About

From 27-31 July 2022, Leading Voices presents a unique 5-day programme of workshops, masterclasses and lectures for conductors as well as choral and vocal professionals, along with many other social, educational and musical events. The event brings the latest developments in collective singing together in one European platform, providing a central space to learn, co-create and experiment. We will be joined by many inspiring forerunners as well as established artists.

Leading Voices, held in Utrecht, The Netherlands, presents 70+ sessions designed to explore collective singing from a social and artistic perspective. It covers all genres and skill levels, and offers a dynamic platform for conductors, vocal leaders, music teachers, managers, artistic leaders and composers & everyone interested in these professions from all over Europe and beyond.

Leading Voices inspires you to actively explore, experience, and discuss the expansion and future of choral music, helping you to become one of the leading voices of tomorrow. The programme is designed around five themes and divides sessions into five different formats and subformats, so that you can easily select sessions to match your ambitions.

On Saturday, July 30th, special focus will be given to singing with children, both in and outside of the classroom.

Side programme Utrecht Zingt festival

The side programme of Leading Voices offers workshops for singers and low-key concert opportunities for choirs. The concerts will be performed in two different time slots in the afternoon. There will also be several open singings that you can join.

All concerts and open singings are included in your participation fee. If you wish to join a workshop in the side programme, you will need an additional ticket. Please be aware these workshops are designed for amateur singers, and will probably be held in Dutch.

Behind the scenes

Leading Voices is an event by the European Choral Association (ECA). Members of the ECA were asked for their feedback on the programme, and formed an international Music Commission specially for this event, consisting of eight choral professionals from all over Europe. The Music Commission designed the programme for the event, defined the themes and formats, and selected all the session leaders.

ZIMIHC is the local partner of ECA for Leading Voices. They were also involved in the 2009 Europa Cantat festival, and will lead the production of Leading Voices 2022.