European seminar for choral composers (14th edition)
The European Seminar is a professional masterclass focused on choral composition and arranging. It is organised by Feniarco under the label of the European Choral Association, in collaboration with Arcova (Regional Choral Association of Aosta Valley), and with the support of the Autonomous Region of Aosta Valley and the Maria Ida Viglino Foundation. The initiative is part of the project “Choral ne(x)twork: training and growth for an active and sustainable choral network”, carried out with the support of the Italian Ministry of Labour and Social Policies.
► Aosta, 19-26 July 2026
→ applications by 15th May 2026
→ application form
The Seminar
- The seminar is addressed to composers and choral conductors who have gained experience in composition or arranging.
- Participants may enrol either as active participants or as auditors. A maximum of 20 active participants will be admitted (10 per workshop).
- The lecturers reserve the right to select participants on the basis of: a CV highlighting relevant qualifications and experience, and two choral compositions to be submitted with the application.
- The week will be structured with both group and individual sessions, amounting to approximately 7 hours per day, starting on Monday.
- Throughout the seminar, active participants will have access to three choirs-in-residence, led by the conductors of the performance and experimentation workshop, whose task will be to rehearse and perform the works in progress.
- A final concert will take place on Saturday 25 July at the Teatro Splendor (Aosta, Via B. Festaz 82), featuring a selection of works created during the seminar, chosen by the lecturers.
- The working languages of the seminar are Italian and English.
- Sessions will be held in Aosta at the Fondazione Maria Ida Viglino (Via S. Giocondo 8) and at the Convitto Regionale Federico Chabod (Via Cretier 2).
- Participants are expected to arrive on the afternoon of Sunday 19 July (no sessions are scheduled on that day, but an opening concert will take place in the evening). Departure is scheduled for the morning of Sunday 26 July.
- Feniarco is an organisation accredited by the Italian Ministry of Education (MIM) as a provider of training for school staff.
Lecturers
This year, two workshops on original choral composition will be offered, led by Nana Forte (Slovenia) and Giuseppe Di Bianco (Italy).Contents and aims
The seminar aims to:
- to produce new choral works for different vocal ensembles;
- to engage with highly experienced lecturers, work with them, and learn techniques and methodologies;
- to explore and develop the expressive potential of the choir as an instrument;
- to research and develop a personal compositional style, also through recent musical languages and new techniques in choral writing;
- to understand the relationship between writing and performance, shaping compositions according to the real capabilities of a good amateur choir;
- to build a network among young composers, fostering exchange and dialogue around their work.
