Dear friends!

Petrozavodsk - the capital of the Republic of Karelia - has always been famous for its choir traditions. There are many amateur and professional male, female and mixed choirs, choirs of the comprehensive schools and different musical institutions in our city. Some of them were founded many years ago, each of them has its own sound, mood and the cast.

The basis for such choir variety in Karelia was laid by Georgy Teratsuyants. The young apprentice of the great Russian conductor Georgy Sandler came to Petrozavodsk from Saint Petersburg in order to organise a new choir, the choir of Petrozavodsk State University, that later became one of the best amateur student choirs in the Soviet Union and in the Russian Federation. Georgy Teratsuyants worked with the choir over 45 years and he also lectured at the local musical college, conservatoire and at the university. During his life he has made an invaluable contribution to the choir music in the Republic of Karelia.

In the memory of our Teacher the Ist Grand Festival of Choral Music in honour of Georgy Teratsuyants will take place from the 13th till the 16th of October in Petrozavodsk.

We invite amateur student choirs both Russian and European to take part in the festival.

The main purposes of the festival are exchange of cultural and educational experience between the choirs, establishing and strengthening of relations between them, as well as meeting new talents and acquaintance to modern European trends.

The festival will be organized by Petrozavodsk State University with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Karelia and the Administration of the city of Petrozavodsk.

The best concert halls will throw open their door to the choirs taking part in the festival.