Encounters over the choral score 2025
8th International Conducting Competition!
Dear friends of choral music and conducting,
We are pleased to invite you to the 8th International Conducting Competition – Encounters over the Choral Score, a unique event dedicated to the art and mastery of choral conducting.
This year brings several new features:
- Adjusted competition categories – category A for conductors under 35
- Interesting financial prizes
- International jury composed of renowned experts
- Exceptional participating ensemble – renowned Slovak Teachers’ Choir (Spevácky zbor slovenských učiteľov - SZSU)
doc. Mgr. art. Milan Kolena, ArtD.
Conductor, educator, expert in sacred music
Milan Kolena earned his degree in choral conducting at the Faculty of Music, Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava (1994). In 2002 he successfully completed his doctoral studies in collaboration with the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna. In 2014 he was granted the academic title of docent (associate professor) in the field of Music Arts – Choral Conducting.
He serves as a senior lecturer in choral conducting and Gregorian chant at the Department of Composition and Conducting, and since 2020 has held the position of Vice-Dean for Faculty Development and Artistic Activities. His specialization is sacred choral music and Gregorian chant. In this field, he leads workshops and lectures at prestigious universities, choir festivals, and at the World Choir Games in South Africa.
As the conductor of the Apollo Choir, he has achieved outstanding international placements, including the Grand Prix in Moscow (2018), four gold medals in St. Petersburg (2015), and the Fra Angelico Award (2010) for his contribution to Christian values in music. He also serves as the artistic director of Schola Gregoriana Bratislavensis and is artistic director of six international music festivals in Bratislava.
Since 2015 he has been Vice-President of the World Choir Association and a member of the Council of the World Choir Games. He is regularly invited as Chair or member of international jury panels at choir festivals in Europe and Asia, as well as at the World Choir Games.
Prof. Mgr. art. et Mgr. art. Štefan Sedlický, ArtD.
Conductor, Pedagogue, University Professor
Professor Štefan Sedlický studied piano at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava (1985–1990) and continued with studies in choral conducting from 1989, completing them in 1994 under Prof. Peter Hradil.
He currently serves as Professor of Conducting at the Academy of Arts in Banská Bystrica and at the Conservatory in Žilina. He is the conductor of several distinguished choirs, including the Slovak Teachers’ Choir, Žilina Mixed Choir, and Cantica Collegium Musicum Martin.
Under his leadership, his ensembles have earned numerous awards at prestigious national and international competitions, including First Prize in Spittal (1992), Second Prize in Llangollen (1997), honors at the Palestrina Competition in Rome, and the Grand Prix at the Prague Choir Days (2000). From 1998 to 2008, he led the J. Cikker Academic Choir at Matej Bel University, winning top prizes at the IFAS Pardubice and ABB competitions. Since 2002, he has been the conductor and artistic director of the Slovak Teachers’ Choir, achieving major successes such as the Premio (1st Prize) in Gorizia (2007), the Special Jury Award in Neuchâtel (2010), three gold awards and two special jury prizes at Praga Cantat 2024, and a gold medal at the European Choir Games 2025.
He has recorded several CDs with his choirs, collaborates with Slovak Radio, and regularly performs with the State Chamber Orchestra in Žilina. He is a frequent jury member at national and international choral competitions.
Prof. J. Scott Ferguson
Emeritus Professor of Choral Conducting, Illinois Wesleyan University (USA)
Professor J. Scott Ferguson is Emeritus Professor at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington (USA), where he served from 1996 to 2024 as Chair of the Department of Choral Music. During his tenure, he directed several university choirs, most notably the Collegiate Choir, which undertook annual tours throughout the United States and seven international tours, performing in Italy, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Russia, Spain, Germany, France, Poland, South Africa, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic.
In 2020, under his leadership, the Collegiate Choir became the first American ensemble invited to the prestigious Woordfees Festival in Stellenbosch, South Africa, where its concert was nominated for Best Classical Vocal Performance. In 2024, the choir was awarded the Grand Prix at the Voce Magna International Choral Competition in Žilina, Slovakia.
Professor Ferguson is a strong advocate for contemporary choral composition — more than 28 works by internationally acclaimed composers have been commissioned at his initiative. As a lecturer and expert in choral conducting, he has led workshops, masterclasses, and conferences across the United States, Europe, South Africa, and South America. He regularly serves as a juror at international choral competitions.
Participants of the 8th International Conducting Competition 2025
Category A:
- Oleksandra Diachenko – Slovakia
Master’s student at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava. Conductor of the children’s choirs Happy Dreams and Sirénčiatka, participant in conducting courses and competitions, pianist, active singer, and conductor. - Daniel Kadlec – Czech Republic
Student at the Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Brno and of Musicology at Charles University in Prague. In 2025, he began a one-year course with Erwin Ortner in Vienna, focusing on choral conducting and ensemble leadership. - Lukáš Marek – Czech Republic
Student of choral conducting and music education at the Faculty of Education of the University of Ostrava. Founder of the Bystrouška Choir and piano teacher at the Elementary School of Arts in Ostrava-Vratimov. - Péter Oravecz – Hungary
Student of choral conducting at the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music in Budapest. Currently conductor of the Capital City Choir of Budapest, participant in conducting competitions, active conductor. - Natália Perďochová – Slovakia
Master’s student at the Academy of Arts in Banská Bystrica. Assistant conductor of the women’s academic choir Cansona Neosoliensis, participant in conducting competitions, active singer, and conductor. - Yelyzaveta Yanko – Slovakia
Graduate of the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava, majoring in conducting. Within the Junior Cycle project, she collaborated with the Slovak Philharmonic. Conductor of the Evangelical Choir Alis, participant in conducting competitions.
Category B:
- Václav Kerber – Czech Republic
Student at the Faculty of Education of Charles University in Prague, member of the Czech Student Philharmonic (violin), participant in conducting courses. Currently assistant choirmaster of the Post Scriptum Choir and conductor of the Žižkov Philharmonic. - Marie Apolena Stamberg – Czech Republic
Student at the Faculty of Education of Charles University in Prague. Currently leader of the children’s schola at the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary at Karlov in Prague. Collaborates with the student choir Collegium 2010 and the Prague ensemble Hora Fugit.
The Slovak Teachers’ Choir was founded on 3 March 1921 in Trenčín, largely thanks to the enthusiasm of teachers from the former Trenčín County and the efforts of its founder, Prof. Miloš Ruppeldt. Since its establishment, it has operated as a representative male vocal ensemble with nationwide reach, continuously promoting and developing the tradition of Slovak choral art both at home and abroad. Over its more than 104-year history, the choir has become an important cultural institution and a symbol of professionalism, continuity, and artistic excellence.
Since January 2002, the choir has been led by Prof. Štefan Sedlický, ArtD. Under his direction, the ensemble has achieved significant successes, including: World Choir Games in Riga (2014) – gold medal, Slovakia Cantat (2019), Bratislava – Grand Prix, two gold awards, and a special prize for the best conductor, Praga Cantat (2024) – three gold awards, category winner prize, and two special jury prizes, European Choir Games & Grand Prix of Nations (2025), Aarhus – gold and silver medals.
On the occasion of its 100th anniversary in 2021, the choir published a commemorative book, released a CD of historical recordings, and held celebratory concerts in Bratislava and Košice. The National Bank of Slovakia issued a commemorative silver coin, and Slovenská pošta released a special postage stamp in honor of this milestone.
In 2024, the Slovak Teachers’ Choir received the Alexander Dubček State Award for outstanding contributions to the development of culture and the representation of Slovak vocal art.
We look forward to seeing you!
With musical regards,
Team SNZP
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