International Choral Competition Ave Verum ∙ Baden

29/07/2025

🎶 Save the Date: ICCAV 2026 in Baden bei Wien – May 8–10, 2026! 🎶

We’re delighted to invite you to the 7th International Choral Competition Ave Verum, a truly unique event held in the beautiful spa town of Baden 🏞️, just outside Vienna 🇦🇹. Only 10 amateur choirs from around the world 🌍 are selected to compete in a single Grand Prix category—whether children’s, youth, female, male or mixed (between 16 and 48 singers) 🎤

✨ Here are some reasons this competition is so special:

🎼 All choirs perform a compulsory song commissioned for ICCAV, plus repertoire spanning before 1945, 1945–2000, and post-2000—all sung a ca****la, with no instrumental accompaniment permitted 🚫🎹

🏆 The esteemed jury awards 1st to 3rd prizes, special interpretation awards, a conductor's promotion prize, a repertoire prize, and an audience prize voted live during the “Long Night of Choral Music” 🌙🎶

🎵 During the Long Night, all choirs gather to sing Mozart’s "Ave verum corpus", the motet after which the competition is named—and first performed in Baden in 1791 🎻🕊️

🎤 The grand finale Grand Prix competition takes place on Sunday, May 10, and features the top 5 choirs from Part A; the overall winner is determined by combined scoring across both parts 🥇🎶

❓Wondering how to join?

🗓️ Non‑binding online registration with audio recordings (mp3) is due by October 31, 2025.
📩 If approved, binding applications—including conductor CV, choir description, and photo—must arrive by December 15, 2025.

🌟 Why you can’t miss ICCAV 2026:

🏛️ Historic setting in Baden bei Wien, a cultural hotspot where Mozart premiered his "Ave verum corpus" in the local St. Stephan church.

🌍 A world-class competition with carefully selected jury members and international maestros at the helm.

📣 Stay tuned for Choir Line‑Ups and Compulsory Pieces coming soon!

📌 Ready to join or volunteer? Visit aveverum.at or email us at [email protected] ✉️

29/07/2025

🎶 Our final jury member introduction for ICCAV 2026! 🎶

Please welcome Jürgen Fassbender! 🇩🇪

A decorated conductor with first prizes from major competitions like BBC’s “Let the Peoples Sing” and Arezzo, Jürgen Fassbender is a pillar in the global choral scene. He served as Artistic Director of the State Youth Choir of Hessen and the renowned HARMONIE Festival. As a juror, workshop leader, and editor of the choral series “Reine Männersache,” he inspires choirs worldwide with his expertise and passion.

29/07/2025

🎶 The ICCAV 2026 jury lineup continues with another leading voice in choral music! 🎶

Say hello to Dr. Bernie Sherlock! 🇮🇪

Dr. Bernie Sherlock is one of Ireland’s most respected choral conductors. She founded New Dublin Voices, leads the Irish Youth Choirs, and has guest conducted across Europe, North America, and Asia. A multi-award-winning conductor and international adjudicator, Bernie also lectures at TU Dublin Conservatoire and recently launched the Dublin Choral Masterclasses in 2024.

29/07/2025

🎶 Let’s welcome another brilliant member of the ICCAV 2026 jury! 🎶

Introducing Marit Tøndel Bodsberg! 🇳🇴

One of Norway’s top choral conductors, Marit teaches conducting at the Norwegian Academy of Music and leads Kilden Vokalensemble in Kristiansand. She also conducts two prestigious academic choirs at the University of Oslo. Marit has earned multiple international awards, including INTERKULTUR’s top ranking for female choirs. Her dynamic presence and dedication make her a sought-after speaker, teacher, and juror across Europe.

29/07/2025

🎶 Let’s meet another outstanding ICCAV 2026 jury member! 🎶

Please welcome Johannes Dewilde! 🇧🇪

Johannes Dewilde is a Belgian choral conductor, educator, and vocal coach with degrees in Choral Conducting, Music Theory, and Performance. He teaches at the Royal Conservatory of Ghent, among others, and leads acclaimed ensembles like Amaranthe, SAEVUS, and the Brussels Young Adults Choir. Johannes has won prestigious conducting awards in Italy and the Netherlands and regularly serves on juries across Europe.

29/07/2025

🎶 Meet our next jury member for ICCAV 2026! 🎶

Welcome Oksana Sukhetska! 🇺🇦

Oksana Sukhetska is a distinguished choral conductor and educator from Ukraine. She is a Senior Lecturer at Pavlo Tychyna Uman State Pedagogical University and the founder of several national and international initiatives for choral development. She has led award-winning youth choirs and served as a jury member in competitions across Europe, including as head of the jury in Spain. Oksana mentors conductors worldwide and is a founding member of the World Choral Conducting Network.

29/07/2025

🎶 As we are already looking forward to the 7th ICCAV competition, we want to introduce 2026's participants! Starting off with our Jury! 🎶

First up is Andrés García! 🇦🇹🇨🇴

Andrés García is the Artistic Director of the Neuer Madrigalchor Vienna, the Vienna University of Economics choir (wu chor wien), the L’Orfeo Viennese Orchestra, and most recently the Youth Choir of the Volksoper Vienna. As Co-Artistic Director and jury member of the Franz-Schubert Choir Competition & Festival, Andrés brings global experience to the ICCAV. He is also a regional choir director in Vienna and works internationally as an orchestral conductor, music arranger, and lecturer in Europe and South America

28/07/2025

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Dear choral friends,

the 7th International Choral Competition Ave Verum 2026 is ready for NON-BINDING registrations.

Only 10 choirs worldwide (children´s, youth, female, male, mixed) will be accepted. All details at: aveverum.at
ICC AV takes place in the World-Heritage-City of Baden, 25km south of Vienna/Austria. Baden is well-known to musicians round the globe because Beethoven composed parts of his 9th symphony there and Mozart his famous Ave Verum Corpus motet.

You are also kindly invited to visit A.V.E. (Ave Verum Euphoria ) , a collection of various Ave Verum arrangements and new compositions: https://aveverum.at/a-v-e-ave-verum-euphoria/

In case you need further information or help please write a short note to: [email protected]

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17/05/2024

LONG NIGHT OF CHORAL MUSIC 🧡🎶

You can now watch the concert in HD and in full length on our YouTube channel:

The Long Night of Choral Music, St. Stephan Baden 🎶International Choral Competition Ave Verum 2024Program:MIXED CHOIR VENT SPILS, Conductor: Aigars Meri (La...

15/05/2024

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We are delighted to present the results of the International Choral Competition Ave Verum:

Grand Prix Ave Verum: The University of Houston Concert Chorale - United States 🇺🇸

1st Prize, Gold Superior rating with 99.1 points: The University of Houston Concert Chorale - United States 🇺🇸

2nd Prize, Gold Superior rating with 97 points: The Choir of The Maritime University of Szczeczin - Poland 🇵🇱

3rd Prize, Gold rating with 95.6 points: Mixed Choir Ventspils - Latvia 🇱🇻

Gold rating with 93.5 points: Helene Stureborg Kammarkör - Sweden 🇸🇪

Gold rating with 93.5 points: Pax et Bonum Kamarkórus - Hungary 🇭🇺

Gold rating with 92.6 points: Cuore Chamber Choir - Ireland 🇮🇪

Silver rating: Hjorthagens Kammarkör - Sweden 🇸🇪

Bronze Rating: Women’s Choir VOCALS - Slovakia 🇸🇰

Prize for the best interpretation of a piece composed before 1945: University of Houston Concert Chorale - United States 🇺🇸

Prize for the best interpretation of a piece composed between 1945 and 2000: University of Houston Concert Chorale - United States 🇺🇸

Prize for the best interpretation of a piece composed after 2000: Choir of the Maritime University of Szczeczin - Poland 🇵🇱

Prize for the best repertory: University of Houston Concert Chorale - United States 🇺🇸

Prize for the best interpretation of the unison compulsory song: Mixed Choir Ventspils - Latvia 🇱🇻

Promotional Prize for the Best Conductor: Boldiszár Kiss from Pax et Bonum Kamarkórus - Hungary 🇭🇺

ICCAV Audience Award: Pax et Bonum Kamarkórus - Hungary 🇭🇺

Congratulations to all the participating choirs. This year's ICCAV marked a choral event like no other with incredible performances, dedication to musical excellence and most of all a universally uniting spirit. Thank you to all the artists who came to Baden and made our event unforgettable! 🧡

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11/05/2024

We are happy to announce the Grand Prix Participants which you can hear tomorrow, May 12th 2024 at 11am in the Congress Center Baden:

1) Mixed Choir Ventspils from Latvia 🇱🇻
2) Pax et Bonum Kamarakórus from Hungary 🇭🇺
3)The University of Houston Concert Chorale from the United States 🇺🇸
4) The Choir of the Maritime University of Szczecin from Poland 🇵🇱
5) The Helene Stureborg’s Kammarkör from Sweden 🇸🇪

We are excited to see you tomorrow! Good luck to everyone! 🧡🎶

11/05/2024

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Tonight is the Night! Be sure to tune into our LIVE Broadcast of the Long Night of Choral Music!

Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0kSGugc79E

And Vote here: https://forms.gle/7VF76dbsTGVAP5ev6

ICCAV LONG NIGHT OF CHORAL MUSIC AUDIENCE AWARD