TEHRAN – The Tehran Vocal Ensemble and the Parse Choir Group, both from Iran, are in competition with rivals from around the world at the 9th World Choir Games, which kicked off in the Russian city of Sochi on July 6.

The Tehran Vocal Ensemble led by conductor Milad Omranlu is scheduled to give variety of performances in the three sections of folklore, a cappella and spiritual and jazz, Omranlu told the Persian service of MNA on Saturday.

Among the pieces the ensemble has chosen to perform are “Crucifxu” by Italian Baroque composer Antonio Lotti, “Virga Jesse” by Austrian composer Anton Bruckner, “Benedictio” by Estonian composer Urmas Sisask and “I Can Tell the World” by American composer and arranger of choral music Moses George Hogan.

Founded by Omranlu in 2006, the Tehran Vocal Ensemble has been honored at several prestigious events worldwide. It grabbed a gold medal at the Mixed Chamber Choirs section and a silver medal at the Folklore section of the 2nd Asian Choir Games, which was held in South Korea in July 2009.

The ensemble also received a gold medal in the Mixed Choir Category of the 11th International Folksong Choir Festival in Barcelona in 2009.

The 9th World Choir Games offers 29 different categories to roughly 300 ensembles coming together from China, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Russia, Afghanistan, Armenia and several other countries.

Winners will be announced at the closing ceremony of the festival on July 16.

Photo: Members of the Tehran Vocal Ensemble pose for an undated photo at the foot of Milad Tower in Tehran.

AFM/YAW