Free Harmony

Poprad, Slovakia

Blanka Richnavská conductor

Jana Petrasová piano accompaniment




Programme


Title Composer
COMPETITION SECTION
Ave Maria Tomas Luis de Victoria (1550-1611)
Cantemus Lajos Bardos (1899-1986)
Dafino vino crveno Dragan Shuplevski (1933–2001)
Hoj, hura hoj (O moutain, o) Otmar Mácha (1922-2006)
Fairy song Iris Szegy (b. 1956)

About


The Youth Choir Free Harmony was established in September 2013. Founder and current conductor of the choir is Blanka Richnavská. Free Harmony functions as Youth Choir at the Elementary School in Poprad. In May 2014 they won gold for the best interpretation of Slovak composer M. Novák during the national youth competition "Mládež Spieva 2014". In October 2015 the choir took a part in the competition "Praga Cantat 2015", where they won gold in the youth category and silver in the folk category. Since its establishment the choir functioned as girls choir, but from 2016 works as a Mixed Choir. In May 2016 the choir won silver in the competition "Mládež spieva 2016". Besides participating in competitions the choir regularly sings at many concerts organized by city Poprad.

Blanka Richnavská graduated from the conservatory in opera singing and piano. She continued studying opera singing at the Catholic University. She is working as a choir conductor since her twenties. During her pedagogic practice she mostly conducted children's choirs. Now she is working at the elementary art school in Poprad where she is teaching piano, singing and conducting children's and youth choir. With these choirs she achieved many prizes in Slovakia and throughout Europe: silver medal at the International Choir Festival in Greece in 2011, golden medal at the international choir competition Praga Cantat 2015 in Prague.

Poprad is located in the north of eastern Slovakia. Although it is a small town with a population of about 50.000 people, it is one of the most important towns in Slovakia, thanks to its mountain tourism. Poprad is a gateway to the High Tatras mountains, which is a popular tourist destination. Poprad was founded in 13th century, today it is the administrative, economic and cultural center of Tatras region. There are 3 art schools in Poprad with various departments: music, literary drama, dancing and drawing lessons.