Competition Rules 1. Festival Category (NOT IN COMPETITION)- In this category, which is separate from the competitions, choirs present a program of their own choosing with a maximum duration of of 16 minutes. The program will be performed in the presence of a member of the international jury. Afterward, the judge in question will comment on the performance, in part to offer the choir valuable tips for their future work. - At the end of the festival, the choirs will receive a report containing a technical and artistic evaluation of their performance, along with a certificate of participation in the festival. - All choirs are eligible to enter this category. There are no restrictions on the number of choir members participating. - Choirs registered in this category will not be ranked as part of the festival competition. - Instrumental accompaniment is permitted; prior approval from the jury is not required. Choirs are asked to specify the number of pieces to be accompanied by instruments, as well as the types of instruments. - Choirs that have registered for this category are, of course, also welcome to participate in all festival events, such as the open-air concerts and the parade. 2. COMPETITION CATEGORIES The choir competition is open to men's, women's, and mixed choirs, as well as children's and youth choirs and vocal ensembles. The competition features the following categories, all of which have no set level of difficulty and no required piece: Category M1             Men's choirs with 35 or more voices Category M2             Men's choirs with up to 34 voices Category F1               Women's choirs with 35 or more voices Category F2               Women's choirs with up to 34 voices Category X1              Mixed choirs of 35 or more voices Category X2              Mixed choirs of up to 34 voices Category Y                Youth choirs Category C Children's ChoirsCategory V                Vocal ensembles Choirs should register in the appropriate category based on the size of their group. Registration in a higher category is not permitted. Participants may enter more than one category, if there is a significant change in the choir’s composition (number of singers) and musical program. The male and female voices of mixed choirs may also compete in the same-voice categories. 3. Repertoire The repertoire includes 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 linguistic area be included. All folk songs must be sung in their original language. Instrumental accompaniment is permitted for only one piece; prior approval from the jury is not required. Choirs are asked to indicate the number of pieces accompanied by instruments as well as the type of instruments used. The Performance duration is at least 12 and at most 20 minutes, whereby this does not refer to the actual singing time, but rather to the duration of the entire performance, i.e., from the beginning of the first song to the end of the last song. Performing in a key different from that specified in the score is permitted, but the jury must be notified in advance. 4. Jury The decisions of the International Jury are final. No legal recourse is available. The jury will deliberate in private. After the awards ceremony, choir directors will have the opportunity to speak with the judges. All competition events are open to the public. 5. Evaluation Criteria a) Technical designb) artistic execution 6. Prizes and Certificates Gold, silver, and bronze medals will be awarded in all categories. Based on a maximum score of 100, medals will be awarded according to the following scoring table: 90.00–100.00 points:         Gold80.00–89.99 points:                        Silver70.00–79.99 points:                        Bronze Up to 69 points:                                    Certificate of Participation In addition, a one-time 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 falls within the gold, silver, or bronze medal range, as indicated below.Highest score in

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 amounts listed above apply if at least three choirs register for the respective category. If attendance is low, prices will be reduced. The jury also has the discretion to split the prize or award it to multiple recipients. In addition, the jury may award special prizes for outstanding achievements. Please note that the cash prize is a gross amount (subject to taxes). Conducting PrizeFor outstanding artistic achievements by individual conductors, the jury may award prizes of € 250 awarded. "Europe, Your Songs" Cup The "Europe, Your Songs – Barcelona International Choral Festival" trophy will be awarded to the choir that achieves the highest score across all categories.7. All rights to image and audio recordings and their subsequent use are reserved exclusively by the organizer. PRELIMINARY PROGRAM01.10.2026 – THURSDAY- Arrival at accommodations in Barcelona and the surrounding area; hotel check-in. - Afternoon: Choir Directors' Meeting with the jury at the Church of S. Maria del Pi, followed by a briefing on the competition schedule and a drawing to determine the order in which the choirs will perform within their respective categories during the competition. – In the evening: Opening Concert of the "Europe, Your Songs" choir festival at the Church of Santa Maria del Pi by the Belcanto Chamber Choir, Germany, Conductor: Michael Rinscheid 02.10.2026 – FRIDAY - Morning: Rehearsals for the competition performances at the Church of S. M. del Pi (Pl. S. M. del Pi);- Morning: Part I of the choir competition at the Church of S. M. del Pi (Pl. S. M. del Pi);- Afternoon: Rehearsals for the competition performances at the Church of S. Maria del Pi (Pl. S. Maria del Pi);- Evening: Part II of the Choir Competition at the Church of Santa Maria del Pi (Piazza Santa Maria del Pi). October 3, 2026 - SATURDAY- In the morning: Choir rehearsals and performances at the Festival category (Choirs not participating in the competition).- Morning: Announcement of the winners, awards ceremony with a concert by the prize winners, joint performance by all choirs with the "Ode to Joy" by Ludwig van Beethoven, arrangement by Felix Resch. – Evening: “Fiesta Catalana” and a farewell message from the president of the choir festival. October 4, 2026 – SUNDAY- In the morning: Open-air concerts at Barcelona's main squares.—End of the festival and departure.The program is subject to change for technical or organizational reasons If the required minimum number of participants has not been reached by the deadline, the competition will be converted into a choir festival. Registered choirs will then be entitled to participate in the choir festival—that is, in all concerts, parades, and other events—or to request a refund of the registration and participation fees they have paid. President: Dr. h.c. Hans-Albert Courtial International Jury Michael Rinscheid, President Choral and Music Director, Germany; President of the Jury at the International Choral Festival “Europe, Your Songs”. Michael Rinscheid works as a choral conductor and lecturer. He is president of the FDC (Professional Association of Choral Conductors), a member of the Music Council of the North Rhine-Westphalia Choral Association, a jury member for national and international choral competitions (Verona, Prague, Budapest, Barcelona, etc.), a professor of choral conducting, and an honorary citizen of Nebraska and its capital, Lincoln (USA). He works with outstanding choirs and ensembles throughout Europe and is himself a first-prize winner of 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 Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz. He is regarded as a recognized expert in German and international Romantic choral music.Kai Tõe Ellermaa Musician and choir director, Estonia. Kai-Tõe Ellermaa is the founder and, since 1990, the choir director of the Elise Girls’ Choir. She began her studies in choral conducting at the Tartu Music School. She completed her advanced musical education in 1984 at the Tallinn Conservatory in the class for aspiring choir directors under the guidance of A. Üleoja. She has directed the girls’ choir “Nurmenukk,” the children’s choir “Pöial-Liisi,” and the chamber choir “Ave Canto” in the city of Pärnu. She herself sang for many years in the chamber choir of Estonian choir directors. She has also participated in the “Europa Cantat” workshop in Austria, international festivals, and seminars in Vana-Vigala and Sauga (Estonia). Felix Resch Musician and choir director, Italy. Felix Resch is a professor of “Harmony and Form” at the “C. Monteverdi” Music Academy in Bolzano (Italy) and works as a composer and choral conductor. He was born in 1957 in Bressanone (Italy) and studied choral music and choral conducting at the Music Academy in Bolzano. He has participated 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 an der Drau, Bolzano, Brunico, and Prague. His collaborations with choirs and orchestras have been broadcast on television (Rai, ORF, SFS), on the radio, and released on CD.Members of the jury from previous editions 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 RomeTel.: +39 06 68899501Email: dir@courtial-international.itwww.courtial-international.de Patronage:International Association of Friends of the Pro Musica e Sacra Foundation Links - Information about BarcelonaTrain connections: www.renfe.esGemeinde From Barcelona: https://ajuntament.barcelona.cat/en/Around 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