The festival is considered one of the most important events in the world presenting and popularising Orthodox church music. The results of its 2024 edition were announced before the gala concert at the Podlaska Opera and Orchestra in Białystok.
This year, eleven choirs performed - and instead of short competition presentations the event allowed for full concerts of the title-challenger choirs from Poland, Armenia, Belarus, Lithuania, Moldova, Ukraine and Hungary. The contestants competed for the prizes in the 'primus inter pares' formula (first among equals).
In the end, the title of Primus Inter Pares was awarded to the State Chamber Choir 'Polifonia' from Siaulai, Lithuania - conducted by Linas Balandis.
The main prize in the professional choir category went to the Armenian State Chamber Choir of Yerevan, conducted by Kristina Voskanyan.
Meanwhile, the first place among amateur choirs was claimed by the Moldovan Choir 'Gloria' of the Chisinau's Stefan Njaga Music Academy, conducted by Valeria Diaconu.
The jury awarded a number of special awards as well, and the full laureates list can be found at the event's social media.
The festival started last Wednesday - and it was inaugurated by the 'choral trio of peace' - jointly performed by the Ukrainian chamber choir 'Sofia' from Kyiv, the 'Concordia' choir of 'Free Belarus' (created by Belarusians who emigrated to Poland) and the Warsaw-based 'Mus Arietes' choir from Poland.
Poland's International Orthodox Church Music Festival is not the only event of the kind in the eastern region of Podlasie - where the country's largest concentrations of Orthodox Christians in Poland are.
In mid-May, the Hajnówka Orthodox Church Music Days were held in Podlasie's Hajnówka. More than 20 choirs participated - from Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Macedonia, Romania and Serbia.
This year's edition was included in the program of celebrations of the hundredth anniversary of granting autocephaly to the Orthodox Church in Poland.
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Source: IAR