International Federation for Choral Music

Sam Nicholson, Oceania representative on the YOUNG IFCM Committee of the International Federation for Choral Music, recently travelled to Türkiye for the committee's first in-person meeting in Istanbul. Read Sam’s reflections on the committee’s work and the many highlights of his trip on an article that he recently wrote for eBreve, the monthly newsletter of the New Zealand Choral Federation.

In July 2023, I was fortunate to be appointed the Oceania representative on the youth committee of the International Federation for Choral Music (IFCM). The committee was established with the aim of offering young people across the globe a chance to learn, expand and exchange knowledge and develop in the field of choral music and choral management.

After a year of monthly Zoom meetings, in late November, our committee had the opportunity to meet in person for the first time in Istanbul, Türkiye. As well as meeting with the IFCM youth committee, we were joined in Istanbul by the youth committee of the European Choral Association (ECA). Across the two committees, I enjoyed the chance to meet with and spend time with representatives from Ireland, Portugal, Estonia, Lithuania, Türkiye, Cameroon, Philippines, USA and Chile.

IFCM and ECA youth committees outside the Atatürk Cultural Center in Taksim Square © IFCM and ECA youth committee

Over four days together, our committees met to discuss youth involvement in choral music and leadership, diversity, inclusion and gender balance in the choral world, and sustainability in the arts. The overarching conclusion from these meetings was that the choral world, and the wider arts community, are leading the way in many of these areas but there is always more to be done.

Youth have an important role to play — we have unique insights, ideas and experiences that ought to be valued and sought out. It is initiatives like this youth committee that ensure young people’s voices are heard and valued in our field.

While we are fortunate in New Zealand to have many talented and experienced women in choral leadership positions, that reality is not enjoyed everywhere. The group highlighted conducting, composition and management programmes dedicated to developing choral leaders with equity-based objectives. The group also agreed that making an effort to use inclusive language such as upper or lower voices in the rehearsal room helps to make everyone feel comfortable and welcome.

IFCM youth committee at Müze Gazhape on the Anatolian side © YOUNG IFCM

The IFCM youth committee also made headway progressing our ongoing projects, including exploring new opportunities for international mentoring of young choral leaders, developing our podcast series Unison featuring interviews with some of the top choral leaders from around the world (launching early 2025), and planning the YOUNG cultural management programme at the Pueri Cantores festival in Munich in July 2025 (applications are now open — click here to find out more).

Outside of our meetings, our Turkish hosts treated us to baklava, pide, Turkish coffee, Rakı and şalgam. I particularly enjoyed attending an innovative choral concert presented by Orphe Koro (dir. Gizem Berrak Taş Güzeloğlu) complete with 360-degree wall projections synced to the music, and sitting in on a Rezonans rehearsal (dir. Burak Onur Erdem).

We made time to sing together, exchanging repertoire and reading through the World Choral Day 2024 anthem The Arrow and the Song (Paolo Orlandi) along with music from Türkiye, USA and Samoa (Tofa Mai Feleni).

Orphe Koro concert at HOPE ALKAZAR © Sam Nicholson

Rezonans rehearsal at İstanbul Technical University © Sam Nicholson

I also managed to fit in a day trip to Gallipoli and visits to the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Basilica Cistern and the Grand Bazaar.

Looking down to ANZAC Cove © Sam Nicholson

Hagia Sofia © Sam Nicholson

The trip was a real highlight of my year. I felt privileged to be able to offer a Kiwi perspective in our series of meetings. Despite having such differences in culture, climate, language and time zone (as I have keenly felt in very early morning Zoom meetings!), it was energising and inspiring to be with a group of young people all passionate about choral music.

The other committee members were pleased to hear of the good heart and health of collective singing in Aotearoa New Zealand but also appreciated and empathised with funding and recognition challenges. I have returned to New Zealand with new friends, ideas and perspectives, and a renewed enthusiasm for choral music.

Thank you to IFCM and the ECA — particularly ECA Secretary General, Sonja Greiner — for making this trip possible. Our meetings formed a part of the ECA’s Choral Ties project, co-funded by the European Union.