1. art and entertainment
2. music
3. singing

Welcome to AAVF 2015!
A warm welcome to all of you to the 5th edition of Aarhus
Vocal Festival!
Once again, the festival team, all volunteers, has worked very hard to make the best possible experience for
all of you, this time with vocal music more or less from
“Around the World”.
As some of you might know, the last festival in 2013 was
an economic disaster for the festival team, but thanks to
really hard work and generous support from many of you
we have survived! We want to thank these “True AAVF
Supporters” – and of course all of you for coming all the
way to make the next 4 to 5 days an unforgettable vocal
experience! We sincerely hope that you will leave Aarhus
with your hearts full of joy and music!
Jens Johansen,
Chairman, AAVF
”Aarhus Vocal Festival Forening”, the organization behind
Aarhus Vocal Festival, was founded in 2004 with the first
festival in 2006 followed by festivals in 2009, 2011 and
2013 plus a smalller support festival in 2010.
Everybody in AAVF are volunteers working to strengthen
the environments and conditions for contemporary vocal
music.
The committee in 2015:
Jens Johansen – Chairman
Jim Daus Hjernøe - Artistic Leader
Thue Thesbjerg - Vice Chairman
Henrik Birk Aaboe
Line Groth
Inger Kiørbye Bertelsen – Alternate Member
Tine Fris – Alternate Member
Additional names in the festival team:
Diana Buck
Kasper Fonnesbæk Andersen
Kristoffer Fynbo Thorning
Content
Welcome to AAVF 2015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2
The Artists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4
The Competitions at AAVF 2015 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Additional Performing Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Programme (Workshops, Coachings, Concerts) . . . . 16
Map – The Festival Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
The Instructors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Practical Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Sponsors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
ZAP Mama (BE)
”My first composition was only voices,
this was the seed of my sound.
I planted it, and the seed grew.
ZAP Mama music was born.”
(Marie Daulne)
Known to her fans as ZAP Mama – a singer / author / composer but
also acting / diva for corporate show / master class / workshop / flash
mob event / producer for other artists.
Swingle Singers (GB)
For more than
half a century
The Swingles
have pushed
the boundaries of vocal
music. The
seven young
singers that
make up today’s
London-based
group are driven
by the same
innovative spirit that has defined the five-time Grammy® winners since
they first made waves in the 1960s. With their forthcoming album Deep
End (due early 2015), The Swingles celebrate that legacy by starting a
whole new chapter.
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Blue Planet – Voice of the Globe (UN)
Vocal music spontaneously composed and directed by Roger Treece
and Jim Daus Hjernøe featuring Rhiannon, Bob Stoloff and RAMA
Voices.
Vocal Line (DK)
A modern a cappella choir of 30 singers, conducted by Jens Johansen.
The choir was formed in 1991 in Aarhus and has as their proclaimed
goal to act as a front-runner of the development of rhythmic choir
singing, nationally as well as internationally.
Through the years Vocal Line has constantly worked towards expanding the limits of a cappella music, and the choir continues aiming
towards musically higher levels.
Mariagerfjord Pigekor (DK)
One of the
most talented
and innovative
youth choirs
internationally.
Known for a
remarkable
blend of both
music, sound
and light combined with a
unique sense
of knowing
how to surprise its audience with new scenic ideas from show to show.
Mariagerfjord Pigekor has released three albums since the foundation in
2007. Musical director: Signe Sørensen.
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Touché (DK)
Danish a cappella
jazz ensemble
known for big band
like arrangements,
awesome swing
and tender ballads.
Touché consists
of 12 singers, who
together with conductor/arranger Jesper Holm have adapted the traditional Count Basie
sound into an energietic a cappella big band style. At a Touché concert
you will enjoy arrangements inspired by the repertoires of The Singers
Unlimited, The Real Group, and other major artists from the world of
vocal jazz, alongside the refined jazz arrangements of jazz standards by
Jesper Holm.
Postyr (DK)
The Danish vocal
group POSTYR are
changing the face of
vocal music as we
know it with 5 voices,
a computer and their
infectious melodies
in a mix of original
compositions and
radical interpretations
of well-known material. POSTYR are known around the world for their
distinctive and evocative sound that combines 5 amazing vocals with
sampled beats and heartfelt songwriting making POSTYR’s live performances something truly special on the international music scene.
Arora (US)
LA band ARORA (previously SONOS) is a vocals+electronics group
who has created a genre of their
own, with unique avant garde harmonies paired with deep soul. This
past July 2013, ARORA released
their resonant and addictive new
all-original album, BIOLUMINESCENCE.
Midtvest Pigekor (DK)
Is rooted in the classical tradition but the repertoire includes
music from various genres.
They challenge the dynamic
between voice, body and concert space and often combine
the classical sound with choreography and performance. The choir has
been led and conducted by Dorte Bille since the foundation in 1999.
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Voco Novo (TW)
Founded in 2009 in
Taiwan, Voco Novo
creates a variety of
music genres with
their skillful vocals.
In addition to pop
music and vocal jazz,
the group digs deep
into their own culture,
performing world music and self-written songs, which have become the group’s iconic style.
SONO (DK)
These 24 singers are the
proof that vocal music is
for all music lovers! Each
and everyone contributes
to the special and refined
sound of SONO that has
attracted attention both
in Denmark and abroad.
And besides this SONO
knows the importance of giving the audience an unforgettable experience with a delicat mix of pop, rock and electronic music! The group is led
by Tine Ohrt Højgaard.
TTA - The Party Band (DK)
Were you a teenager
at concerts in the
late 80’s? No matter
what – join the party
of glam rock with this
amazing Danish band
and forget all about a
cappella music for just
one hour with rocking
versions of ”Wind Of
Change”, ”Livin’ On A Prayer” and many others glittering hits.
DJ Static (DK)
A shining star among Danish DJ’s and producers. DJ Static released his first album just
three years ago but has proved his musical
abilities with asthonishing reviews. The music
magazine GAFFA wrote that his album ”Rolig
Under Pres” should be mandatory curriculum
in the teaching of hip hop!
Party with DJ Static with something quite
remote from the sound of vocal music.
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Koret Zenit (DK)
Shaken, not stirred!
With a license to sing, Koret Zenit
proudly presents some of the
greatest Bond theme songs at
the pre-festival. Koret Zenit is an
Aarhus-based rhytmic amateur
choir with 50 singers who all have
a penchant for harmonies and
hooklines .The choir is directed by
Jesper Gade.
Naura (DK)
An Aarhus-based
choir with 21 experienced singers singing
arrangements ranging
from pop and groovy hits to old folk
songs with a twist
of new sounds. The
conductor, Christian
Ronsfeld, guides the choir through a varied repertoire focusing on the
clean Nordic sound, added the spice of our human beatboxer. In 2011
Naura was awarded the great recognition of winning 1st Prize in the
AAVF Choir Competition.
Local Vocal (DK)
Known for great a cappella entertainment without compromising
the fine-tuned Nordic sound of 25
experienced vocals. At the AAVF
2013 Local Vocal Received the
runner-up prize at the choir competition. Local Vocal is also known
for the biggest all time Youtube hit
from a vocal group in Denmark.
With more than 6 mio. views Local Vocal have amazed people all over
the world with their 90's dance a cappella medley.
Vox 11 (DK)
Vox 11 is a danish vocal ensemble that counts 11 singers.
The group has participated in
song contests and other cultural
arrangements since the start in
2002 and have been noticed
both nationally and internationally.
Vox 11's repertoire is modern a
cappella music inspired by modern R'n'B, Hip Hop and Nordic soundscapes.
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Kolorit (DK)
The group celebrated
its 25th anniversary in
2014 and was formed
by conductor Niels
Græsholm in 1989
with the purpose of
exploring Latin American choral music and the Nordic sound in vocal jazz and folk music
- and since the beginning the group has performed with a versatile
program combining these two musical hemispheres. At the AAVF concert Kolorit will bring you colorful and challenging choral arrangements
from most of Latin America: Cuba, Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela, The
Dominican Republic and others.
Maestra (DK)
A girls choir with 25 singers
from The Music School of
Aarhus singing modern a
cappella music. The vocal
arrangements are often
made especially for the
choir and goes from ethnic
folk to pop and country. The
choir is directed by Malene
Rigtrup.
Syng Selected (DK)
Syng Selected was initiated by
the Youth Choirs Organization
SYNG to give young and skilled
choir singers an opportunity
to develop their talent among
other carefully selected singers.
The choir consist of 25 singers
and a beatboxer, and they all
meet in weekends 4-5 times each year for intensive rehearsals. At the
moment Syng Selected is led by Thue Thesbjerg.
Single Singers (UN)
After the first performance at the
London A Cappella Festival in 2012,
The Single Singers have quickly become a global phenomenon, with similar groups popping up in the USA
(The Single Singers (DC & Chicago),
The PickUps) and Asia (The Single
Singers Asia). The Single Singers was originally created for the London
A Cappella Festival in January 2012. Its inspired founders started the
group as a way to give singers that were coming to the festival on their
own the opportunity to actually perform in a group. Besides that, it is a
wonderful way to meet interesting new people. And best of all, they all
love a cappella singing!
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The Competitions at AAVF 2015
This year we proudly present six choirs and five vocal groups representing six different countries!
The Vocal Group Competition takes place Saturday and The Choir
Competition Sunday – both in Rytmisk Sal from 15:30 - 18:00.
The jury Saturday: Bob Stoloff, Niels Græsholm and Morten Kjær.
The jury Sunday: Bill Hare, Malene Rigtrup and Jesper Holm.
Chief judge (both competitions): Jonathan Minkoff
The prizes in each of the two categories are:
1st Prize: DKK 20.000
2nd Prize:DKK 10.000
3rd Prize: DKK 5.000
The Vocal Groups
Black Russian (DK)
Black Russian is a vocal group based
in Aalborg consisting of six singers. The
group sings modern, contemporary a
cappella music by renown songwriters
such as Sting, Alberte, Tina Dickow
and Tim Christensen, including vocal
arrangements by Anna Vestergaard
who is also a singing member and
leader of the group. Black Russian
creates stirring soundscapes, great grooves and beautiful ballads.
Blend-in’ 4 (NL)
Blend-in’ 4 is a vocal group consisting of
four professional singers from the Conservatory in Tilburg, all sharing a passion for
vocal jazz. Blend-in’ 4 mainly sings close
harmony music from old style vocal jazz
(e.g. repertoire of ‘The New York Voices’)
to more modern music including choral
groups like ‘The Idea of North’. Besides
singing existing arrangements, they also arrange their own music.
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MIX (US)
MIX is a co-ed collegiate group of 8
singers from the University of Colorado,
Denver. All members are current or former students in the Music and Entertainment Industry Studies program, and major in Contemporary Vocal Performance,
Music Business or Recording Arts. MIX
is known for its diversity and theatricality, bringing a fresh, story-telling
perspective to contemporary a cappella.
MIX, in it’s current format, was formed in 2012, and has steadily been
winning awards and singing engagements ever since.
The Junction (NL)
The Junction is an a cappella vocal
group from The Netherlands, formed
by five devoted vocalists. They
share a passion for vocal harmonies
and tight rhythms, while translating
modern songs and classics into their
own compositions. Their voices are
used as strong and expressive instruments, switching from modern
jazz harmonies to crazy hip hop beats, and from dazzling solos to tight
vocal percussion.
Åkervinda (SE)
Beautiful, vivid and engaging nordic
folksong. The group’s name, Åkervinda,
is inspired by a Swedish wildflower
whose roots spread far and wide like
rivers under the ground. Like the flower,
gracefully entwining melodies, rock solid
groove, and ever intruiging harmonies
will take root in your mind. Through improvisation, the group gives new
life to traditional folk songs and stories of women throughout the ages.
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The Choirs
Dopplers (DK)
Dopplers, founded by Astrid
Vang-Pedersen in 2008, is an a
cappella group of nine vocalists
originating from Copenhagen,
Denmark.
They sing all of their music, which
is in large part music based on
grooves, pulses and beats, without
microphones. They employ the unique approach of incorporating the
feel of an underlying beat and percussion into all the vocal melody lines
that make up the underlying accompaniment of a song. That being
said you will also be able to find beautiful songs with next to no melodic
percussion and of an almost classical nature within the Dopplers-repertoire, which exists within a field of many genres such as pop, Nordic
folk music, classical, Middle-Eastern and afro-pop and recently also
numerous original songs written by members of the group.
Fontys Jazz Choir (NL)
The Fontys Jazz Choir was
founded in 2003 by it’s
conductor Hans van den
Brand. Eleven young ambitious
vocalists who all are student or
alumnus at the Department of
Fine Arts of Fontys University of Applied Sciences can
be a member for a maximum of 5 years.The choir specialises itself in
performing jazz, pop, gospel and fusion styles, a cappella or with band
(piano-double bass-drums).
LYT (DK)
LYT is a mixed Danish a cappella choir of 35 singers based in
Aarhus. The name of the choir is
Danish and means “listen”, and
this is exactly what it is all about.
Singing together and making the
stories stand out so everyone can
listen and feel the music vibrate
with every fiber of the body. The repertoire focus on new interpretations
of modern Scandinavian pop songs and the tone is bright and warmhearted like a Danish summer night. Musical director: Tine Fris.
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Vivid Voices (DE)
Since 2009 singer & conducter Claudia Burghard
has led the Vivid Voices
with about 45 university
students. The students
are all part of the University for Music, Theater,
Media of Hannover.
Drummer, Singers, pianists, guitarists, organists and anyinstrumentalists
meet in the choir to follow their collectivpassion of singing jazz & pop
music. The jazz & pop Choir Vivid Voices was founded by Prof. Anne
Kohler, who conducted the choir for about 15 years. Vivid Voices won
the AAVF Choir Competition in 2006.
Vocalive (DE)
Vocalive is a mix of young as well as
experienced voices that bring a lot of
commitment and enthusiasm for big
sound and crisp groove on stage. To the
question of what characterises Vocalive,
there are as many answers as singers:
sound, groove, feeling, fun, goosebump
moments ...
The repertoire of Vocalive contains popular as well as lesser-known
songs in up to eight-part arrangements, sometimes supplemented by
vocal percussion.
Vocalocity (IL)
Vocalocity is a 40-voice modern a
cappella ensemble founded in June,
2013 by Jeff Meshel and Ron Gang,
centered in Hod HaSharon, Israel.
Under the musical direction of Kevin
Fox (UK) and the baton of house
conductor Erez Tal, Vocalocity performs a wide range of cutting-edge rock/pop/jazz music. The singers,
all of whom come from a background in modern a cappella, range in
age but are mostly in their late 20s. The group’s repertoire includes both
English and Hebrew songs, mostly arrangements written or adapted
specifically for Vocalocity. Vocalocity operates under the auspices of
Mil”a, the Israeli Center for Choral Groups.
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Additional Performing Groups
Alsobate (DK)
Dansk Performancekor (DK)
Eigenwijs (NL)
Jazzchor der Uni Bonn (DE)
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Kol-haMishpaha (IL)
Nebensache (DE)
VPS KeK (NL)
Xperiment (FO)
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Programme
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17
The Festival Area
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The Instructors
Anne Rosing (AR)
is a well-known Danish singing teacher
and voice specialist. Since 1985, she
has been Assistant Professor at The
University of Copenhagen, Department
of Arts and Cultural Studies, Musicology. Through many years, she has
taught at The Royal Danish Academy
of Music and at the Opera School in
Copenhagen as well as at the Rhythmic
Conservatory. In 2007, she established
the VoiceEmbodiment Singing Institute,
a private institute for professional
singers and singing teachers. In 2009
she founded House of Voice together with Psychotherapist Marianne
Miravet Sorribes and in 2014 The Anne Rosing Institute was founded.
Bill Hare (BH)
Bill Hare has been a full-time recording engineer/producer for over 30
years, and is recognized as a pioneer
in bringing pop/rock production techniques to recorded contemporary a
cappella. Over the decades, Bill has
recorded and/or mixed acclaimed
albums for some of the best-known
Contemporary A Cappella groups
around the globe - from The Swingle
Singers to The King’s Singers in the
UK, Basix to Vocal Line in Denmark,
Italy's Cluster, The Ghost Files, Alti
& Bassi and Maybe6ix, German supergroups Wise Guys, Amarcord
and Maybebop to name a few, as well as groups from dozens of other
countries from Australia to Zambia. Of course, at the same time he also
covered his home base from California, working with top American acts
including Pentatonix, Street Corner Symphony, NoTa, +4dB, Duwende,
The Backbeats, The House Jacks, m-pact, and many more.
Bob Stoloff (BS)
Bob Stoloff is one of the most sought-after
teachers in the world of vocal improvisation. He has expanded the vocabulary
of jazz singers around the globe, coining
the 'instru-vocal' approach and freeing his
students' musical potential with his relaxed,
fun, insightful style. To quote Mark Murphy,
There is hardly anyone in the whole world
who knows more about scat singing than
Bob Stoloff...he takes out the terror! 20
Christine Liu (CL)
Born in Taiwan, received music education
in the US and Austria, and now resides in Taiwan as a full-time a cappella
musician. Soon after entering university
in the US, she founded the first Chinese
a cappella group on campus, and has
been arranging since then. Back home
in Taiwan she founded Voco Novo, which
has become one of the most outstanding
groups in the country. Her work has won
multiple awards in many competitions,
including “Taiwan International Contemporary A Cappella Competition” in 2008,
2010, and 2011, “Vokal Total International A Cappella Competition” in 2012, and a CARA award in 2013. With
her multicultural background, she tries to make a bridge between the
music of the West and her native culture, and to connect the Asian a
cappella world to the West.
Claes Wegener (CW)
Claes Wegener is educated from the
Royal Academy of Music in Aarhus
specializing in rhythmic singing and
with a diploma in choir conducting.
He has 15 years of experience
working with choirs - conducting,
arranging, composing, performing
- and he is specialized in teaching
the principles of how to implement
Complete Vocal Technique to enhance the musical expression of the
choir sound. Claes Wegener has taught at various conservatories but
at the moment he mainly works as a censor at conservatories and he
is furthermore teaching for Cathrine Sadolin (author of Complete Vocal
Technique) at Complete Vocal Institute in Copenhagen. Claes Wegener
performed at AAVF in 2011 with his high end gospel choir Conquerors
(from Cph) and his latest musical CD-project Gospelsalmer.
Henrik Birk Aaboe (HB)
Graduated from music science
at Aarhus University in 1991 and
have since then been working
as a pianist, vocalist, composer,
arranger, musical director and
sound technician and has produced 200+ albums. I feel like a fish
in water when I'm doing what I
love the most: recording and producing vocal music of all kinds.
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Indra (IN)
From 2008 to 2013 Indra Tedjasukmana
has been activ as a foundation member
of the vocal band sonic-suite as the vocal
percoussionist of the group. Outstanding
is the fact, that they have been on tour
with the famous Dj Bobo. Moreover he
was a part of Bobby McFerrin's vocal
project "Bobble". Not least he was given
the award "Best Vocal Percoussionist"
in Taiwan in 2012 among others and got
many other prices in the past. Furthermore he is a lecturer at universities all
over Europe and has lots of experience
in giving workshops and coachings in
beatboxing at for example music-universities.
Jens Johansen (JJ)
Jens Johansen is educated from the department of Musicology at the University
of Aarhus and at the Royal Academy
of Music, Aarhus. Today he works as
professor in musicology at the University
of Aarhus. He formed Vocal Line in 1991
and today Vocal Line and Jens Johansen
are very well known among choral music
lovers all around the world. Jens Johansen has given courses and seminars to
choir singers and conductors in many
countries such as all the Nordic countries
as well as Germany, the Netherlands,
Spain, Italy, Hungary, USA, Japan, Taiwan and Australia. He is a long-time member of the board of ‘KOR 72’
and he is the founder and chairman of the ‘Aarhus Vocal Festival’, the
biggest festival for modern rhythmic a cappella music of the North.
Jesper Falch (JF)
Jesper Falch has graduated
from The Royal Academy
of Music with percussion
as principal studies, which
he complemented with
a diploma from RMC in
Copenhagen. Now working
as a musician in Phønix (folk)
and as a lecturer at the Royal
Academy of Music in Aalborg.
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Jesper Holm (JH)
Conductor / arranger for the Touché-vocal
jazz group.
Passionate vocal jazz enthusiast.
Lecturer at the Royal Academy of Music,
Denmark, and is an instructor at many
events and festivals in Denmark and abroad.
E.g. the World Symposium on Choral Music
and Vocal Jazz Summit, Mainz. Touché (12
singers), with its unique performance marks
both nationally and internationally
and has frequently shared the stage with
groups like The Danish Radio Big Band, The
Swingle Singers and The Real Group.
Jim Daus Hjernøe
(JD)
Jim Daus Hjernøe works
as professor at the Royal
Academy of Music in
Aalborg/Aarhus (RAMA). He
is in charge of RAMA Vocal
Center, which is the leading
research center in Europe
on the principal studies artistic leadership of contemporary vocal music, which includes students from around the world.
Katarina Henryson (KH) Born and raised in Stockholm, Katarina attended the Adolf Fredrik’s Music
School in Stockholm and was early on
inspired into the meaningful experience
of choral singing through the Girls’ Choir
conducted by Bo Johanssen. Katarina
holds a Masters degree from The Royal
Academy of Music in Stockholm as well
as years of experience on the road and
in the studio backing various Swedish
pop and rock acts. Furthermore she is
performing and recording in duo with her
cello-playing husband, Svante.
As one of the founding members of The
Real Group Katarina has been a part of the group’s development – both
artistically as well as pedagogically. The Real Groups constant curiosity
to find new methods and knowledge combined with more than 2500
concerts, has given her a very nuanced view on singing together in a
group.
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Kristoffer Fynbo Thorning
(KT)
Is a bass singer and beatboxer wellknown through out the choir and
vocal music scene for his groundbreaking approach to Ecappella
(Electronic A Cappella) Music, his
new tech-toys on stage and his
songwriting for the electronic vocal
group Postyr.Kristoffer Fynbo Thorning is a post-candidate soloist
student at the The Royal Academy of Music in Denmark, specializing in
contemporary vocal leadership.As a teacher, Kristoffer has more than 8
years of experience teaching choirs and vocal groups from amateur to
professional level in singing, performance and icebreakers.
Line Groth (LG)
is singer, arranger and co-conductor
in the world famous Danish choir,
Vocal Line. She teaches arranging
and choir leading at the Royal Danish
Academy of Music in Copenhagen
and she holds a MA in Singing and
Choir Conducting from The Royal
Academy of Music, Aarhus.
Line also sings in the award winning
electronic vocal group, Postyr. She
has been teaching numerous workshops and coached choirs, singers and
conductors throughout Denmark, all
over Europe, in the US and Taiwan.
Malene Rigtrup (MG)
Teaches choir-leading and
vocal-arranging at The Royal
Academy of Music, and is
the leader of the youth vocal
group ”Maestra” at The Music
School of Aarhus. Malene is
a well-known instructor and
vocal-arranger for choirs and
vocal groups all over Europe,
and has published several
books of sheet-music with
Morten Kier and ”Ørehænger”. Malene was in 10 years a member/
co-leader of Vocal Line, and she has released the EP ”Not Later Love”
with her own songs.
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Michael Deltchev (MD)
Accomplished choir and orchestra
conductor and arranger with more
than 20 years of professional conducting experience and a unique
musical and multicultural background. Born and educated in Bulgaria. Later studies with Eric Ericson,
Frieder Bernius, dan/Olof Stenlund,
Peter Phillips.
Artistic director and conductor of
Collegium Vocale, Caecilia Mixed Choir and Sedjanka Female Choir.For
many years Michael worked as the conductor of Tonica Concert Band,
Usmifka Female Choir and Aarhus University Male Choir.Michael Deltchev is frequently guest conductor in Sweden, Germany and the US.
Morten Kjær (MK)
Morten Kjær is a platnum-award-winning Danish singer,
songwriter, and music teacher. For
more than a decade he has taught
singers and choir leaders around
the world – often collaborating with
Malene Rigtrup in ‘Ørehænger’.He
has a background in the Danish
vocal ensembles Basix and Vocal
Line. But in 2010, he moved to Los Angeles where he joined the vocal
group m-pact and founded his own choir, Top Shelf.Over the years,
Morten has been involved in various theater projects and worked as a
Musical Director on the “It Gets Better” show (currently touring in the
US). He also writes and releases music under the artist name ‘Kier' and
does solo shows and home concerts with his Hollywood-based trio,
Ebb & Flow. A brand-new ‘Kier' electro-soul album will come out on
May 28, 2015.
Morten Vinther (MV)
Growing up musically in a blooming Danish
choral environment, Morten started to dig
into contemporary a cappella singing at The
Academy of Music in Aalborg. As one of
the first graduates from the unique masters
programme in Aalborg, he was involved with
various Danish groups – VOX11, Postyr,
VoxNorth & Songs of the Moment – before
joining The Real Group in 2010.
Combing the constantly evolving methods
and curiosity from The Real Group with
concepts like “the intelligent choir”, circle
singing and physical rhythm training, Morten
has a broad palette of pedagogical tools and
topics that he includes in his teaching.
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Niels Græsholm (NG)
Niels Græsholm is a renowned
choral instructor and arranger who
has been exploring Latin American
choral music throughout his career.
Mostly with Kolorit with whom he
has won a number of international
prizes and presented this music
around the world. Niels is associate professor at the University of
Copenhagen and Senior Consultant
for The Danish Arts Foundation.
Rhiannon (RH)
is a vocal artist with a vision of music as a
vehicle for innovation, healing, transformation,
and social change. From her stellar collaborations with the all-women’s jazz ensemble
Alive! to a cappella ensemble SoVoSo’ to
Bobby McFerrin and Voicestra, Rhiannon
has paved a unique path as an independent
artist. In recent years she has continued to
refine her improvisation work by performing
in the a cappella trio WeBe3 with Joey Blake
and David Worm, both 25-year members
of Voicestra. Rhiannon also is working with
renowned instrumentalists Abraham Laboriel,
Alex Acuna, Otmaro Ruiz and Jetro Da Silva in an ensemble known as
Spontaneous. Both groups tour internationally, giving completely improvised performances. Rhiannon’s new book about her life and teaching
methods, Vocal River, The Skill and Spirit of Improvisation was published in 2013. The powerful body-based vocal improvisation and sound
healing process that Rhiannon teaches internationally includes a yearlong training called All The Way In.
Roger Treece (RT)
Five-time Grammy nominee Roger Treece
is the mastermind creator of Bobby McFerrin’s groundbreaking release VOCAbuLarieS, a collection of seven extended
world-classical choral works, hailed as “a
masterpiece”, “a glimpse into the future of
choral music”, “a new standard for choral
recording,” and nominated for three Grammy Awards.
An accomplished singer, composer, arranger, Mr. Treece has produced and written
for a wide range of artists, including The Manhattan Transfer, Josh
Groban, The Danish Radio Symphony and Choir, SMASH’s Katherine
McPhee, The Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the King’s Singers, Barry
Manilow, the Los Angeles Master Chorale and rapper Z-Trip. An impassioned educator and clinician, Roger has taught extensively in
both the US and Europe.
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RoxorLoops (RX)
Born in Asse (Belgium) on 28 april 1984
as Senjka Danhieux. Started beatboxing at the age of 17. He became
Belgian Champion at 20 and Vice World
Champion a year after. He is a regular
member of international beatbox contest
juries. To date Roxorloops is considered
by many as the best beatboxer in the
world alltough he cleary states there is
no best. He has worked with some top
a-capella groups such as The Swingle Singers, The Real Group, Witloof
Bay, Voces8 and VoxNorth.
Style: His style is famous for its technical
and ultra realistic flavor. Being able to create complex rhythm patterns
he is perfect for both live and in recording studios.
Signe Sørensen (SI)
Signe Sørensen is the conductor of
Europe’s perhaps most innovative
creative and talented contemporary
youth choir: The Girls Choir of Mariagerfjord. The choir has received two
Danish prices for their extraordinary
work with the genre of contemporary
Girls Choir music. Signe teaches
youth choir workshops all over
Denmark and Northern Europe, and
has developed innovative ways of
teaching and communicating with
the young singers, with a combined
focus on individual, social and musical learning, responsibility, joy and group-identity. The musical standard
is high, and the playful joy of singing fills the rooms, when Signe takes
the lead.
The Single Singers (SN)
After the first performance at the
London A Cappella Festival in
2012, The Single Singers have
quickly become a global phenomenon, with similar groups
popping up in the USA (The Single
Singers (DC & Chicago), The PickUps) and Asia (The Single Singers Asia). Since 2012 there have been
seven Single Singers encounters in Europe: LACF2012-LACF2015, The
Real Group Festival 2012, AAVF2013, Acappellica 2014. AAVF2015 will
be number 8! The Single Singers was originally created for the London
A Cappella Festival in January 2012. Its inspired founders started the
group as a way to give singers that were coming to the festival on their
own the opportunity to actually perform in a group. Besides that, it is a
wonderful way to meet interesting new people. And best of all, they all
love a cappella singing!
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Tobias Hug (TB)
- born Germany and based in London
- is wearing many different hats:
Singer, teacher, beatboxer, live looper,
artistic director ... or more precisely:
An a cappella traveller, beatbox gypsy
& vocal networker. After starting out
in the Jazzchor Freiburg, he toured
for 11 years with the Grammy-Award
winning Swingle Singers - as bass
& vocal percussionist, artistic director, collaborating with anyone from
Jamie Cullum to Bobby McFerrin, from the TV Show 'Glee' to the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. Since leaving, Tobias is teaching, studying
(Master in Rhythmic Choir Conducting, Conservatory Aalborg), working
as freelance singer in London (singing on soundtracks like 'The Hobbit',
Monty Python etc), a busy coach and last but not least co-creator &
artistic director of the new Italian a cappella Festival 'Vocalmente'.
Walter Thompson (WT)
—Soundpainter, Woodwinds,
Percussion, and Educator — has
been Soundpainting for the past 36
years. He conceived the Soundpainting language in Woodstock, New
York, in the early 1970s. To date,
Thompson has developed Soundpainting into a multidisciplinary live
composing sign language comprising
more than 1500 gestures. Thompson
has composed Soundpaintings with many contemporary orchestras
in many cities, including Barcelona, Santiago de Compostela, Paris,
Bordeaux, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston, Oslo, Berlin,
Bergen, Lucerne, Copenhagen, and Reykjavik, among others, and has
taught Soundpainting at the Royal Academy of Music in Aalborg; Paris
Conservatoire; Eastman School of Music; Columbia University, Iceland
Academy of the Arts; University of Michigan; Grieg Academy in Bergen,
Norway; University of Iowa; Oberlin College-Conservatory of Music; and
New York University, among many others.
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Practical Information
Lost properties
If you lose your luggage or other items during your stay, you can call
Denmark’s National Police on their non-emergency help number: 114.
They will help you contact a local lost property office in the area you are
visiting.
On route to Denmark:
If your luggage is lost on your way to Denmark, you will need to contact
the carrier you used, via their website.
On-board trains:
For items lost on Danish trains, contact DSB Customer Centre on
+45 70 13 14 15.
At the airport:
Copenhagen Airport’s website has a useful lost and found section, for
items lost in the airport.
Billund Airport can be contacted at this number: +45 76 50 52 34.
Free wifi
The festival area and most of the centre of Aarhus is covered by free
wi-fi. To acces the free wifi:
1. Activate wifi on your mobile device
2. Choose the network ”Smartaarhus”
3. Choose sms login and type your cell phone number
4. You will receive a password/login by sms
5. Type the password/login in the Smartaarhus browser window
If you unexpectedly are not online by now, you are welcome to asking
the people at our Information in Ridehuset.
Tourist Information
Lots of information can be found at www.visitaarhus.dk. Here you can
also download a large number of apps for Android, iPhone and as
web-app.
For the latest news about events in Aarhus:
https://www.facebook.com/visitaarhus
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In case of emergency - dial 112
Police, Fire Service and Ambulance
In case of emergency, dial 112 to contact the police, an ambulance or
the fire-fighting service. Speak slowly and distinctly. State telephone
number and address. Emergency calls from public pay phones are free.
24-hour chemist
There is no shortage of pharmacies in Aarhus; just look for the green
"a" sign that symbolises the Danish word for chemist: 'apotek'.
Postal address for the nearest pharmacy:
Aarhus Løve Apotek
Store Torv 5
8000 Århus C
Tel.: +45 86 12 00 22
Doctors on call
Weekdays 16:00 - 08:00.
Tel.: +45 7011 3131
(This number will refer you to a doctor)
Price from DKK 250 per visit. EU citizens are not charged.
Hospital Emergency Wards
The following central hospital have 24-hour emergency wards:
Aarhus Universitetshospital
Nørrebrogade 44
8000 Aarhus C
Building 02A (ground floor)
Dentist - emergency only
Open Monday - Friday: 16:00 - 21:00
Weekends and holidays: 09:00 - 21:00.
Dental emergency service
Sct. Clemenstorv 15
8000 Aarhus C
Tel.: +45 5338 8288
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Sponsors 2015
graphic design by: www.lamio.dk
A.P. Møller og
Hustru Chastine Mc-Kinney Møllers
Fond til almene Formaal
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