The Choir Times

During the Golden Gate International Choral Festival, we had the opportunity to talk with Sanna Salminen, conductor of Vox Aurea from Finland. 🇫🇮 Sanna shares what makes Vox Aurea unique, advice for young singers hoping to perform at competition level, genres of music that Vox Aurea sings, and what she hopes the audience feels through their music. 🎵

A powerful choral opera brings a forgotten chapter of history to life and asks audience members to reflect on their role in shaping the future. History can repeat itself—unless people choose to remember it. Echoes of Eureka, a choral opera by Eric Tuan, tells the story of the expulsion of Chinese residents from Eureka, California—a chapter of history that is often overlooked, yet far from irrelevant. Through music and storytelling, the opera becomes more than a retelling; it

Excitement is bubbling as young singers from around the world gather in anticipation of one of the United States’ only international children’s choral festivals—the 2026 Golden Gate International Children’s and Youth Choral Festival, hosted by the Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir. From July 13–18 in the San Francisco Bay Area, choirs will come together to perform, compete, and most importantly, make connections that go beyond music. For a first-time participant like Erik Ba

As the days on the calendar fly by, the excitement continues to build for the 2026 Golden Gate International Choral Festival. Rather than just a gathering of talented young singers, the festival serves as a bridge between cultures, bringing together children from around the world through a shared love of music. From July 13th to the 18th, 2026, singers will partake in competitions, performances, and cultural exchanges that go beyond music. Sponsored every three years by the P

A choir can be full of talented singers yet still sound...stuffy. So what actually makes a choir sound good? While talent is a significant part, many components fit into what makes a choir sound good. A choir is like a sandwich—you need good ingredients, but more importantly, they need to actually work together. Choir is not solo singing. A choir is special because it’s one of the few places where blending in is more important than standing out. Rather than trying to sound li