By Alan Sorensen
MISSOULA The Missoula Mendelssohn Club is hosting International Choral Festival 2000 July 12-16.
The festival, which attracts choirs from all over the world, has been held in Missoula every third year since 1987. It historically draws of more than 35,000 during the week-long activities.
The fifth International Choral Festival will feature more than 20 concerts in the span of five days. Participating choirs take the opportunity to share their love of music in their own languages and traditional dress, all in a noncompetitive environment.
In addition to the concerts, singers and their families enjoy special activities held in their honor, from barbecues and pizza parties to the sharing and celebrating of the American West.
The grand finale comes on Saturday night with the Massed Choir Concert. During the concert, each choir will sing one song independently. Then all singers will regroup to form a combined international chorus. World harmony is truly evident at this moment when all sing in unity.
Participating foreign choirs this year come from Denmark, Botswana, Bulgaria, Austria, Cuba, South Africa, Spain, Mexico, Canary Islands, Argentina and China. Decatur, Ga., Glide, Ore., and Tacoma, Wash. are also sending choirs. Three Montana choirs scheduled to participate are the Fort Peck Oyote Singer, Montana Alumni Choir 2000, and Missoula Mendelssohn Club.
For more information, call of fax (406) 721-7985 or e-mail choral@montana.com. The festival's website is located at http://www.choralfestival.org.
