Epilogi - Cultural Movement of Limassol

• Youth Choir

The “Epilogi” Youth Choir was founded in 2007. It consists of 60 young people between the ages of 14-20, most of them former members of the “Epilogi” Children’s Choir. The Choir performs a wide range of sacred and secular music from the Renaissance to the present day, including choral arrangements of songs from all over the world, as well as music by Greek and Cypriot composers. The choir is a member of “EUROPA CANTAT”. Artistic Director of the “Epilogi” Youth Choir, since its foundation, has been Mrs. Angelina Nicolaidou-Spanou.

At one of its first performances, in 2007 the Choir participated in the production of Carmina Burana at the “KYPRIA” International Festival in Paphos, Larnaca and Nicosia, together with the Budapest Concert Orchestra and Hungarian soloists, under the baton of Notis Georgiou. In April 2008, following an invitation by the Fulda Cathedral Choir, the Choir travelled to Fulda, Germany, and gave several concerts. In December 2008 the “Epilogi” Youth Choir participated at the Christmas Concerts of the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra, presenting John Rutter’s “Mass of the Children” in a Cyprus premiere in both Limassol and Nicosia, with the participation of Cypriot soloists, under the music direction of Viacheslav Volich, Conductor of the Symphony Orchestra of the National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre of Belarus. In February 2009, together with other choirs of Limassol and the British choir “Wyre Forest Young Voices”, the “Epilogi” Youth Choir was one of the participants of the “Young voices” choral festival, organized by the Municipality of Limassol. In 2009 the Choir participated at the “GRAND PRIX of ST. PETERSBURG 2009 – III” World Choir Festival and Competition, where it was awarded with the Silver Medal in the Youth Choirs Category, and the Gold Medal in the Folklore Category, the first gold medal ever to be won by a Cypriot choir in an international competition. In December 2009, together with the mixed choir of the University of Nicosia, the “Epilogi” Youth Choir participated in a Concert organized in Nicosia under the auspice of the Czech Ambassador in Cyprus, with a repertory of religious works and works of Czech composers. In another concert held at the Rialto Theatre in Limassol, dedicated to Marios Mitellas, the choir performed together with the other choral groups of the“Epilogi” Cultural Movement (choral workshop, Children’s Choir, Mixed Choir), as well as the Teachers’ Choir of Komlo, Hungary and ARIS Choir from Limassol. In April 2010 the Choir took part in the 4th Edition of the choral competition “Slovakia Cantat” in Bratislava, where – among 40 choirs from 17 countries - it was awarded with the Bronze Medal in the “Musica Sacra a cappella” Category, with the Silver Medal in the Category of Youth Choirs under 21 years, and with the Silver Medal in the “Folklore a cappella” Category.

Since 2007 “Epilogi” has been a member of the European association of youth choirs “European Choral Federation - Europa Cantat” (the only member fromCyprus). In the context of cooperating with this association, “Epilogi” had the opportunity to participate in various international choral festivals and competitions, while the choirs of “Epilogi” were awarded with golden, silver or bronze medals. The participation of “Epilogi” in the programmes curated by “Europa Cantat” resulted to the transfer of know-how and new ideas, and also into organising choral programmes in Cyprus, like the “Choir Crossroads 2011”, that was selected to be co-sponsored by the “Culture 2007-2013” European program. Consequently, knowledge and experience that derive from “Epilogi” participating in the variety of programmes of “Europa Cantat” as well as from other international choir organisations offer long term contributions in: a) the improvement of cultural creation in Cyprus, b) enrichment of cultural traditions, c) promotion of our cultural heritage in the field of choir music, d) promotion of modern youth Cypriot artistic creations, e) reinforcing the organisational capability of the cultural field and f) utilising culture as a cornerstone element in international relations.

After a series of awards won in international contests (St. Petersburg 2009, Bratislava 2010), the youth choir numbering 60 members will participate in the First World Choral Championship, in Graz, Austria, from June 10 to June 17 2011. The artistic preparation of this program is made by the artistic director of “Epilogi”, Mrs. Angelina Nikolaidou-Spanou. The “Epilogi” Youth Choir will present a program comprising of various pieces of classical music, including works from Cypriot composers. At the same time, the choir members will participate in a number of workshops and seminars from which they will benefit in the long term, by carrying good practice and useful knowledge from other European countries back toCyprus.