Singers of a choir calling out during a Voices of Spirit concert in Graz

13th International Choral Festival Graz

Bring your choir to Graz.

Four days of concerts, workshops and singing together in Austria's unofficial choral capital. Perform on real stages, rehearse with internationally renowned artists, meet choirs from around the world, and make Graz your choir’s home for four days. Artists in Residence 2027: Ringmasters

Apply for your choir trip Explore the packages

Festival dates5 - 8 May 2027

Registration until15 February 2027

Participation feeFrom EUR 350 per choir

About the Festival

Our Spirit

Since 2014 the Styrian Choral Association has presented Voices of Spirit: a festival that makes music tangible in a unique way. At its heart is the collaboration between choirs, ensembles, individual singers and internationally renowned artists.

The idea is simple: come to Graz to perform, learn, listen and sing together.

Over four days, you can take part in concerts, workshops, masterclasses, project choirs and coachings, while meeting singers and ensembles from Austria and around the world.

In 2027, our Artists in Residence are Ringmasters, the Swedish barbershop quartet who made history in 2012 as the first non-American winners of the Barbershop Harmony Society’s world championships.

Graz’s historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the unofficial choral capital of Austria. Choirs, ensembles and everyone who loves to sing are invited to make Graz and the beautiful region of Styria the destination of their next choir trip.

Enjoy the Mediterranean flair of Graz and make the most of the festival week, with excursions, choir encounters, coachings, project choirs and performances.

Franz M. Herzog · Artistic Director

Photo: Peter Purgar

13thedition of the festival

2014first Voices of Spirit

4days of festival

7ways for your choir to perform

The Festival in Four Minutes

See What Voices of Spirit Feels Like

Every year we film the festival. Watch the latest film and get a sense of what four days in Graz with hundreds of singers actually looks like.

Voices of Spirit 2026

Four days, thousands of singers and a city that turns into one big stage.

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Films from earlier years Festival photos

Ringmasters, barbershop quartet from Sweden, in black tie on a velvet sofa

Barbershop world champions 2012

Photo: Tomas Ahme

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Artists in Residence 2027

Ringmasters

Four voices from Sweden who have redefined what a barbershop quartet can be. In 2012 they became world champions – the first quartet from outside the United States to win the international title in the more than fifty-year history of the competition. In 2027 they will spend the whole festival with you in Graz.

Their shows move effortlessly between barbershop classics, Broadway and film, the Beatles and Elvis Presley. Their sound is precise, warm and unmistakably theirs, with the ringing chords, close harmony and performance energy that make barbershop so distinctive.

As Artists in Residence, they are not only on stage. They rehearse with festival singers, coach choirs and ensembles, and invite participants to discover the sound, style and traditions of their genre in a workshop open to every festival guest. Whatever repertoire your choir normally sings, you’ll leave Graz with something from these four.

What Ringmasters Do in Graz

Thu 6 May, 20:00

Gala Concert

The festival’s big night. Barbershop classics, Broadway, film music, the Beatles and Elvis – a vibrant show that keeps you on your toes.

Cat. 1 EUR 55 · Cat. 2 EUR 40 · Cat. 3 EUR 25. 30 % off for festival choirs

Thu 6 May, 10:15 to 11:00

Workshop: Fascination Barbershop

Dive into the sound of barbershop. With Ringmasters, discover the style, groove and traditions of this unique genre, with the focus on blend, timing, harmony and performance. Open to all festival participants.

EUR 15, or EUR 60 with the workshop pass

By Arrangement

Choir Coachings with Ringmasters

Ninety minutes of direct feedback from Ringmasters on sound, intonation, stage presence and musical expression. Practical, individual and inspiring.

EUR 300 per coaching, included in Choir Trip PLUS

7 and 8 May

Project Choir: Voices of Men

Led by Rasmus Krigström, lead singer of Ringmasters. Rehearsals across two days, followed by a final concert. Programme: Ubi caritas, It Is Well With My Soul and Limu Limu Lima.

Final concert: Sat 8 May, 20:30. EUR 20 per person, EUR 10 for festival choirs

Sat 8 May, 20:30

Festival Finale: Voices United

The final evening, with the project choirs and the participants of the ensemble singing masterclass, all on one stage.

EUR 35, general admission

Work with Ringmasters

Perform · Learn · Sing Together

Your Choir Trip

Two packages, one festival. You choose how deeply your choir wants to get involved. Both packages include performance opportunities, the Singalong with the other festival choirs and 30% off all festival concert tickets.

Choir Trip

Performance opportunities and Singalong

EUR 350per choir, registration until 15 February 2027

What Is Included

Performance slots by arrangement Tell us what your choir would like to do and we’ll help you find the right option.
Singalong Sing together with the other participating choirs.
30% discount Registered festival choirs receive 30% off all festival concert tickets.
EUR 10 instead of EUR 20 Participation fee per person for the project choirs.

Optional extras

Workshops, choir coachings, project choirs and concert tickets can be booked separately.

Choir Trip PLUS

Everything in Choir Trip, plus a coaching worth EUR 300.

EUR 550per choir, registration until 15 February 2027. You save EUR 100 compared with booking the coaching separately.

What Is Included

Everything that is included in Choir Trip: performance slots by arrangement, the Singalong with the other choirs, 30 % off all concert tickets and the reduced project choir fee of EUR 10 per person.
And on top: 90 minutes of exclusive coaching with one of our renowned coaches, on sound, intonation, stage presence and expression, tailored to your choir. Booked separately, the coaching costs EUR 300, so this package saves you EUR 100.

Optional extras

Workshops, project choirs, concert tickets and additional coachings.

Travel, Accommodation and the Rest of Your Week

Travel, accommodation and meals are arranged by each choir. Our partner Graz Tourismus is happy to put together a package with accommodation and meals and to organise guided city tours and excursions on request. You are just as welcome to organise everything yourself and simply register for the festival. Once you register, we’ll send you confirmation and all the information you need for planning your stay.

Send a non-binding enquiry

Choir performing at the Long Night of Choirs in the Landhaushof in Graz

Your Stage Time

Seven Ways to Perform

Tell us what suits your choir and we will find the right opportunity together. Every performing choir is part of the festival programme, from the opening night to the open air finale.

Wed 5 May

Long Night of Choirs

19:00 to 21:30, eight to ten venues across Graz’s historic centre.

25 minutes

Thu 6 May

Church Service

10:00 to 11:00, sing as part of a church service in Graz.

By arrangement

By Arrangement

Singing in a Hospital

A short concert for patients and staff, for example in the chapel of the Albert-Schweitzer-Klinik, at the Elisabethinen or in the Leonhardkirche of the LKH.

20 to 30 minutes

Thu 6 May

Welcome Voices, Festival Opening

17:30 to 19:00, all festival choirs give the audience a first taste of their music.

1 to 2 pieces

Fri 7 May

Out of Graz Friendship Concert

19:00 to 21:00, a concert together with a local choir in one of the towns around Graz.

30 minutes

Fri 7 May

Festival Choir Concerts

18:30 and 20:30, the main evening concerts for festival choirs.

20 minutes

Sat 8 May

Open Air at the Landhaushof

11:00 to 13:00, a free open-air stage in the heart of the city.

15 minutes

Singalong with the other festival choirs is included in both packages.

Performance slots are arranged individually after registration. Tell us your preferences in the enquiry form.

Coming on Your Own

For Individual Singers

You do not need a whole choir to be part of Voices of Spirit. Every year singers come to Graz on their own, join a project choir, take part in workshops and participate in the Singalong with a few hundred other voices. Here’s what you can do.

Project Choirs

EUR 20 per person, EUR 10 for singers from a registered festival choir

Voices of Pop with Karin Courtnay, Voices of Men with Rasmus Krigström and Voices of Women with Jing Ling-Tam. Two or three days of rehearsals, then a final concert in front of a festival audience.

Workshops

EUR 15 each, EUR 60 for the pass with all six

Six workshops on Thursday 6 May, from the morning warm-up with Tori Longdon to barbershop with Ringmasters and Asia meets America with Jing Ling-Tam. All workshops are held in English.

Masterclasses

From EUR 50 as a listener

Conducting, vocal jazz or ensemble singing, as an active participant or as a listener. Every masterclass ends with a concert.

Singalong

Free entry

Saturday morning in the Bernhardinsaal. Hits of choral music with Franz M. Herzog and Miriam Ahrer, everyone is welcome, no registration needed.

Sing Together

Free entry

Saturday at one o'clock in the Landhaushof, in the middle of the old town. Everyone is invited to sing together with Franz M. Herzog and guests.

Concerts

Free entry to EUR 55

From the Long Night of Choirs to the gala concert with Ringmasters and the festival finale, the concerts are open to everyone.

Our Recommendation

The Festival Pass

One pass for the whole festival: admission to all eight concerts, always in the best ticket category, plus the Workshop Pass for all six workshops. Bought separately, that’s EUR 309. Reduced, the Festival Pass costs EUR 190. The easiest way to take part if you are travelling on your own.

EUR 245

Sing with Everyone

Project Choirs

Three project choirs, three conductors, three final concerts. Join an international choir for a few days and perform on stage with it at the final concert. Anyone can take part, individually or as part of your choir.

EUR 20 per person, EUR 10 for singers of a registered festival choir. Participants are expected to learn the repertoire in advance; scores will be sent out in good time.

Voices of Pop

Karin Courtnay

Rehearsals

6 May, 14:30 to 16:30. 7 May, 09:30 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 15:30.

Final Concert

7 May, 18:00 to 19:30

Programme

Human (Rag'n'Bone Man, arr. Oliver Gies)
Make You Feel My Love (Bob Dylan, arr. Malene Rigtrup)
The Seed (Aurora, arr. Zoe Suhm, adapted by Max Loerzer)

Venues to be announced

Voices of Men

Rasmus Krigström

Rehearsals

7 May, 09:30 to 12:00 and 13:30 to 16:00. 8 May, 15:00 to 16:30.

Final Concert

8 May, 20:30

Programme

Ubi caritas (Ola Gjeilo)
It Is Well With My Soul (barbershop arrangement by David Harrington)
Limu Limu Lima (Swedish folk song, arr. Rasmus Krigström)

Venues to be announced

Voices of Women

Jing Ling-Tam

Rehearsals

7 May, 09:30 to 12:00 and 13:30 to 16:00. 8 May, 17:00 to 18:30.

Final Concert

8 May, 20:30

Programme

Gott ist mein Hirt (Franz Schubert)
Love Is Here to Stay (George Gershwin, arr. Kirby Shaw)
Music Down in My Soul (gospel, arr. Moses Hogan)

Venues to be announced

Work with the Professionals

Masterclasses

Compact, inspiring and at the highest level. Four masterclasses for conductors, singers and ensembles, each ending with a concert in front of a festival audience.

Registration deadline for all masterclasses is 15 January 2027. Participants receive 30 % off every festival concert ticket. Your place is confirmed once we have accepted your registration and received your payment.

Conducting

Led by Tori Longdon (UK)

5 to 8 May 2027

Studio choir: Vocalforum Graz

For committed choral conductors who want to deepen their craft in theory and in practice. The renowned Vocalforum Graz serves as the studio choir, giving participants the opportunity to test ideas and techniques on a real ensemble under professional guidance.

RepertoireJohn Rutter: Hymn to the Creator of Light. J. S. Bach: Jesu meine Freude BWV 227. Josef Gabriel Rheinberger: Abendlied. James MacMillan: O Radiant Dawn. Claudio Monteverdi: Cantate Domine. Charles Villiers Stanford: Beati quorum via.

PlacesMax. 8 active, 10 observers

FeeActive EUR 350, students EUR 250. Observer EUR 50.

Final ConcertSat 8 May 2027, 15:00, Andräkirche. Course venue: Johann Joseph Fux Konservatorium.

Conducting for Amateur Choirs

Led by Helmut Zeilner (AT)

6 to 8 May 2027

Studio choir: KlangScala Salzburg

The same conducting craft, with the realities of the amateur choir in mind. In the spirit of learning from one another, Helmut Zeilner responds individually to the different abilities in the room, with KlangScala Salzburg as the studio choir.

RepertoireBaldassare Donati: Villanella alla Napolitana. Claudio Monteverdi: Christe, adoramus te a 5. Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy: Herr, nun lässest du deinen Diener in Frieden fahren. Anton Heiller: Nörgeln. Augustinus Fr. Kropfreiter: Warum. Alarich Wallner: Abendstimmung. Helmut Zeilner: Hab meinen Engel verloren. Spiritual, arr. Houston Bright: I Hear a Voice a Praying.

PlacesMax. 8 active, 15 observers

FeeActive EUR 250, students EUR 200. Observer EUR 50.

Final ConcertSat 8 May 2027, 15:00, Andräkirche. Course venue: to be announced.

Vocal Jazz Music

Led by Simone Kopmajer (AT)

5 to 7 May 2027

For singers

Simone Kopmajer is a jazz singer, voice teacher and pianist, winner of the Hans Koller Prize, with 14 solo albums and concerts across Europe, Asia and the USA. You work on microphone technique, jazz, gospel and pop styles, stage improvisation and two prepared pieces. Daily group coachings from Wednesday to Friday plus three individual 20-minute coachings.

RepertoireTwo pieces prepared by each participant, plus repertoire selected during the class.

PlacesMax. 8 participants

FeeEUR 250, students EUR 200. Cancellation: full refund up to 8 weeks before the festival, 50 % up to 4 weeks before.

Final ConcertFri 7 May 2027, 16:00, Voices in Jazz. Course venue: to be announced.

Ensemble Singing

Led by Blake Morgan (US), VOCES8

6 to 8 May 2027

For vocal ensembles

Three days inside the world of professional ensemble singing. Blake Morgan works with vocal ensembles of different styles on the foundations of a convincing ensemble sound. The masterclass includes three 90-minute sessions with all participating ensembles on sound, intonation and interpretation, plus two intensive 30-minute coachings for each ensemble on sound, interpretation and stage presence.

RepertoireAnnounced ahead of the festival.

Places3 existing ensembles, max. 12 individual participants

FeeEUR 500 per ensemble, EUR 75 per individual participant.

Final ConcertSat 8 May 2027, 20:30, Voices United. Course venue: to be announced.

Ask about a masterclass place

One Morning, Six Impulses

Workshops

Six workshops, all on Thursday 6 May 2027, all held in English. Take one workshop or make a full day of it with the Workshop Pass. All workshops are open to festival singers and choir leaders.

EUR 15 per workshop

EUR 60 for the workshop pass, all six workshops

Venue: to be announced. Workshop language: English.

Thursday 6 May 2027

109:00 to 10:00

The Ultimate Warm-up for Body, Soul and Voice

Tori Longdon (UK)

Start the day fully charged. Together with Tori Longdon you activate body and voice, improve breathing, sound and presence and prepare yourself for a day of singing. An inspiring warm-up full of movement, energy and musical impulses, for singers of all levels.

Book now

210:15 to 11:00

Fascination Barbershop

Ringmasters (SE)

Dive into the world of barbershop sound. With Ringmasters you discover the style, the groove and the traditions of this unique genre. The focus on blend, timing, harmony and performance makes this workshop an energising experience full of precision and musical passion.

Book now

311:15 to 12:00

The Art of Ensemble Singing

Blake Morgan (US)

Precision, sound and musical connection. With Blake Morgan of VOCES8 the art of ensemble singing takes centre stage. Focusing on blend, balance, intonation and musical expression, you will discover new approaches to creating a homogeneous choral sound and lively interpretations.

Book now

413:00 to 13:45

Let's Groove

Karin Courtnay (AT)

Feel the rhythm, unfold the sound and groove together. This workshop puts vocal percussion, timing, expression and the joy of making music together at the centre. Let yourself be carried along and discover new colours and energy for your choral sound.

Book now

514:00 to 14:45

Mysterium Mozart Requiem

Howard Arman (UK)

Howard Arman leads you into the fascinating sound world of Mozart's Requiem. Expression, historical context and the emotional depth of this masterpiece take centre stage, alongside text and musical tension in one of the most significant works of the choral repertoire.

Book now

615:00 to 15:45

Asia Meets America

Jing Ling-Tam (US)

Two choral traditions, one shared passion. Under the direction of Jing Ling-Tam the musical traditions of Taiwan and America meet. Discover new sound worlds, varied choral literature and inspiring rehearsal methods, full of musical diversity and intercultural exchange.

Book now

Workshop Pass, all workshops EUR 60

One ticket for all six workshops on Thursday 6 May 2027. Booking via eventim-light.

90 Minutes, Only for Your Choir

Coachings

New impulses for sound, community and expression. A coaching is the one moment of the festival that belongs to your choir alone.

EUR 300per coaching

Duration1.5 hours

VenueTo be announced

Included inChoir Trip PLUS

Book your coaching together with your choir trip enquiry. Slots are limited.

Ringmasters

Artists in Residence, Sweden

Direct feedback from Ringmasters. Work directly with Ringmasters on sound, intonation, blend, stage presence and musical expression. Practical, individual and inspiring, your ensemble or choir leaves with new impulses for its sound and its performance.

Jing Ling-Tam

Choral conductor, USA

Jing Ling-Tam brings the sound worlds of Taiwan and America together and gives choirs valuable impulses for sound, expression and interpretation. Work on choral sound, musical shaping and on bringing choral literature to life. For choirs and ensembles that want to find new perspectives.

Request a coaching

5 to 8 May 2027

Program

Four days, from the Long Night of Choirs through the gala concert with Ringmasters to the open-air finale. Concerts are shown in colour, the daytime program of workshops, masterclasses, rehearsals and coachings is listed in grey. Registered festival choirs get 30 % off every concert ticket.

Program as of today, subject to change.

Wednesday 5 May 2027