54^th Festival of Songs Olomouc

A big thanks to all our judges who accepted the invitation to the 53rd Festival of Songs Olomouc 2026 and took on a difficult task to evaluate individual performances of choirs and vocal ensembles during the competitions. We hope that they provided you valuable advices for further work with the choir.

Dear judges, thank you for your time and all the energy you decided to put into our festival.

In the photo Jason Lester (USA), Jan Vičar (CZE), Milan Kolena (SVK), Kuldar Schüts (EST), Michael Šust (USA), Benedykt Blonski (POL), Blanka Juhaňáková (SVK), Lenka Polášková (CZE) together with Milan Motl, the artistic director of the festival.

Congratulations to the American youth Palm Beach Atlantic University Choir, who brings home the title of The Absolute winner of the MUNDI CANTANT Competition from the 53rd International Festival of Songs Olomouc!

This choir led by the choirmaster Sonia Gonzalez Santiago explores a broad and dynamic repertoire and performs regularly at both campus and community events. From the local stage to national platforms, such as our performance of Mozart’s Requiem at Carnegie Hall, the Choir consistently bears witness to the power of music as ministry. This year, the ensemble continues its mission of global outreach, with a tour through the Czech Republic, Germany and Austria.

We would also like to congratulate to the winners of other festival awards:

THE BEST PERFORMANCE OF A CZECH COMPOSITION:
Zdeněk Lukáš: Čepení
Gloria Brunensis (Brno, CZE, choirmaster Natalia Chirilenco)

THE BEST PERFORMANCE OF A COMPOSITION BY A NORDIC COMPOSER:
Ola Gjeilo: Ubi Caritas
Palm Beach Atlantic University Choir (West Palm Beach, USA, choirmaster Sonia Gonzalez Santiago)

THE AUDIENCE AWARD:
Chór Dziewczęcy PARADISO (Poznań, POL, choirmaster Karolina Piotrowska-Sobczak)
Number of votes: 2112

THURSDAY 4. 6.

Corpus Christi Chapel, Palacký University Arts Centre
11.00–12.00 International Choir Competition MUNDI CANTANT – non-competitive senior categories

Sokol House Olomouc-Chválkovice
16.00 Choir concert

Corpus Christi Chapel, Palacký University Arts Centre
18.00 Opening concert

FRIDAY 5. 6.

Reduta Hall
9.00–14.30 International Choir Competition MUNDI CANTANT 

Fresco Hall of the Comenium Olomouc
14.00–15.00 International Vocal Ensemble Competition VOCALIS BELLUS

Reduta Hall
15.30–16.15 Competition results announcement

St. Moritz Church
18.30 Concert in Honor of St. Pauline

SATURDAY 6. 6.

Auditorium Pöttingeum
9.00–15.30 International Choir Competition MUNDI CANTANT 

Reduta Hall
9.00–16.00 International Choir Competition MUNDI CANTANT 

Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary 
13.00–16.00 International Choir Competition MUNDI CANTANT 

Reduta Hall
16.30–18.00 Competition results announcement
19.00 Absolute Winner Competition MUNDI CANTANT

Upper Square Olomouc
20.30 Open air concert “With Nordic stars”