Founding Members

Our founding members are some of the most well known Masters that are recognized for their artistic merits and for their highest international achievements.

Founding Members

All of them awesome at what they do!

Wolfgang Ziegler (Austria)

Composing choral music , international choral workshops with choirs from all over the world, organizing and judicating international choral competitions and festivals keep me curious and active every day. I totally agree with the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche : life without music is an error.

Thomas Caplin (Norway)

Professor Thomas Caplin is a Swedish/Norwegian conductor, choral pedagogue, composer and clinician, specializing within the psychological/pedagogical aspects of choral leadership, coupled with the traditional perspectives of choral conducting.

Ricardo Barrera (Argentina)

In the last forty years his work has been focused on children’s and youth school choirs and orchestras. At the same time, his other passion was opera in which he served as choir, orchestra and concert conductor for more than thirty years.

David Crescenzi (Italy)

1999/2001 Master for Choir at “Carlo Felice” Theater of Genoa; 2004/2006 Master for Choir at “San Carlo” Theater of Naples; 2006/2012 Chorus Master Arena Sferisterio Macerata; 2014/2020 Musical Director at Cairo Opera House; 2016/2021 Principal Guest Conductor at Deutches Oper am Rehin Dusseldorf / Duisburg; From 2017 Musical Director at Romanian National Theater of Cluj-Napoca.

Ambrož Čopi (Slovenia)

Ambrož Čopi is a composer, conductor, teacher, music motivator and organizer. He became the mentor of Slovenia’s youngest generation of composers and for his exceptional achievements in music, he has received highest national and international awards.

Fabrizio Barchi (Italy)

He made his debut at the age of 21 as a choir conductor. He has set up and conducted various ensembles with which he has obtained national and international awards and gained worldwide recognitions. Professor of choir conducting at the Conservatory he is frequently called as jury member of the most famous choral competitions. He holds courses particularly focused on youth choral repertoire and on Renaissance and Contemporary music.

Sofia Ågren (Sweden)

Sofia is a passionate and driven conductor with her heart in 20th century music and renaissance

masterpieces. With a profound interest in the possibilities of choir as an instrument, she continuously performs and commissions new choral music from contemporary composers.

Josè Sciutto (Argentina)

Josè Sciutto is an orchestra conductor with a large concert activity to his credit in major European, Latin American and American concert halls, in symphonic-choral productions and Latin American contemporary music.

Susanna Saw (Malaysia)

Director of the Young Choral Academy, Kuala Lumpur
Director of Choral Activities at University of Malaysia
Vice-President of International Kodály Society

Amy Bebbington (U.K.)

Amy is a passionate advocate for choral singing and choral conductor training. She is sought-after for her dynamic and engaging teaching style, and her wealth of choral pedagogical experience.

Tracy Wong (Malaysia & Canada)

Tracy Wong hails from Malaysia and is a choral conductor, music educator, vocalist, pianist, and composer. As an active clinician and educator, Tracy has conducted workshops for choirs in North America, Malaysia, Brunei, France, and Portugal.

Toh Ban Sheng (Singapore)

Toh Ban Sheng was born in Kuala Lumpur and has become a prominent choral conductor in Singapore.

Rohan De Lanerolle (Sri Lanka)

Rohan is a celebrated juror from Sri Lanka who has sat in many international choir competitions around the globe and is also the only Sri Lankan who is the Artistic Director of two international choirs in India and Indonesia.

Klaus Levermann (Germany)

Choral music? For Klaus Levermann this is family and passion!
Klaus Levermann is the third generation to devote himself to choral music and has already experienced choir rehearsals, singing festivals, formative concerts and impressive festivals at home and abroad as a child. At the age of 19, he began active “official” work as a choir director in his home town of Menden (Sauerland), which he still does today.

Kurt Bikkembergs (Belgio)

Kurt Bikkembergs is one of the most prolific and wellknown Belgium composer and conductor of the Flemish Opera, Capella di Voce of Louvain and guest conductor of the Flemish Radio Choir.

Michele Josia (Italy)

As one of the young emerging composers, Michele Josia’s work encompasses film soundtracks, choral and orchestral works, and far more than merely a composer, he is also a well known choir conductor.

Luciano Fiore (Italy)

Graduated in Composition, Conducting, Piano and Chamber Music.
He is Artistic Director of the U. GIORDANO dauno Choir of Foggia, of the UNIFG Choir of the University of Foggia and of various school choirs in the area.

Tatyana Zhdanova (Russia)

Honored Artist of Russia, laureate of awards of the President of the Russian Federation, the Government of the Russian Federation, the Moscow Mayor’s Office in the field of education and culture.

Davide Gualtieri (Italy)

Is an internationally renowned and eclectic musician (composer, organist, director, actor and performer, vocalist, choir and orchestra conductor),
he was Professor for Choir in Milan at the “Conservatorio G. Verdi” where he also held Improvisation Courses and Workshops for Higher Courses

Stojan Kuret
(Italy / Slovenia)

Stojan Kuret is a worldwide wellknown conductor, lecturer and juror, recipient of prestigeous awards such as the Guidoneum award for the successful and creative work with Vokalna akademija Ljubljana and the Prešeren foundation award, the highest slovenian recognition in culture.

Naomi Faran (Israel)

Mrs. Faran is the founder of the Moran Choirs and its conductor since 1986 and lecturer in advanced master classes worldwide.

Michael Murphy (U.S.A.)

As a vigorous champion of choral music for all, Michael has enjoyed teaching all ages and levels and several auditioned and non-auditioned collegiate, community, school, and church choirs. His interests include training and developing the holistic conductor, rehearsal techniques, new choral compositions, and investing and creating connections in our global community through music.

Brady Allred (U.S.A.)

Artistic Director and Conductor of the Salt Lake Choral Artists in Salt Lake City, Utah, Dr. Brady R. Allred has developed “an international reputation for excellence.”

Gary Graden (Sweden)

Conductor, singer, and teacher. Studied in the USA and Sweden. Director of Music in S:t Jacobs Church and the Stockholm Cathedral. Conductor S:t Jacobs Chamber Choir.

Dion Ritten (Netherlands)

Award winning choir conductor, founder and artistic director of the biennial CantaRode international festival and contest, active member of the International Federation for Choral Music (IFCM), the American Choral Directors Organization (ACDA) and the federation of European Choirs, Europa Cantat.

Yiyin Joy Tai (Taiwan)

Conductor and artistic director of the Rongxing Choir, professor at the National Taichung University of Education and the Taiwan Theological Seminary, conductor of the Taipei Contemporary Choir.

Chau Anh, Dang (Vietnam)

Music educator, Conductor Head of Conducting Section at Vietnam National Academy of Music. Artistic director, Vietnam International Choir Competition. Well known in Vietnam as MC, Honour Guest, Juror of Music TV programs and competitions.

Kinga Litowska (Poland)

Kinga Litowska is a co-founder and conductor of Astrolabium Choir with which she has won a number of awards and recognitions at choral competitions both in Poland and abroad.

T.J. Harper (U.S.A. / South Korea)

Dr. T. J. Harper is Associate Professor of Music, Director of Choral Activities, and Chair of the Music Department at Loyola Marymount University.

Masashi Kishimoto (Japan / Malaysia)

Founder of UiTM Chamber Choir (UCC), Malaysia. Professor / Director of choral activities of University Technology MARA faculty of music, Malaysia. Takarazuka International choral competition, Japan board member.

Bernie Sherlock (Ireland)

Bernie Sherlock is a leading choral conductor. She is the founder-conductor of the international award-winning chamber choir New Dublin Voices, Artistic Director of the Irish Youth Choir, and second conductor of EuroChoir 2021.

Kelvin Lo
(Hong Kong – China)

Kelvin Lo is a children’s choir conductor and music educator. He is the Secretary General of World Youth and Children Choral Artists’ Association, the Vice President of Hong Kong Treble Choirs’ Association, Deputy Director of Hong Kong Treble Choir, the Advisor and Chorus Master of True Colors Symphony, and the Deputy Principal of St Stephen’s College Preparatory School in Hong Kong.

Michael Barrett (South Africa)

Conductor, Composer/Arranger and Music Educator. Lecturer and conductor of the University of Pretoria (Tuks) Camerata in South Africa. Director and part owner of South Africa’s largest community choir, the Capital Singers.

Jane Lau (Hong Kong – China)

Jane Lau is a choir is a wellknown choir conductor. On top of her success in conducting the Marymount choir, Jane was awarded the Outstanding Arts Teacher Award 2013 by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council for her outstanding achievements in promoting music education and her continued support in Marymount’s music activities.

Kristine Sheroyan (Armenia)

Guest conductor, lecturer, Co-founder of ACCA, Host and director of the International and Pan-Armenian choral projects, adjudicator in the International choral competitions and festivals, lecturer at the Yerevan State Conservatory after Komitas.

Milan Kolena (Slovakia)

Vice- President, World Youth and Children Choral artists Association, Hong Kong´. Conductor, Mixed Choir Apollo and Schola Gregoriana Bratislavensis. Associate Professor of choral conducting and Gregorian Chant at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava. Artistic director of Bratislava Music Festivals.

Yu-Chung Johnny Ku (Taiwan)

Dr. Ku is an active conductor and choral expert. He has given masterclasses and lectures internationally, and has conducted choirs and orchestras in more than 20 countries around the world.

Māra Marnauza (Latvia)

Māra Marnauza is professor, PhD at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Music Academy. She is a chief conductor at the Latvian Song Festival, artistic director and conductor of the winners of international choir competitions – the choir Balta and the Chamber Choir Fortius.

Aida Swenson (Indonesia)

Founder and conductor of the Indonesian Children- Youth Choir – Cordana.
Studied in the U.S. Chair the National Foundation of Choral Development in Indonesia.
Juror and Choral clinician .

Mat Wright (U.K.)

Mat is the Artistic Director and founder of Barnsley Youth Choir, a community choir based in the north of England. He has worked in a number of roles in education in his career. As a member of the international jury, Mat has worked in some of the most important competitions in the world including the World Choir Games in Sochi (2016) and Pretoria (2018).

Anthony Villanueva (Philippines)

Anthony Go Villanueva, a choral conductor, pianist, singer and arranger is acknowledged as one of the Philippines’most esteemed choral conductors of his generation as his musical dynamism enabled him to reach a level of success & distinction rarely found at his very young age. He was also a “Dangal ng Malabon” recipient at the recently concluded 38th Gintong Parangal ng Malabon in October 2019. The award was vested to Anthony by the Municipality of Malabon to acknowledge his excellence in the field of music as a way to recognize citizens of Malabon that excel in their field of expertise.

Oksana Sukhetska (Ukraine)

Oksana Sukhetska – founder, choirmaster, artistic director and conductor of the mixed «Molodizhnyi Kamernyi Khor (Youth Chamber Choir)», choirmaster, artistic director and conductor of the student women’s choir «Yunist (Youth)», senior lecturer at the Department of Musicology and Vocal and Choral Arts, Faculty of Arts, Pavlo Tychyna Uman State Pedagogical University. Laureate of All-Ukrainian and International competitions.

Ken Wakia (Kenya)

One of the top conductors in Africa today, Ken Wakia is the 2019 African Image Maker Award recipient conferred to him by the Voice Achievers Award.

Masahiro Kishimoto (Japan)

Conductor and artistic director of choirs in Japan. Studied conducting at Kobe University. He is currently a director of the Hyogo Choral Association, a director of Takarazuka International Chamber Chorus Contest, and a member of the Japan Choral Directors Association.

Dr. Katalin Kiss (Hungary)

Founding conductor of Ars Nova Vocal Ensemble. Professor of conducting and musicianship.Founding director of Ars Nova Editio Publishing House.

Nicol Matt (Germany)

“In music you will find all unanswered questions of life to be answered. It is the universal language of the soul to heal
and the key to open your consciousness.”
(Nicol Matt)

Javier Busto (Spain)

Founder and Conductor of Aquam Lauda Korua and many other choirs, he is also a prolific, worldwide known and multi awarded composer. His choral works are published in the Basque Country, France, Germany, Japan, the USA, the United Kingdom and Sweden.

Donald Brinegar (USA)

Donald Brinegar is a conductor, tenor soloist, music educator, college professor, and author of books on the subjects of intonation practices and conducting pedagogy. An international presenter on varied topics within the choral spectrum.

Yifan Wang (China)

Choral conductor of Hefei Citizen Chorus. Associate professor in Hefei Normal University.

Pawasut Jodi Piriyapongrat (Thailand)

Dr. Pawasut Jodi Piriyapongrat is recognized locally and internationally as a leading choral conductor in Thailand. She teaches full time at Music Education Department, Chulalongkorn University, and serves as President of Thailand Choral Directors Association.

Mark O’Leary (Australia)

Mark O’Leary OAM is well known in Australia, widely respected for his work with Young Voices of Melbourne, Exaudi and Gondwana Voices.

Brian Stevens (U.S.A.)

Brian is Director of Choirs at Nazareth College (NY), and founder and artistic director of Vox Eius. He is an ardent champion of contemporary female choral composers and repertoire for advanced treble choirs. He is passionate about developing and uniting choral communities, creating evocative and progressive choral programming, and investing in the training and mentorship of young conductors and educators.

Maria Elina Mayorga (Argentina)

Choral Conductor – Artistic Director Coro Arturo Beruti. Founder and Artistic Director SAN JUAN CANTA International Choir Festival, Competition, and Grand Prix and many choral international projects.

Felipe Ramos Taky (Chile)

Felipe Ramos Taky is a choral conductor and professor at the UC Music Institute in Santiago de Chile, where he also leads the UC Students’ Choir. One of the relevant choral choral conductors of his generation, is also artistic director of Voces de Vitacura.

Budi Susanto Yohanes (Indonesia)

Budi is a conductor, composer, and choir clinician who has been acknowledged for his contributions to Indonesian choral music. He is also the founder of Gracioso Sonora Choir, the conductor of ITS Student Choir and difertimento vocal ensemble.

Elena Volodina (Russia)

Elena Volodina is the artistic director and chief conductor of the Children’s Choir ‘Alye Parusa’. Merited Worker of Culture of the Russian Federation (1999). Member of the Presidium of the Federation of Children’s and Youth Choirs of Russia. Adjudicator, conductor and requested lecturer.

Urša Lah (Slovenia /
Norway)

Urša Lah is Artistic Leader of the international “Utopia & Reality Chamber Choir”, Choirmaster for Trondheim Symphony Orchestra & Opera and conducting teacher at university level. As conductor she encourages and promotes present-time choral creativity and has premièred many works by contemporary composers.

Ana Patricia Carbajal (Mexico)

She founded Ensamble Coral Voce in Tempore in 1989 and Voce in Tempore Association in 1997, to promote, distribute an professionalize choral music in México.

Virginia Bono (Argentina)

Conductor and Choir conducting professor graduated in Argentina and Germany.
Founding artistic and musical director of Estudio Coral Meridies, well renowned Argentine chamber choir. She also leads Children and Youth choirs at the Instituto Coral Santa Fe. She serves as guest conductor, adjudicator and leader of choral conducting masterclasses and lectures in Argentina, other Latin American countries and Europe.

Sun Lei (China)

Composer and Conductor; conducting professor working in Shenyang Conservatory of Music in China; the executive director of Chinese Chorus Association and the director of Chinese Musicians Association.

Stephen Leek (Australia)

Composer, Conductor and Educator, Stephen Leek currently lives in Australia’s capital city, Canberra, where, despite the current pandemic, he is active on the choral and youth music scene. Over a 4 decade history working in choral music throughout Australia and around the world, Leek has created a unique place in the choral repertoire through his distinctive compositions and his clear and energetic conducting style. As Vice President of the IFCM for 5 years he was integral in taking choral music to many corners of the globe.

Emiliano Linares (Argentina)

One of the most recognized choral conductors of his generation in Argentina.
He is the founder artistic director of the Tous Ensemble choir, an award-winning chamber choir based in the city of La Plata, Argentina. He also conducts several groups associated with the National University of La Plata: the Youth Choir and Instrumental Ensemble of the National High School, the choir of the College of Law and Social Sciences and the renowned Chamber Choir of the institution.
He is a frequent guest conductor, clinician and guest speaker on topics of choral conducting in Argentina, Latin America, Europe and USA.

Maria Emma Meligopoulou (Greek)

Dr Maria Emma Meligopoulou is Assistant Professor of Choral Conducting at the Macedonia University of Thessaloniki School of Music Science & Art (Greece).
She also teaches in the Master’s programmes of the Universities of Macedonia and Ionia and is a visiting professor at the Aegean University. She was awarded a doctorate and a post-doctorate in choral conducting and choral pedagogy by the Ionian University SFA.
In 1992 she founded and directs the SS. Cyril & Methodios Choir of Thessaloniki, which today has over 250 singers aged 6 to 25 and is considered the largest children’s and youth choir in Northern Greece.

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