Jury 2023

The 2023 Competition Jury

Discover the jury which will award the prizes of the 2023 International Choir Competition in Provence.

Jennifer Tham

Jennifer is a Singaporian Conductor, Composer, International Adjudicator & Artistic Director with more than 30 years of experience. She is graduated with a Master of Fine Arts in Interdisciplinary Arts  from the Simon Fraser University of Vancouver, Canada. She has been honoured with several awards, including the Cultural Medallion, confeered by the President of the Republic of Singapore, awarding the highest artistic accolade of the country. 

Jennifer is curious about the sight of sound and has a multi-modal listening practice as a conductor and composer. Her work is shaped by a love of words, phenomenology, mapping, spatial practices, conceptual art, contemporary music and choral theatre. With the SYC Ensemble Singers (Singapore)—a mixed chamber choir she has directed since 1986—she works at the intersection of the literary, musical and visual cultures, employing staging, movement and lighting design to reify the patterns of new music on stage.

For her role in shaping Singapore’s cultural landscape, she was awarded the Cultural Medallion, the nation’s highest arts accolade, by the President, Republic of Singapore.

Jennifer taught choral conducting and pedagogy at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, and teaches short courses and workshops on repertoire, conducting, and rehearsal technique, equipping young conductors around the world with a toolbox of musicianship games for learning and performing contemporary music. She has chaired and spoken on panels on repertoire and programming at conferences and symposia in Argentina, Denmark, Estonia and Sweden, and was Principal Lecturer at the Lithuanian Conductors Summer Academy hosted by the Lithuanian Choral Union and the Ministry of Culture.

Under the auspices of the Young Musicians’ Society, Jennifer was Artistic Director of the Asia South Pacific Symposium on Choral Music (2001) and its offshoots, the First Aid for Choirs clinics (2002-2017) and Kodaly Seminar Asia series (2009-2016), the latter in partnership with the Kodály Institute of the Liszt Academy of Music (Budapest, Hungary).

For the International Federation for Choral Music (IFCM), Jennifer co-coordinates the Asia Pacific Working Committee and the Asia Pacific Youth Choir.

She represents Singapore on the World Choir Council, and has been on jury at the World Choir Games and other festivals in Asia, Europe and America since 2003.

More info on : https://www.jennifertham.com

Danguolė Aukselienė

Danguole is a Lithuanian Conductor, Educator, Master arrangements and performer. She is graduated from the Lithuanian Academy of Music, and  conducting the famous Kivi Choir, that is 2 times World Champion and winner of the Vocal Ensemble’s Category at the International Choir Competition in Provence 2022. Danguolė is the Lithuanian Choral Conductor of the Year 2021 & 2022.

Danguolė Aukselienė received her primary musical education in her hometown of Panevėžys. She completed accordion studies at Panevėžys Higher Music School. In 1982, he graduated from the Lithuanian Conservatory of Music. Now – the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theater. Here she obtained the specialty of choir conductor. 1980-1990 she sang in the famous mixed chamber choir of the Academy of Music. The choir organized concerts with great orchestras and conductors in Italy, Germany, France, USA…

Danguolė Aukselienė sang in the jazz a cappella vocal ensemble Jazz Land in 1997-2007. The group held concerts not only in Lithuania, but also in the USA, Germany, Austria, and Poland. Chamber and jazz singing styles helped her a lot in her further musical work. As a music expert, 1997 she founded the children’s and youth choir KIVI, which she leads to this day. Danguolė Aukselienė created her own work methodology, which she shares with other pedagogues in various trainings. She facilitated a seminars for conductors and music teachers in Lithuania, Germany (Bona), China (Xiamen,) Switzerland (Basel Music Academy) and many more. Danguolė Aukselienė has arranged a number of music works, Lithuanian folk songs for youth and children’s vocal ensembles.

Actively participated in the activities of the Lithuanian folk song and dance ensemble “Ugnelė”, organized international festivals. Danguolė Aukselienė improved in the field of management in Denmark in 1995, 1996, in Germany (Zonenberg) in 1997. Closely cooperates with the Lithuanian University of Music, participates and gives presentations to students.

From 2016 she is a member of Lithuanian Choral Union, and from 2018 she is became a member of Lithuanian Music Union. Danguolė Aukselienė’s activities were not limited to musical work, she was invited to organize the biggest song festival (music genre vocal ensembles) in Lithuania 2018. She organized and was the artist director of the  I -st concert of vocal ensembles at the Lithuanian National Philharmonic 2018

She is a member of the committee in one of the largest music events in Lithuania. Committee was responsible for the selection of music pieces for the events for choirs and youth ensembles. She is a member  of the jury in the popular vocal ensemble competitions in Lithuania.

Danguolė received many gratitude certificates from the President of Lithuania and other Government institutions for her contribution to and for cherishing Lithuanian music. Prestigious awards “Golden birds” winner in the category of “International shining star” recognized by Lithuanian National Culture Centre – best choir conductor and best choir 2006.  Prestigious awards “Golden birds” winner recognized by Lithuanian National Culture Centre – best choir conductor and best choir  2021.The best children choir and conductor in 2022 (Lithuanian Choral Union). The best children choir conductor in 2021 (Lithuanian National Culture Centre).

Many first-place awards as well as Grand Prix , conducting by Danguolė Aukselienė Children choir KIVI  awards and wins in many international competitions such as in Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Italy, Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands, Norway, Lithuania, Great Britain, Germany, Spain, Latvia, China (Olympic Champion jazz category World Choir Games), Austria, South Korea, Japan, USA, Macedonia, Belgium (Olympic Champion children category World Choir Games) , France.

Annual award of „Gold Disc“ (Lithuanian Music Union). Category –

Danguolė has also been awarded the Lithuanian Choral Conductor of the Year award in 2021 & 2022.

Cinzia Zanon

Cinzia is an Italian choral conductor, graduated from the Music Pollini Conservatory in Padua. She is an educator and specialises in voice training for children and youth. She is also founder and director of several national and international events. Cinzia has won numerous awards around the world, including 3 prizes at the International Choral Competition in Provence 2022: Gold Medal in the Youth Choir category, Gold Medal in the Sacred Music category, and Best Choir Director. 

Cinzia graduated in choral music and choral conducting under the guidance of a remarkable mentor, Professor Bruno Coltro. She is a graduate of the Pollini Conservatory of Music in Padua.

During her professional training, she attended numerous specialisation courses with internationally renowned teachers and is a member of audition commissions and jury for national and international competitions.

She has been a choral conductor of various instrumental and choral groups (women, mixed, children), including the Giovanni Voci Bassano, the Gioventù in Cantata- Marostica & Mélicus.  She has toured in America, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Japan, Australia, Philippines, China and in many European countries.

From 2007 to 2015 she participated in the Regional Artistic Commission of ASAC and from 2014 to 2017 she is part of the National Commission: FENIARCO. She recently joined the World Choral Council, representing Italy.

She is the founder and artistic director of international and national events: ‘Primavera Musicale – incontri corali internazionali’, ‘Canticoro’ and ‘Poesia in Canto’.

She has been awarded the Best Choir Director prize five times, three times in international competitions (1999, 2016 and 2022) and twice in national competitions (2017 – 2022). Among these competitions, there is of course the International Choral Competition in Provence, where Cinzia was recognised as the best choral conductor, after winning the category “Youth Choir” and “Sacred Music”.

Robert Porter

Bob Porter is an English Choral & Orchestra Conductor and Chairman / Artistic Director of the Brandenburg Choral Festival of London.

Robert (Bob) Porter began studying the bassoon aged 11 and at 14 was accepted as a Junior Exhibitioner at the Royal Academy of Music. Two years later, after playing with the National Youth Orchestra, he decided to give up all thoughts of a future in maths, and instead began a career which now encompasses Musician, Conductor, Teacher, Concert Promoter and Artistic Director.

After studying at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama Bob worked as a musician and teacher, returning to Guildhall to teach in the Junior Department from its inception and becoming Head of Wind and Percussion in 1985 – a position he still holds today. As a performer he plays regularly with the London Mozart Players and has worked with every major professional orchestra in London.

In the early 1980s Bob founded the Brandenburg Sinfonia, the first of a group of orchestras under his artistic direction, which now also includes the Brandenburg Brass and Brandenburg Baroque Soloists. Playing regularly both in this country and abroad, one residency, at St Martin-in-the-Fields gave him the idea for a Choral Festival based around some of the most beautiful churches in London.

Starting in 2010 with six concerts at St Martins, the Brandenburg Choral Festival is now the largest and most significant Choral Festival in the country.

In 2019 the Festival boasted more than 70 choirs and 67 concerts, covering the standard masterpieces of the choral repertoire along with jazz, barbershop and gospel, also making it one of the most varied and inclusive Choral Festivals!

In 1991 Bob was made a Freeman of the City of London for services to music – an honour which allows him to drive a flock of sheep over London Bridge! Something he fully intends to do one of these days….

Bob is part of the Jury for the second year in a row.

Luc Coadou

Luc Coadou is a French solo singer specialized in the Baroque repertoire for bass voice of the 17th and 18th centuries. He also works as a choirmaster and conductor and directs the “Ensemble Instrumental de Toulon et du Var” as well as the professional vocal ensemble “Les Voix Animées”. Luc is the President of the Jury. 

Born in the mists of the North, like the Franco-Flemish masters of the Renaissance, Luc Coadou happily passes from the status of singer to that of choir director and ensemble with a constant concern for pedagogy and musicological research. A certain predilection for old repertoires can be found in his university work, he is the author of research on lyrical theater at the time of the French Revolution.

Baritone Luc Coadou began his career as a child singer with the Dunkirk Choir school Les Rossignolets. He studied singing in Lille and perfected with Rachel Yakar and René Jacobs at the Studio Versailles-Opéra.

He sings with many ensembles such as La Chapelle Royale, Les Arts Florissants, Les Musiciens du Louvre, Les Talens Lyriques, Le Parliament of Music, La Grande Écurie and Chambre du Roy and Le Concert Spirituel. From medieval music to contemporary creation, its repertoire combines musical research and eclecticism. He has performed at prestigious festivals and many opera houses as a singer.

As conductor, Luc Coadou conducts among others Mozart’s Requiem and Mass in C, Monteverdi’s Vespro della Beata Vergine, Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, Georg Friedrich Handel’s Le Messie, and numerous lyrical works from the 19th century, including little-known operas by Boieldieu, Weber, Chabrier, Viardot, Bizet, Gounod, Pergolèse, Grétry, Delibes, Terrasse and Offenbach.

Singing teacher, he is invited by the National Conservatory of Music and Dance of Lyon during masterclasses devoted to Renaissance polyphony and has been teaching since 2000 at the National Conservatory with regional influence in Toulon Provence Méditerranée, after having taught for ten years at the Conservatory. from Caen.

With Les Voix Animées, he explores the vast repertoire of a cappella vocal music and especially that of Renaissance polyphony. By creating the ensemble in 2009, Luc Coadou fashioned a veritable sound “toolkit” allowing him to give life and voice to little-known or even forgotten music of the 15th and 16th centuries. Throughout the ensemble’s programs, the “reborn” Josquin, Lassus, Palestrina, Victoria, Byrd re-enchant our 21st century ears and mingle with the works of “contemporaries” Karol Beffa, Dimitri Tchesnokov, Tomas Bordalejo, Léo Collin, Raphaël Languillat, Christophe Demarthe and Romain Bastard specially composed for Les Voix Animées.

In 2023, Luc will chair the Jury for the second time.

Michel Camatte

Michel Camatte is an internationally renowned French choirmaster and conductor. He has been invited for more than 30 years as a member of the jury in the biggest international festivals of choral singing.

Born in Marseille, he began studying music as a child, simultaneously studying piano and choral singing. At the Conservatories of Marseille and Aix en Provence, he was a laureate of the classes of solfeggio, organ, musical writing and conducting.

After teaching harmony for two years at the Faculty of Musicology in Aix en Provence, he obtained the Certificate of Aptitude as Director of the National Conservatory, a position he held at the head of the Conservatories of Clermont-Ferrand, Tours, and Aix en Provence, until his retirement in 2012.

He has been performing for more than 30 years as a professional conductor, leading, successively, the Clermont-Ferrand Symphony Orchestra, the Tours Chamber Orchestra and the student orchestras of the Conservatories of which he is director.

He has also conducted ensembles such as the Cannes Regional Orchestra, the Prague Chamber Orchestra, the Grenoble Instrumental Ensemble, the Orchestre des Concerts Colonne, the Strasbourg Chamber Orchestra, and has been invited to the festivals of Avignon, La Chaise Dieu, La Rochelle and Ville d’Avray.

His double professional practice of orchestra and choir conductor has allowed him to participate in major choral festivals: Europa Cantat in Namur, Choralies “A Coeur Joie” in Vaison la Romaine.

For more than thirty years he has been invited as a member of the jury in major international choral Competition in Wales (Llangollen), Ireland (Cork), Switzerland (Montreux), Greece (Athens) and Italy (Arezzo).

In 2023, Michel will participate for the 2nd time in the International Choral Competition in Provence, as Jury.