festival:- Javier Baulies i Bochaca, Catalonia-Spain- Gerd Zellman, Germany- Gerold Engelhart, Germany- Winfried Siegler, Germany- Miroslav Kosler, Czech Republic- Kálmán Strausz, HungaryOrganizer: Courtial International s.r.l.Via Paolo VI, 29 - 00193 RomaTel.: +39 06 68899501Email: dir@courtial-international.itwww.courtial-international.de PatronageAssociazione Internazionale Amici della Fondazione Pro Musica e Sacra links - information about BarcelonaTrain connections: www.renfe.esGemeinde from Barcelona: https://ajuntament.barcelona.cat/en/Surroundings of Barcelona: www.costamaresme.comFlughafen: www.barcelona-airport.comTourismus in Barcelona: www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/it/girona/aeroporto-girona-barcellona.htmlTourism in Barcelona: www.barcelonaturisme.com/https:// https://www.spain.info/de/reiseziel/barcelonaWhat to do in Barcelona: https://www.timeout.com/barcelona