RULES
DATE AND VENUE
The 8th International Leevi Madetoja Male Voice Choir Competition will be held at the Oulu Music Centre (Oulun Musiikkikeskus, Leevi Madetojan katu 3, 90140 Oulu, Finland) on Saturday, April 18, 2026.
If the number of participants requires it, the organizer reserves the right to relocate part of the competition to another venue in Oulu.
PARTICIPANTS
The competition includes an international series, a national series, and a review (non-competitive) series.
Foreign choirs may participate in either the international series or the review series.
Professional singers may participate only in the international series.
Finnish amateur choirs may participate in any of the three series.
The organizer reserves the right to limit the number of choirs in each series. Participation will be confirmed in the order of registration.
COMPETITION PROGRAMME
International Series
The total performance duration of the choir’s programme must not exceed 17 minutes. The total programme duration is measured from the moment the first starting pitch is given and ends when the final piece of the programme concludes. The programme must consist of a cappella music, though non-pitched percussion instruments may be included.
The repertoire is otherwise freely chosen, but must include:
• Mandatory work: Leevi Madetoja: “Valkeat kaupungit” (1909–1933, lyrics by V. A. Koskenniemi, From the Critical Edition, edited by Tuomas Niemelä and published by YL Male Voice Choir in 2020).
Participating choirs are required to purchase the score through the www.choralworks.fi online store (cost for a 50-member choir approx. €30).
• A work by a living composer from the choir’s home country.
• The mandatory Madetoja piece must be sung in its original Finnish language. All other works may be performed in any language.
National Series
The total performance duration of the choir’s programme must not exceed 17 minutes. The total programme duration is measured from the moment the first starting pitch is given and ends when the final piece of the programme concludes. The programme must consist of a cappella music, though non-pitched percussion instruments may be included.
The repertoire is otherwise freely chosen, but must include:
• Mandatory work: Leevi Madetoja: “Kymmenen virran maa” (1905, lyrics by A. V. Koskimies, From the Critical Edition, edited by Tuomas Niemelä and published by YL Male Voice Choir in 2020).
Participating choirs are required to purchase the score through the www.choralworks.fi online store (cost for a 50-member choir approx. €10).
• A work by a living Finnish composer.
• The mandatory Madetoja piece must be sung in its original Finnish language. All other works may be performed in any language.
Review Series (Non-competitive)
The total time for the choir’s programme, including transitions, must not exceed 10 minutes.
Immediately after the performance, the choir will receive verbal feedback from the jury, delivered publicly.
The programme may include accompaniment instruments, for which the choir is responsible.
There is no mandatory piece, and the repertoire may be freely chosen. The language of performance is also free.
REGISTRATION
Choirs must register for the competition by October 31, 2025 using the following online form:
https://forms.gle/WwkUh144qqtgQwPs9
The registration form opens on July 9, 2025 and closes on October 31, 2025 at 23:59 (Finnish time).
In addition, each choir must submit the following materials by December 31, 2025 via email to toiminnanjohtaja@mieskuoro.fi:
• A short presentation of the choir in Finnish, Swedish, or English (as a DOC, DOCX or PDF file, or a link to the choir’s website)
• A short biography of the conductor in Finnish, Swedish, or English (as a DOC, DOCX or PDF file, or a link to a website)
• 2 photos of the choir (JPG format, minimum width 1500 pixels)
• 2 photos of the conductor (JPG format, minimum width 1500 pixels)
Additionally, the following must be sent by postal mail to:
Suomen Mieskuoroliitto
Hietaniemenkatu 2 (4th floor)
00100 Helsinki, Finland
• Legal copies of the sheet music used in the choir’s competition programme (either original published scores or composer-approved manuscript copies)
• Proof of purchase of the mandatory piece via the www.choralworks.fi sheet music store
PARTICIPATION FEE
The participation fee is:
• €570 for the International Series
• €490 for the National Series
• €300 for the Review Series
Participation fees will be invoiced after the registration period has ended. If a choir cancels its participation after the registration deadline, the participation fee will not be refunded.
Each choir is responsible for its own travel, accommodation, and other expenses.
JURY
The Board of the Finnish Male Choir Association will appoint a jury for the International and National Series. The jury will consist of a chairperson and at least two additional members.
All choirs competing in the International and National Series will receive written feedback from the jury after the competition.
For the Review Series, the Board will appoint a panel consisting of a chairperson and one additional member. Choirs in the Review Series will receive oral feedback publicly and immediately following their performance.
ORDER OF COMPETITION PERFORMANCE & GALA CONCERT
The organizer will draw the order of performance for each series by lot. The detailed competition schedule will be announced to participants at least one month before the event.
Choirs selected by the jury will be required to perform without separate compensation at the Gala Concert held in Madetoja Hall, Madetojan sali, on the evening of Saturday, April 18, 2026, as part of the official competition programme.
PRIZES
In the International Series, a total of €5,000 will be awarded as prizes.
In the National Series, a total of €2,500 will be awarded.
No monetary prizes are awarded in the Review Series.
Special prizes approved by the Board of the Finnish Male Choir Association may also be awarded.
SHEET MUSIC MATERIAL
Only legal sheet music may be used in the competition (i.e., original published scores or composer-approved manuscript copies).
The organizer reserves the right to inspect the legality of the sheet music used.
RECORDINGS AND BROADCASTING
The competition organizer retains unlimited rights to:
• record audio and video,
• take photographs,
• broadcast on radio or television, and
• stream all performances and concerts associated with the competition without separate compensation.
The organizer may also transfer any of these rights to a third party.
CONFIRMATION & INTERPRETATION
These rules were confirmed by the Board of the Finnish Male Choir Association on July 9, 2025.
The original language of the rules is Finnish, and any interpretation of the rules will be based on the Finnish version as decided by the Board.
FURTHER INFORMATION
For more information about the competition, please contact:
Tero-Pekka Henell, Executive Director
Finnish Male Choir Association
toiminnanjohtaja@mieskuoro.fi
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