IFCM - the founders of the Symposium
"Volunteers connecting our choral world"
The International Federation for Choral Music (IFCM) was founded in 1982 for the purpose of facilitating communication and exchange between choral musicians throughout the world. Through its diverse range of projects and programs since that time, the IFCM is fulfilling its purpose.
In a world that develops more and more sophisticated weapons, that lives with the expansion of terrorism and fear, that disrespects and abuses the environment, choral singing can be one of the most powerful unifying forces between nations. Differences in culture, political and religious ideology, race and language disappear when people sing together. How can people who join together in song in harmony fight one another?
IFCM was established as an appointment of UNESCO and is the official representative of choral music on the International Music Council. The International Music Council recognises that there are perhaps more people in the world participating in choral music than in any other group artistic activity. The IMC also acknowledges that choral musicians need an organization such as IFCM to encourage and facilitate international communication and cooperation. The organisation operates on a non-profit basis.
Through the work of a volunteer team of leading choral professionals, the IFCM:
- Aims to give every citizen of the world the opportunity to access choral music as an Art form.
- Helps preserve choral music and cultural diversity.
- Fosters development in choral music world-wide.
- Acts as a world-wide reference organization and advocate for choral music and its development.
- Strengthens cooperation between national and international organisations and individuals interested in all aspects of choral music.
- Encourages the formation of choral organizations in countries and regions where none exist.
- Develops and promotes international exchange programs for choirs, conductors, composers, and students of choral music.
- Nurtures and encourages composers and other creative artists in the development of new artistic< work.
- Creates, promotes, coordinates, and nurtures choral festivals, seminars, competitions, and meetings organised by its members.
- Facilitates the creation and dissemination of choral repertoire, research, recordings, and other appropriate materials.
The Global Choral Calendar
The Global Choral Calendar is a compilation of international choral events, such as festivals, competitions, seminars and workshops. It is updated on a daily basis and published in the electronic version of the International Choral Bulletin. An online version is hosted on the website of the European Choral Association – Europa Cantat and is accessible to all visitors, whether they are looking for a specific choral event or promoting their own event.
To submit your events, you can also contact
The International Choral Bulletin
Official magazine of the International Federation for Choral Music, the International Choral Bulletin is published quarterly in the four official languages of IFCM: English, French, German and Spanish. It is distributed in more than 80 countries on the five continents and is the official voice of choral music around the world.
Originally a simple information sheet, this publication has become a multi-language journal of research and international information on choral music.
The International Choral Bulletin offers a forum for choral leaders to express the importance of choral music in their respective countries. It contains articles related to choral music activities around the world, music education, repertoire, international choral news and IFCM news, record reviews, interviews with composers and the Global Choral Calendar.
Internationally renowned music publishers and other organizations advertise their newest productions or events in the ICB.
Become a member of IFCM
The International Federation for Choral Music (IFCM) very much values the support and commitment of the membership to bring choral music of the world together. Each member can be an active and vital part of the international choral community and in the process of "Volunteers connecting our Choral World".
Benefits to members include a valued and active participation in the international choral community, an input in the future directions of global choral music, the opportunity to find expertise in choral training and development through contact with leading professional choral musicians and to exchange skills and ideas. It also includes the quarterly edition of the International Choral Bulletin (ICB), access to hundreds of ICB articles from the archives (with their translation in French, German and Spanish), access to the online World Choral Census and membership Database, the monthly IFCMeNEWS and access to the Choral Calendar including thousands of international choral events.
IFCM members are part of the world's largest network of organizations and institutions working in the field of music through IFCM's membership to the International Music Council. Find out more and register to become a member.
