FAQ

Organization

1. Who is the main organiser of Pécs Cantat 2010?
2. Whom can we turn to with our questions?
3. How is Europa Cantat involved?
4. Who is the artistic director of Pécs Cantat 2010?
5. Are there choirs in residence?

Applying

6. What choir-types can apply for Pécs Cantat?
7. I am a conductor, not bringing my choir, but wish to take part as an observer, visiting all the workshops. Is it possible?
8. Can I apply as an individual for any workshops?
9. How do you select the invited choirs?
10. Is it possible to apply on-line?
11. Do we get a confirmation of our application?
12. Do we get the chance to join in the workshop we wish to?
13. Are there age-limits?
14. We are a mixed choir, but this time we take the challenge to split. Is it possible?
15. Our complete choir cannot take part at Pécs Cantat, but there is a group of singers, who wish to join in. Is it possible?
16. Some of us wish to travel with friends or families. Is it possible?

Numbers and figures

17. What are the financial conditions?
18. Should the same sum apply to children’s and youth choirs?
19. What is the price our chorus-fans can join in Pécs Cantat, travelling with us, staying with us and cheering for us…?
20. What does the particiaption fee cover?
21. Is there an advance payment?
22. We do not exactly know who is coming with the choir, so it is difficult to calculate so much in advance. What should we do?
23. What should we do, if after the 31st May a member gets ill and cannot come?
24. What if our choir has to cancel the participation?

General timetable of the festival 15 August (Sunday) to 22 August (Sunday) 2010

25. What is the timetable of the festival for the active participants?
26. Are there any special programmes for the non-singing, co-travelling “fan-club members": the passive participants?

Musical and performance-issues

27. What are the workshop-concert venues?
28. And how about the individual concerts?
29. When are these individual concerts scheduled?
30. Do we have to purchase our music notes in advance, or how will it go?
31. What is Open singing?
32. What are the used languages?

Travel, accommodation, meals

33. Do we need a visa to Hungary?
34. How about insurance?
35. We plan to travel by plane. Can you assist with airport-transfer?
36. Where are the participants accommodated?
37. Do we have to bring with bed sheets?
38. How about meals?
39. Are credit cards accepted in Hungary?
40. What is the summer-weather like in Hungary?

Organization

1. Who is the main organiser of Pécs Cantat 2010?

The main organiser is the Pécs Culture Centre – widely known for its large-scale, international festivals, so professionals take care of the participants as well as manage the events.
Contact address: Pécs Culture Centre, H-7621. Pécs, Színház tér 2.
Phone: +36 72 510 655, Fax: +36 72 510 644

The Pécs Cantat Organization Team:


Tamás Lakner DLA - artistic director

Réka Balog - program coordinator
Email:
Tel: +36-72-510-655
Mobile: +36-30-220-5114

Zsófia Stiller - international participants coordinator
Email:
Tel: +36-72-510-644

Gabriella Kollár - Hungarian participants coordinator
Email:
Tel: +36-72-510-644

Gábor Móczár - music scores order
Email:
Tel: +36·26·525610
Fax: +36·26·525611

Ágnes C. Szalay - international coordinator

2. Whom can we turn to with our questions?

If you haven't registered yet and would like to know if there is still place in one of the workshops, please contact: Réka Balog (Email: , Tel: +36-72-510-655, Mobile: +36-30-220-5114)

If you have already registered and you have questions regarding participation conditions: payment, accommodation, food, individual conert, etc, then please contact: Zsófia Stiller (Email: , Tel: +36-72-510-644)

If you have questions regarding music scores order, then please contact Gábor Móczár (Email: , Tel: +36·26·525610, Fax: +36·26·52561)

If you have any other questions, please contact Réka Balog (Email: , Tel: +36-72-510-655, Mobile: +36-30-220-5114)

3. How is Europa Cantat involved?

The Europa Cantat Central Eastern European Centre in Budapest is the main partner in the organization.

4. Who is the artistic director of Pécs Cantat 2010?

Dr LAKNER Tamás, conductor of the Pannon Volán ZRT Bartók Béla Male choir, senior lecturer of the Janus Pannonius University of Pécs is the artistic director of the festival.

Should you have specified musical questions, feel free to contact with him directly: lakner.tamas@freemail.hu

5. Are there choirs in residence?

Yes. Our co-operative partner choirs:

Pécs Chamber Choir

Youth Mixed Choir of the Pécs Secondary Grammar School of the Reformed Church

Youth Mixed Choir of Testvérvárosok Primary School

“Bartók Béla” Girls’ Choir, Pécs

Pannon Volán “Bartók Béla” Male Choir, Pécs

Applying

6. What choir-types can apply for Pécs Cantat?

Pécs Cantat is open to amateur mixed, female, male, youth or children choirs. Vocal ensembles and “part-choirs” as well as individuals are also welcome to apply.

7. I am a conductor, not bringing my choir, but wish to take part as an observer, visiting all the workshops. Is it possible?

Yes, no problem. Apply on-line as an individual. You’ll have a special badge which allows you to visit the workshops, after consulting with the workshop conductors.

8. Can I apply as an individual for any workshops?

Generally speaking, you are welcome to do so. However, as no special caretaking is for the individual participants, and you should manage your time yourself, according to the detailed information that will be send at due time, we recommend singers above 18 years to apply as an individual participant. No individual participants for the children’s choir workshop.

9. How do you select the invited choirs?

Invitation is made upon sent in application form, what we should receive before the deadline (1 March, 2010).

10. Is it possible to apply on-line?

Yes, you are welcome to apply on-line (in English) as well. Please remember, that the working language of the festival is English. It is wise to find a person in the choir speaking proper English to keep in touch.

11. Do we get a confirmation of our application?

Yes, confirmation e-mail is sent.

12. Do we get the chance to join in the workshop we wish to?

We ask those who apply to mark their 1 and 2 choice as preference. The organizers do their best to fulfil your request – however, when any workshop is clearly “overbooked”, while others still need singers, through direct correspondence we’ll offer other options to the choirs.

13. Are there age-limits?

Yes, there are guidelines – check the “Workshops” –table for details.

14. We are a mixed choir, but this time we take the challenge to split. Is it possible?

    Yes. Mixed choirs can split for the Workshop A and B (mixed choir workshops), and even for Workshop E and F (equal voice workshops for female and male choirs)

15. Our complete choir cannot take part at Pécs Cantat, but there is a group of singers, who wish to join in. Is it possible?

The answer again: yes. If your “part-choir” consists of more than 8 people, please, apply on the Application form for choirs. If less, please apply on the Application form for individuals – in this case everybody has to apply individually.

16. Some of us wish to travel with friends or families. Is it possible?

No problem! However, in this case individual application should be sent for each ‘passive participants’.

Numbers and figures

17. What are the financial conditions?

First check the lists below showing what country-group do you belong to. Then we go on to the details.

Country group 1: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong-Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxemburg, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States of America

Country group 2: China, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Taiwan and some overseas countries

Country group 3: Albania, Armenia, Belarus, Bosna i Hercegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldavia, Rumania, Russia, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine

Then check: is your choir or you as an individual participant

Direct member of Europa Cantat OR

Indirect member – being a member of you national choral organization which IS a member of Europa Cantat OR

Non-member of Europa Cantat

Target groups

All ages, groups and choir-types (children, youth, adult, SSAA, TTBB, SATB - this latter one has a chance to split for SSAA and TTBB)

Diverse workshop characters

Musica sacra as well as secular music, from demanding to easy light, from exclusively Hungarian material to highly international selection.

Open singing: special structure - focusing to the participating choirs' and the audience'a involvement, with the assistance of different instrumental groups for the different 'daily genres' (folk music, jazz combo, brass band, symphony orchestra). Song booklet will be available.

Used languages

  • In correspondence: English, Hungarian

  • In the music material: original of the compositions (Latin, Hungarian, Slovak, English, etc.)

  • In the workshop - working language: Hungarian and English

Facilities

The "heart" of the festival will be the new University Campus.  Accommodation, rehearsals and boarding will take place there. The newly renovated Boszorkány Hostel offers "Student blocks", which includes two double rooms with shared bathroom and broadband connection. Open-air swimming pool in 5 minutes walking distance! Take a virtual tour of the University Campus and check out where Pécs Cantat awaits you!

Concert venues

According to the character of the workshop: Pécs Cathedral, Bartók Hall in the Palatinus Hotel, Open-air stage. For the individual concerts: Pécs and its vicinity (towns, villages).

Co-operative partner choirs

Pécs Chamber Choir, „Bartók Béla" Girls' Choir, Mecsek Mixed Choir, Pannon Volán „Bartók Béla" Male Choir, Komló Pedagogues' Choir, Pécs Children's Choir.

Finances

First check the lists below showing what country-group do you belong to. Then we go on to the details.

Country group 1: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong-Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxemburg, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States of America

Country group 2: China, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Taiwan and some overseas countries

Country group 3: Albania, Armenia, Belarus, Bosna i Hercegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldavia, Rumania, Russia, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine

Then check: is your choir or you as an individual participant

Direct member of Europa Cantat OR

Indirect member – being a member of you national choral organization which IS a member of Europa Cantat OR

Non-member of Europa Cantat

Direct members of EC Indirect members non-members
Country Group 1 200€/person 220€/person 240€/person
Country Group 2 170€ 190€ 210€
Country Group 3 120€ 160€

10%discount for the young singers of "C" and "D" Workshops.

The prices include accomodation and all festival meals!

Please visit the website of Europa Cantat to get information about benefits of being a member of the organization.
Please inform us as soon as possible about your membership in Europa Cantat to give you the exact amount of your participation fee in Pécs Cantat choir festival.

We offer special touristic package for non-singing co-travellers: 350€/person. This fee includes full board, accomodation, concerts and special touristic programs in Pécs and its vicinity.

In order to confirm your registration please process to the payment of the registration fee according to the following procedure:

Please transfer an advance amount of €80/person + €5 of bank transfer costs until April 30, 2010.
The deadline of payment of the rest of participation fee  + €5 of bank transfer costs is May 31, 2010.
It is also possible to transfer the whole participation fee in once, then you have to pay the €5 for bank transfer costs only once.

We inform you, that we consider your participation final after receiving the whole amount of participation fee.

When transferring please mention:
1.your name, or name of the choir
2."advance" or "whole fee" according to the transferred amount
3.Pécs Cantat or the abbreviation "PC"

Please transfer the participation fee to the following bank account:

Bank Account Holder: Pécsi Kulturális Központ
Bank Account: 11731001-15478768
IBAN: HU45 1173 1001 1547 8768 0000 0000
SWIFT (BIC) Code: OTPVHUHB
Name of Bank: OTP Bank

We will establish an invoice after each transfer to the name and address you mentioned in your registration. Please verify your registration confirmation email and inform us as soon as possible if you need your invoice to be addressed on a different name and address!

Applicants can cancel their participation free of charge before 31.05.2010. Cancellation between 01.06. and 30.06.2010: 30€/person handling fee is charged. Cancellation after 01.07.2010: no reimbursement. Sending your on-line application means you have accepted this condition.

18. Should the same sum apply to children’s and youth choirs?

Children’s and youth mixed choirs (Workshop C and D) get 10% discount, for their singers younger than 25 years.

19. What is the price our chorus-fans can join in Pécs Cantat, travelling with us, staying with us and cheering for us…?

The participation fee for non-singing co-travelling “fan club-members” – family, friends, sponsors, etc – is 350€/person, regardless the country-groups.

20. What does the particiaption fee cover?

Accommodation and food from the arrival evening till the end of the festival.

Full board includes breakfast, lunch and dinner – one of the main meals/day is warm.

Travel costs to and from Pécs, and the costs of the music notes are not included.

For non-singing, co-travelling “fan-club members” (we call them passive participants) additional, touristic programmes

21. Is there an advance payment?

Yes. 80€/person is to be paid before the 30 April 2010.

Pro-forma invoice is sent upon request.

Please remember that we need the net-sum, so you have to pay the bank-commissions.

The rest of the fee is to be paid upon arrival in € and in cash, when you also get a detailed receipt on the whole sum. No cheques or credit cards are accepted.

22. We do not exactly know who is coming with the choir, so it is difficult to calculate so much in advance. What should we do?

Please transfer the money according to the most possibly estimated number of travellers. You can modify these numbers by 30 May 2010.

According to this number, should you come with more people than paid in advance, the difference should be paid upon arrival. According to this number, should you come with less people than paid in advance, the reimbursement is made upon arrival, too.

Should you come with less people and announce it between the 1 and 30 June, 30€/person handling fee is charged.

Should you come with less people, or cancel the participation after the 1 July, very much to our regret, but the personal participation fee will not be reimbursed.


23. What should we do, if after the 31st May a member gets ill and cannot come?

In such case – vis major – we obviously reimburse his/her participation to the choir, but upon official medical report (in Latin or in English). However, we suggest you to replace him/her with another singer.

24. What if our choir has to cancel the participation:

See conditions above

General timetable of the festival 15 August (Sunday) to 22 August (Sunday) 2010

25. What is the timetable of the festival for the active participants?

Conductors’ meeting

Dinner

Monday – Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday

Workshop-rehearsal

Lunch

Workshop rehearsal

Dinner

Friday:

Workshop rehearsal

Lunch

Workshop rehearsal (for Workshop A and D: general rehearsal)

Dinner

Saturday:

Workshop rehearsal

Lunch

Dinner

Festival closing ceremony

Sunday:

Departure

26. Are there any special programmes for the non-singing, co-travelling “fan-club members": the passive participants?

Yes, there are. Passive participants – accompanying persons, such as spouses, children, friends, sponsors of the group, etc – have full-day excursions in the wonderful Baranya County. Professional guidance in English is provided. Passive participants are obviously welcome to attend all the concerts and Open Singing.


Musical and performance-issues


27. What are the workshop-concert venues?

The Workshop A and D (mixed choir 1 and children’s choir) will perform in the Pécs Basilica, Friday evening. 20 August is one of our most important national holiday, commemorating our first king, St Stephen.

The Workshop C and E (youth mixed choir and female choir) will perform in the Bartók concert hall of the wonderful art nouveau Palatinus Hotel, Saturday 21 August, in late afternoon.

The workshop B and F (mixed choir 2 and male choir) will have their workshop concert on the Dóm Square, open-air, Saturday, 21 August, in the evening.


28. And how about the individual concerts?

Each choir will have a chance to give an individual concert in Pécs or its vicinity.

When applying, remember to indicate the venue-type (secular or sacred, in church) and the length (full or shared) of your individual concert. This influences where and when you’ll have your individual concert.

Remember: if you choose a church venue, exclusively Musica Sacra is allowed.


29. When are these individual concerts scheduled?

Individual concerts are scheduled for the evenings of Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Choirs taking part in Workshop A and D, will have their individual concerts Saturday, 21 August, in the morning, the day after their workshop concert.

30. Do we have to purchase our music notes in advance, or how will it go?

Please, remember, that the costs of the music is NOT included in the participation fee!

31. What is Open singing?

It has a special structure – focusing to the participating choirs’ AND the audience’s involvement, with the assistance of different instrumental groups for the different ‘daily genres” (folk music, jazz combo, brass band, symphony orchestra). Song booklet will be available.

32. What are the used languages?

In general: the official language of Pécs Cantat is English and Hungarian.

In correspondence: English, French, Hungarian

In the workshop: working language is English, most often translated from Hungarian.

Travel, accommodation, meals

33. Do we need a visa to Hungary?

From the 1 May 2004 Hungary is the member of the European Union, so no visa is needed from EU-countries. If you come from other countries, it is wise to check this with the Hungarian Embassy of your homeland. Should you need a visa, please allow us enough time to arrange all the necessary papers from our side as well (name-list, passport-numbers etc…)

34. How about insurance?

You have to arrange insurance for the travellers yourselves. Should you travel with a rented bus, please make sure, that the bus company you choose provides all the necessary, full-scale insurances for the driver(s) as well as for the bus, and is able to handle the situation if the bus happens to break down and needs repair.

35. We plan to travel by plane. Can you assist with airport-transfer?

Yes. Our local bus company is happy to pick you up at the airport and drive you back to Budapest-Ferihegy Airport after the festival at a reasonable cost. Those who have no buses, the transportation for the individual concerts is arranged by the festival.

36. Where are the participants accommodated?

The workshops are in the Campus as well, and the meals are served in the big dining hall of the Campus. So the “dead-time” of walking from one place to the other is minimal.

37. Do we have to bring with bed sheets?

No. Bed sheets are provided. However, remember to bring along soap, shampoo, hair dryer and towels.

38. How about meals?

The meals – from the dinner on Sunday up to the breakfast of the next Sunday – are served in the University Campus, where you are accommodated. One warm main meal/day is guaranteed. Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages should be paid by yourselves. Water from the tap is fine to drink. The choir will be asked to provide the number of vegetarians and also the food restrictions together with the rooming list, by the 15 June.

39. Are credit cards accepted in Hungary?

Major credit cards are accepted, however please remember, that in most of the shops cash (Hungarian Forint) is accepted. ATM-s are at your disposal in town.

40. What is the summer-weather like in Hungary?

Usually it is quite warm (24-30°C), but remember to bring along raincoat or umbrella as well as a warmer pull-over, as one never can tell, what weather brings the summer of 2010… However, before leaving for Pécs, check the weather-forecast sites.

Should you have further questions, do not hesitate to contact us by e-mail:

balog.reka@pecsikult.hu