From July 12 to 16, 2026, in the very heart of Catalan culture — Barcelona and the picturesque town of Lloret de Mar — one of the most prestigious choral projects on the planet, «Golden Voices of Barcelona,» took place.
The festival brought together collectives from South Africa, Turkiye, China, Latvia, Slovakia, and Lithuania. Participants spent three intense days perfecting their craft through fierce creative spirit, professional growth, and unforgettable performances: from the competitive stage at the Municipal Theater to a masterclass led by world-renowned experts, concluding with sacred singing in the Crypt of Sagrada Família.
Competition Day & Distinguished Jury Panel
The main competition day unfolded at the Municipal Theater of Lloret de Mar. This season, the jury panel featured five eminent figures in choral and musical arts:
- Xavier García Cardona — Conductor, pianist, and composer graduated in orchestra conducting from Conservatori del Liceu in Barcelona. Artistic director of the chamber music series «Estones de Clàssica» at the Ateneu de Sant Just Desvern and a member and collaborator of the Spanish Association of Choir Directors.
- Dr. Lucia Bérešová — An outstanding choir conductor holding a Doctorate in Choral Conducting. She directs multiple renowned vocal ensembles in Catalonia, including the Choir of the iconic Sagrada Família!
- Joan Carles Capdevila Torné — Arranger, composer, studio singer, member of «a cappella» groups, and instrumentalist in various musical formations. He also works in advertising and teaches in the field of Musical Theater, participating in choral singing, opera, orchestration, and symphonic arrangements.
- Clàudia Dubé Oranías — A choir and orchestra conductor from Catalonia who leads numerous renowned vocal ensembles, including Cor Madrigalista and Cor Perla de l’Havana. She was chosen to direct a massive choral production at the Auditori de Barcelona, conducting over 700 young singers simultaneously on stage.
- Bernardo Latini — Renowned composer and arranger whose music has won 16 awards at national choral composition and arrangement competitions, with works published in Austria, Germany, the USA, Catalonia, and Argentina.
Four hours of competition viewings presented a magnificent variety of choral sound and repertoire. Choirs demonstrated exceptional artistry across multiple categories: world sacred music, academic singing, children’s choir, youth choirs of equal voices, folklore, mixed choirs, and pop — jazz — gospel.
Masterclass: 400 Voices as One
While the expert panel retired for deliberations to select the absolute winner among an exceptionally strong line-up, an exclusive masterclass began in the theater auditorium led by jury member Dr. Lucia Bérešová.
The session was designed to unify over 400 participants from different countries into a single mass choir. In a short amount of time, the ensembles rehearsed the piece «A La Tierra,» specially composed for Golden Voices of Barcelona 2026 by Mexican composer, pianist, and conductor Julio Morales.
Gala Concert, Guest Performers & Conductor Honors
The following day featured a grand Gala Concert where all participants returned to the stage to perform their best routines. For international audiences unable to attend in person, a live stream was broadcast on our YouTube channel.
The evening featured special performances by invited guest artists:
- Polish opera diva Urszula Bronowicz delivered a flawless rendition of the aria «Sì, mi chiamano Mimì» from La Bohème.
- The evening’s host, acclaimed Spanish singer Marina Caró, offered a warm musical greeting to all attendees.
Prior to the announcement of the official results, the organizers and jury invited the conductors of each choir to the stage. For their outstanding contribution to the development of choral art, special awards were presented to:
- Riaan Oosthuizen (St Cyprian’s School Choir / SOUTH AFRICA)
- Barış BÖCEK (Izmir Ozel Turk Koleji BTK Youth School Choir / TURKIYE)
- Orhun AKINÖNDER (Izmir Ozel Turk Koleji BTK Middle School Choir / TURKIYE)
- Ieva Sutugova (Vocal ensemble FORTUNA / LATVIA)
- Iryna Demianyshyna (COLLEGIUM TECHNICUM / SLOVAKIA)
- Lindy van der Meulen (St Mary’s DSG, Kloof Choir / SOUTH AFRICA)
- Prof. Algirdas Šumskis (Klaipėda University Mixed Choir “Pajūrio Aidos” / LITHUANIA)
- Qi Fang (Shanghai Sfuture Choir / CHINA)
Grand Prix Triumph
The absolute climax of the evening was the announcement of the ultimate award. Winning the highest score from the jury, the Grand Prix of «Golden Voices of Barcelona 2026» was awarded to the choir from South Africa:
🏆 St Cyprian’s School Choir (SOUTH AFRICA) Conductor: Riaan Oosthuizen, Accompanist: Carin van Graan
The ensemble outperformed all competitors thanks to their technically flawless, deeply emotional performance in the youth choirs of equal voices category!
Full score sheets and competition results are available in the attached festival report.
Sacred Harmony: Performance in the Crypt of Sagrada Família
The true highlight of the festival week was the iconic performance inside the Crypt of the Sagrada Família.
Performing beneath the arches of Antoni Gaudí’s masterpiece is a rare honor and a mark of highest prestige for any choir in the world. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Crypt possesses a unique acoustic environment and a sacred atmosphere where every note resonates with sublime clarity.
The nearly two-hour acoustic concert was an unforgettable experience. Sacred music motifs and traditional folk songs performed by choirs from across the globe captivated the congregation, offering everyone present a moment of pure inspiration and cultural unity.
See You in 2027!
«Golden Voices of Barcelona 2026» proved once again that the human voice is the most powerful instrument capable of uniting nations, languages, and cultures. The Fiestalonia Milenio organizing committee expresses its deepest gratitude to all conductors, choir members, and families.
Applications for the upcoming season are now open. Give your choir the stage of Barcelona — see you at «Golden Voices of Barcelona 2027»!