London International A Cappella Choir Competition

There's a chance to hear some fine choirs from around the world in the London International A Cappella Choir Competition which takes place at St Johns Smith Square from 21 - 26 April 2014. The concert was planned as a celebration of St John Tavener's 70th birthday and is now being held in his memory. Hosted by the Tallis Scholars, who give the opening concert, the event enables us to hear the Byrd Ensemble from Seattle (USA), Costanzo Porta from Cremona (Italy), Coro El Leon d Oro from Luanco (Spain), Dysonans Chamber Choir from Poznan (Poland), Voces Musicales from Tallin (Estonia), Vox Lundensis from Lund (Sweden), New Dublin Voices from Dublin (Ireland) along with the Erebus Ensemble from Bristol, Renaissance from Durham, Reverie from London and the Victoria Consort from Oxford. The choirs will be performing one of Tavener's works alongside an eclectic mix of renaissance polyphony and recent pieces (including Jonathan Harvey and Howard Skempton).

The Tallis Scholars open things with their concert on 21 April, performing Gibbons, Parsons, Tallis, Tye, Victoria, Vivanco and Tavener. Then there are the competition rounds 1 to 3 on the evenings of 23, 24 25 April with the final on Saturday 26 April. At the final the judges will be Peter Phillips, James O'Donnell, Emma Kirkby and Mark Williams. There is also the chance to hear the choirs around London at lunchtime, with the Erebus Ensemble at St George's Bloomsbury (22/4), Vox Lundensis at St Bride's Fleet Street (23/4), the Byrd Ensemble at St Mary At Hill, and Costanzo Porta at St George's Bloomsbury (both 24 April), plus El Leon d'Oro will be at St Mary At Hill at 7pm on 24 April. Voces Musicales will be at St Mary At Hill at 6pm on 25 April and Renaissance will be at St. Magnus the Martyr at 6pm on 25 April.

Further information from St Johns Smith Square website.