15-22 August 2010

Deadline of applicaton: March 1st, 2010

Pécs, this atmospheric university town in the South of Hungary, is widely known for its particularly high level of choral singing.

The Pécs choirs have probably the richest treasury for a town of 170.000 inhabitants: 300 international prizes from all corners of the world in the past five decades, which shows that remarkable quantity goes with high quality together in Pécs. The names of the Liszt Prize awarded conductors - Aurél Tillai, Attila Kertész, Ferenc Tóth and Tamás Lakner DLA, artistic director of Pécs Cantat - are the guarantee, that the world famous Hungarian choral traditions are in the best hands: to safeguard, to acquaint, to improve, and to share.

The traditionally multicultural town, where Hungarian, Croatian, German words often merge even in the everyday conversation, is also well known for its tolerance, perceptive and sharing attitude. This, together with the sparkling and high level musical activities gave the solid base to host the 10th Europa Cantat Festival in 1988. And this, together with the creative approach of culture in many fields, where choral art has a distinguished position, resulted the nomination: Pécs will be the European Capital of Culture in 2010.

Through the years, the town and its choirs got wide and comprehensive experience in organizing international choral events: competitions, festivals, workshops for conductors, etc.

We strongly believe, that those who choose Pécs Cantat, will meet excellent music, warm hospitality, good friends, fine Mediterranean atmosphere and appreciative audience, when learning more about Pécs, Hungary, culture and Europe.

The mission of Pécs Cantat: to show our values on local, national and international level through music. The authentic presentation of the masterpieces of our great composers through the active participation of professional, semi-professional and non-professional Pécs musicians, to attract choirs and individual singers to Hungary, to Pécs, to learn more about choral music and to enjoy the feeling of being part of the European Capital of Culture.