In the children’s choir category, the second place went to the Swedish women’s choir Adolf Fredrik, while the third place went to the children’s choir Friends of the Union from Catalonia.
The competition ran from October 28 to November 1 in Toulouse, Spain. It is one from Europe Grand Prix for six competitions, which is widely known in the world of choirs.
As director Aira Birziņa informed, only specially selected and high-quality choirs participate in the Toulouse Choral Competition, as the organizers of the event want to maintain the prestige and level of the competition.
Birziņa admitted that by going to Toulouse it was clear that there would be very fierce competition and that the mandatory pieces to be performed in Basque would be quite difficult, so it was a great pleasure to win first place in the competition.
Cora Tiara the leader stated that the choir is participating in the competition for the third time. at the Toulouse Choral Competition Tiara participated for the first time in 2009, winning numerous awards, incl Grand Prix. The choir entered the competition for the second time in 2015, when it won second place.
Birziņa noted that two songs had to be performed in Basque in the competition. The program also included a song by the domestic composer Erik Ešenvald Spring, the sweet spring and two parts from the cycle of the composer Gundega Šmite Crown windings.
Par kora Tiara 1997 is considered the foundation year, when the active life of concerts and participation in the services of the Riga Cathedral began. All girls from the 3rd to 9th grade of the Riga Cathedral Choir School currently sing in the choir.
From 1997 to 2000 the choir director was Gunta Birziņa. Since 2000 the choir has been directed by the conductor Aira Birziņa.
