Summa Cum Laude International Youth Music Festival Vienna – Musikverein

The first annual Summa Cum Laude International Youth Music Festival Vienna – Musikverein hosted by VIA MUSICA (Vienna International Association for Music and Culture Exchange) in July 2007 was a grand success. Already during its first year, Vienna's new global festival realized its two main objectives: to provide a unique platform for the world's most talented youth choirs, bands and orchestras to perform in Vienna's magnificent Musikverein and to set new standards in the festival arena.
In 2008, the four-day Summa Cum Laude Festival was under the patronage of Nikolaus Harnoncourt and the Austrian Federal President. Startin in 2008, performing groups may elect to compete with their peers in the prestigious "SCL Competition" or they may opt to participate in the non-competitive "SCL Celebration." Ultimately, all groups will perform in the Musikverein in Vienna, one of the world's finest concert halls, certain to be a highlight for the international participants and audience alike.
Both features of the Summa Cum Laude Festival offer the opportunity to participate in unique workshops that offer an inspirational occasion for individual groups as well as combined ensembles to qualitatively enhance their musical knowledge under the tutelage of distinguished lecturers. Furthermore, performing groups are invited to present their home country and its respective music to the Austrian public during additional concerts taking place in some of Vienna’s most stunning cultural venues and in charming localities in the vicinity of Vienna.
After the final concert all groups are invited by the Lord Mayor of Vienna to an evening dinner at the Town Hall.
Participants can choose to take part in the SCL Competition or in the SCL Celebration.

SCL Competition:
The prestigious competition will be held in the Golden Hall and judged by a selection of top music professionals, all well-respected and well-known internationally. The best ensembles will receive an award by the City of Vienna. At the conclusion of the Festival, every winner of each of the different categories will perform their best work before an international and local audience in the Golden Hall of the Musikverein.
SCL Celebration:
The SCL Celebration has been introduced in order to give ensembles the opportunity to interact and to take part in the festival without having to compete in the competition. The non-competitive program will culminate with the final concert sing-along in the Golden Hall where the participants will present their music to their fellow Celebration-participants from around the world.
Ultimately, this is the true focus of the Summa Cum Laude International Youth Music Festival: to create an environment where young musicians from all over the world can interact on an international level and build bridges amongst themselves.

Via Musica shall decide on the acceptance of applicants within 2 weeks after having received all the required materials.

Participation fee between 85 an 115 Euro per participant (depending on time of registration).