Tonight the host nation of Latvia selects their participants for Eurovision Choir of the Year 2017, this July in the Latvian Capital.
Six choirs have been invited by the Latvian national broadcaster to compete in the final of “Latvija Dzied!” (Latvia Sings!) tonight, with one choir representing Latvia on home soil this summer in Riga.
All of the choirs competing in the selection are amateur choirs with each performing for a total of six minutes with a piece that reflects the national culture of Latvia. The winner of the selection will be decided by a four member jury and a public televote.
Competing in the final tonight live from Riga are:
- Mixed Youth Choir – Maska
- Male Choir – Tēvzeme
- Mixed Choir – Balta
- Secondary School Girls Choir – Spīgo
- Mixed Senior Choir – Atvasara
- Award winning Choir – Nošu planētas
You can watch the selection live here from 20:25 CET – here.
Eurovision Choir of the Year will be held for the first time on July 22 in Riga, Latvia as part of the European Choir Games. The European Broadcasting Union has partnered with Interkultur to create this latest Eurovision family event, and both hope to see the format develop into a yearly event.
Competing in the contest are:
- Austria (ORF) – Hardchor Linz
- Belgium (RTBF) – Les Pastoreaux
- Denmark (DR) – Academic Choir of Aarhus
- Estonia (ERR) – Estonian TV Girls’ Choir
- Germany (WDR) – Jazzchor Freiburg
- Latvia (LTV) – TBD on April 29
- Slovenia (RTVSLO) – Carmen Manet
- Hungary (MTVA) – Bela Bartok Male Choir
- Wales (S4C) – Côr Merched Sir Gâr
The Choirs competing in the contest will perform once for up to 6 minutes. The performance can include one or several works, of any genre, and “should in part reflect national or regional character in some way”. A jury will be made up of prominent international musicians who will decide the winner of the contest.
