FINALISTS READY FOR THE SEMI-FINAL OF ERIC ERICSON AWARD 2021

Out of more than 90 applicants, eight young choir conductors have advanced to the semi-final of the prestigious Eric Ericson Award competition. The Selection Committee has selected an international starting field with participants from Germany, Latvia, England, France and Russia. These are the finalists of the Eric Ericson Award 2021.

Krista Audere, Latvia

Krista Audere

Krista Audere is a Latvian choir conductor based in Amsterdam. She is regularly engaged as a rehearsal director and conductor at Cappella Amsterdam, Nederlands Kamerkoor and the Netherland’s Radio Choir. In addition to studies at the Conservatory in Riga, Krista Audere has studied choral conducting in Amsterdam and Stuttgart. As a singer, she has collaborated with the Latvian Radio Choir and Cappella Amsterdam.

Julia Selina Blank, Germany

Julia Selina Blank

Julia Selina Blank is a German choir conductor based in Oslo, Norway. She is regularly engaged as a guest conductor with the Slovenian Philharmonic Choir and the Bergen Cathedral Choir in Norway, as well as visiting choirmaster of the Norwegian Soloist Choir, Bavarian Radio’s Choir, MDR in Leipzig and the Swedish Radio Choir in Stockholm. Julia Selina Blank has studied choir conducting in Munich, Stockholm and Oslo.

Harry Bradford, UK

Harry Bradford

Harry Bradford is a British choir conductor based in London. He is the co-founder and director of the professional vocal ensemble Recordare. He has visited, for example, Le Choeur de L’Orchestre de Paris and the Royal Academy of Music Chamber Choir. He heads the Thames Philharmonic Choir, the North Herts Guild of Singers and the Stanmore Choral Society. Harry Bradford has studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London.

Jurgis Cabulis, Latvia

Jurgis Cabulis

Jurgis Cabulis is a Latvian choir conductor based in Riga. He leads the choir conductor training, is the conductor of the chamber choir at Riga Cathedral School and is also assistant conductor of Riga’s professional chamber choir Ave Sol. He has founded, and is the artistic director, of Carnikava’s mixed choir Vēja balss. He regularly collaborates with Latvian professional choirs, as well as the National Forum of Music in Wroclaw. Jurgis Cabulis has studied choral conducting at the Latvian Academy of Music.

Guillemette Daboval, France

Guillemette Daboval

Guillemette Daboval is a French choir conductor based in Lyon. She regularly works with professional as well as amateur choirs and vocal ensembles. In 2017, she started the vocal ensemble Ensemble Esquisses. Guillemette Daboval has studied choral conducting at the National Conservatory of Music and Dance in Lyon. She also holds a degree in music science and music therapy from the University of Montpellier.

Pierre-Louis de Laporte, France

Pierre-Louis de Laporte

Pierre-Louis de Laporte is a French choir conductor based in Lyon. Since 2017, he has been assistant conductor of the National Youth Choir and the French Radio Choir. He regularly collaborates with the Baroque Ensemble Concert Spirituel. Pierre-Louis de Laporte studied at the National Conservatory of Music and Dance in Lyon.

Daniil Lashin, Russia

Daniil Lashin

Daniil Lashin is a Russian choir conductor and singer based in St. Petersburg. He is the conductor of the mixed choir at the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory, choirmaster of the youth choir Lyra and a member of several professional choirs in St. Petersburg. Daniil Lashin studied at the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory in St. Petersburg.

Johanna Soller, Germany

Johanna Soller

Johanna Soller is a German choir conductor and church musician based in Munich. She has been a guest conductor of MDR Radio Choir Leipzig, Nederlandse Bach Vereniging and the Bach Choir in Munich. She has also worked with, for example, Freiburg’s Baroque orchestra, the Hofkapelle in Munich and the Zürcher Singakademie. In 2019, she was appointed musical director of the Munich Chamber Opera. Johanna Soller has studied choir conducting, harpsichord and organ in Munich.