WestEastChord – West versus East Choral Music Erasmus Project

Project Title

WestEastChord – West versus East Choral Music

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for adult education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2017

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Intercultural/intergenerational education and (lifelong)learning; Creativity and culture; ICT – new technologies – digital competences

Project Summary

The project WestEastChord was created of the participants’ necessity to learn, understand and put into practice the different approaches of East European and West European (choral) sacred music.
The beneficiary was Choral Society “Armonia” of Preveza, Greece. The partner from Bulgaria, Vassil Arnaoudov Sofia Chamber Choir, was selected as a choral group singing more classical, East European sacred music, while the partner from Slovenia, Academic Society University of Primorska, was selected as a choral group singing more modern, West European sacred music.
The main objective of the project was the exchange of knowledge and practices, through which the participants had the chance to acquire relevant and high quality skills and competences, including basic, transversal and soft skills, foreign language and digital skills. Also, the participants had the opportunity to develop better understanding and responsiveness to social, ethnic, linguistic and cultural diversity as well as a more active participation in society.
The project was supported by 3 transnational project meetings, held in Preveza, Greece in which the representatives of the 3 partners met, discussed and decided on important subjects concerning the project, for example, how communication would be realized, how the actual learning/teaching would be accomplished, who the active participants would be, which the music works used for learning/teaching would be, the schedule and responsibilities of each partner, the details of the learning/teaching/training activity in Sofia, Bulgaria, assessment and dissemination of the project’s results, etc.
In short, at the first transnational project meeting, representatives of the 3 partners met and decided, among other things – the works that would be used for the learning/teaching. The 3 conductors were responsible for finding and teaching the theoretical, historical, cultural and practical material. At first, the participants were taught separately, each choir on its own, using the same material and having regular communication, so as to follow similar pace. After this step was completed, the participants met in Sofia, Bulgaria, where they were taught all together, they had rehearsals and gave two concerts under the direction of the conductors of the 3 partners choirs. The first one was held in the premises of the University of Sofia and broadcast live by the National Radio of Bulgaria. In the concert they presented the works used for teaching/learning, putting into practice all the knowledge they had acquired in the project. It was a very glamorous and moving event, which resulted in stronger relationships among the participants.
The choristers of the 3 partners were and still are a lot more than the actual participants in the project, the material used in it as well as all the practical information was accessible to them and of course they used it to learn more and improve their music knowledge and singing skills. Furthermore, on the days of the transnational project meetings and after they had been completed, workshops were also realized with the participation of conductors and musicians from Greece and abroad. In the workshops, the conductors of the 3 partners presented the project and some of the works used in it, giving details on their teaching. These workshops weren’t included in the original application and schedule, but they came up as an idea during the first transnational project meeting, as a means of dissemination, and they were warmly welcomed by those who attended them. Some of them even expressed the desire to participate in on realise themselves European projects in the future.
From all the above, it becomes obvious that the active participants in the project were 64 people, but the people who really benefited and were affected by the project were of a much greater number.
For the purposes of the project and in order to present it and its results, both a website and a booklet were created. The website remain active for a long time, even though the project has been completed, while the booklet will be sent to music schools in their countries and the local libraries of the 3 partners so that anyone who wishes will have the opportunity to use it and take advantage of the information in it.
Concerning the evaluation of project, before its end, questionnaires were given to its active participants who completed them and made a few suggestions or comments. Also, the people responsible for its realization, those who attended the 3 transnational meetings assessed it and its results. According to all the above, the project was a great success, not only for the results on its active participants, but also for the impact it had on other people involved with music, relevant stakeholders as well as the local communities. Last but not least, the 3 partners created strong bonds and better understanding for each one’s culture and most importantly their cooperation set a good example for others to follow.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 39655 Eur

Project Coordinator

Choral Society Armonia of Preveza & Country: EL

Project Partners

• Vassil Arnaoudov Sofia Chamber Choir
• Academic society University of Primorska