It is now 42 days left for all composers around the world, before the deadline for entering the Svanholm Singers Composition Award. Meanwhile, we have put up some information in a Frequently Asked Questions section, containing some practical information. Thus, if you have any questions about the competition, check it out!

Svanholm Singers first concert in 2012 was held in the beautiful theatre of Varberg. We were happy to enjoy an exciting concert with enthusiastic audience! It was our second visit in Varberg as guests of Varberg Konsertförening, and just as last time we received a very warm welcome. Hopefully we will be back soon!

We are happy to announce two independent news:

The Svanholm Singers Composition Award is now open for entries, and composers may submit their contributions.

Our CD’s can now be purchased directly online, see our shop! Is any CD missing in your Svanholm Singers discography? Right now, our first album is on sale.

We are very proud and happy to present the Svanholm Singers Composition Award – International competition for male choir a cappella music! With prize money totalling € 9,500, we hope to receive numerous contributions of contemporary compositions for male voices. The winning piece will be premiered at Lund International Choral Festival in October, and published by Gehrmans Musikförlag. The competition is supported by the Crafoord Foundation. Please see the Composition Award section for more information and/or download a short announcement in pdf format (below).

“The purpose of the competition is to stimulate the development for, and draw attention to, the vocal polyphonic art music. We urge the composers to choose lyrics that are relevant to our time, and thus we hope to challenge the traditional view of choral music.”

Sofia Söderberg Eberhard

(Short announcement in English)           (Short announcement in Swedish)

Welcome to a different Christmas concert with Svanholm Singers.

Now that the days have grown darker, and the nights have gone colder, we look back on two days in 2011 which were imprinted in our minds: March 11 and July 22. Two days that, more than others, have left traces. We recall the sorrow, the fear, the powerlessness, and the anger, but also how hope, solidarity, and light indefatigably broke through during the darkest of times. Therefore to us, Christmas this year will hold reflection as well as joy, and we want to share those reflections and that joy with you.

One day a year we should all pretend
that death has put its soul to rest.
No great illusions drawn to an end
and no one shot for a four-dollar quest.

Stig Dagerman (English interpretation Spoke Wintersparv)

Music by Tormis, Takach, Whitacre and others.

Klosterkyrkan, Lund, Saturday December 10, 6 pm

Sankt Johannes kyrka, Malmö, Friday December 16, 7.30 pm

Tickets can be booked at Kulturcentralen in Malmö or at kulturcentralen.nu.

On Saturday the 3rd of September at 16.00 we will hold a concert in Husie Church. We will perform pieces from this summers tour in France.

We hope to see you there!

The 1:st July Svanholm Singers went to Tegnby Church on Orust to participate in the 15:th Chamber Music Festival of Stenungsund. It was such a beautiful summer night! Our program was a mixture of both old sacral music of among other Tomas Tallis: “Missa Sine Nomine”, male choir classics like “Kung Liljekonvalje” of Wikander, and contemporary music like “Inre och Yttre Landskap” composed by Nörgård to the poetry of Tomas Tranströmmer. The concert was a success with a big audience showing up, and when eventuallty all the singers managed to reach Tegneby (a few singers got stuck on the highway) we managed to sing quite well too. The organizers of the concert hosted a beautiful supper after the concert where we had schrimps and other delicacies from the west coast. Thank you Chamber Music Festival for a wonderful experience, we hope that we some day will be back!

The Chamber music festival of Stenungsund, Tjörn, and Orust, is arranged for the 15th time in July. Svanholm Singers are happy to participate with a concert given in Tegneby kyrka, Orust, 1 July at 8 pm. The concert will feature music by Tallis, Tavener, and Gunnar Eriksson among others. Welcome to the West coast of Sweden! See the festival program for more details.