We are The Andorran Rock Chorus of Encamp. Ours is recognized for being a unique chorus in Andorra that performs choral versions of pop, rock and chart songs. Our repertoire is based on well-known hit songs with original vocal arrangements for three-and four-part harmony combined with performance elements. We are 45 members all of them boys and girls aged 12 to 16. Our conductors, Jordi Porta and Gil Blasi take us in the world of choral singing through a rock style and make us discover that music can make our dreams come true.
This year our dream is to fly to New York from 17 to 23 June 2017. Our goal is to meet one of the best children's choirs in the United States, the Young People's Chorus of New York City (YPC) and the great composer Jim Papoulis. He composes, orchestrates, and conducts music for dance, film, ensembles, and choirs all over the world.
We are also preparing two very special performances in New York. The first one in the Father Duffy Plaza at Times Square and the second one in the United Nations Headquarters.
In order to realize this project our choir conductors met last summer the American composer Jim Papoulis in Segovia (Spain). After getting in touch with him for several times, Papoulis contacted Francisco Núñez, founder and artistic director of the YPC and arranged a meeting with The Andorran Rock Chorus of Encamp next June 19, 2017. This will be held at the YPC facility located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in Manhattan.
This musical exchange will consist on sharing a rehearsal with the YPC, attending a songwriting workshop with Jim Papoulis and rehearsing some of his works with him. This will let The Andorran Rock Chorus of Encamp to master some of Papoulis’ songs and include them to its repertoire. Jim’s songs often call for a better world, peace, hope, mutual understanding and a better future for all children.
We are also planning a performance in the Father Duffy Plaza at Times Square to celebrate the International Music Day on June 21, 2017.
This musical exchange will include a concert in the United Nations Headquarters organized by the Embassy of Andorra in the U.S. It will be held next June 20, 2017 and means a big honor for everyone at The Andorran Rock Chorus of Encamp. It will be a good way to let the young voices of our country put their grain of sand for a better world and give all their support to the children’s rights.
Our Story
The chorus was created with the aim of promoting the choral singing among teenagers as a way to develop the values of friendship, solidarity and volunteering.
Therefore, the choir sings for local communities, charity associations and NGOs. This gives the choristers a unique experience of sharing great values with others and an opportunity of personal enrichment through music. In 2014 the chorus was awarded the National prize of citizenship as recognition to its participation in solidarity causes and to the generosity of its members.
Since its creation in 2009 The Andorran Rock Chorus of Encamp performs in Andorra, Spain and France in social, cultural and sport events and participates in exchange activities with choruses from other countries. Singers meet twice a week from September to June and give about 20 to 30 public performances each season.
Right from the beginning one of the concerns of the chorus leaders was how to motivate youngsters and make them interested in joining the group. They were willing to offer an alternative experience to the traditional classical chorus and were seeking a new approach to vocal training and entertainment.
This way in 2013 they decided to turn the chorus into a rock chorus by making their own arrangements of some well-known rock songs. They knew this was a good way to follow, but they needed a better structure for their project. Then they got in touch with the United Kingdom's Rock Choir Association with great expectations. Finally in 2014 the dream came true. The Andorran Rock Chorus of Encamp became the first associated chorus from outside the UK.
In June 2015 the group was invited to the annual gala of the Rock Choir Association held in Birmingham (UK). The chorus performed at the National Exhibition Centre in front of an audience of 10.000 people and was acclaimed for its brilliant performance of the song Budapest by George Ezra.
In 2016 The Andorran Rock Chorus of Encamp goes one step further and begins to perform live with the Andorran rock band Black Thursday. Next June the new formation does a great concert full of emotion at the National Auditorium of Andorra. This would be just the beginning of a series of performances in great venues of Andorra during the 2016-17 season.
How we use your donations:
We will use your donations to cover the full trip amount of 5 of our choir members. These includes: flight, accommodation, meals, transfers, cultural visits and travel insurance. The total budget per person is 1715 EUR. Discounting the contribution of 500 EUR per family, the remaining price is 1215 EUR. In total 6075 EUR for the 5 choir members.
The project is financed with choir activities such us concerts, performances, merchandising, concert DVD's, raffles...
We also have the support of the Andorran Ministry of Culture, the Andorran Department of Tourism, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education and the Encamp townhall.
About the rewards:
Get the choir exclusive T-shirts (yellow and purple) and hoodies. All sizes available.
Don't miss the chance of getting the concert DVD live at the National Auditorium of Ordino last June 21, 2016.
+ Info:
Press releases:
Contraportada del Diari d’Andorra 13 de novembre 2016
Article d’opinió de Roser Porta al Diari Bon Dia 02 de gener 2017
Contraportada del Periòdic d’Andorra 11 de gener 2017
Article del Periòdic d’Andorra 12 de gener 2017
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