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    International A Cappella Competition Graz, Austria

    vokal.total

    15th - 19th of July 2025

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    Who We Are

    about

    The a cappella scene has its annual meeting in Graz to compete for the highly coveted Ward Swingle Awards. In this week, where so many a cappella enthusiasts meet, you can feel the spirit of community over competition. Even the audience can feel this positive atmosphere and is surprised again and again be the versatility of the human voice. vokal.total is more than a competition. We represent the diversity and joy of music. We are a steppingstone into a career in the music business. The whole team, easy to recognize by their red t-shirts, define the success of our competition. Together we inspire the a cappella world to more creativity, passion and friendship. Through our years of experience, our reliable and high quality work we want to be a platform across cultures to build international bridges and strengthen the sense of solidarity.

    What, When and Where!?

    program

    A week of many great events is waiting for you in Graz! Here is a list for you to keep track of what we’ve planned.

    You can download the full festival program here.

    vokal.total Out of Graz

    For our participating Groups we organize concerts in different places all over Styria. This gives our international guests the chance to see the beautiful countrysides and to get a taste of Austria. The joyful spirit of vokal.total gets carried along!

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    The Honorable Jury

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    Kim Nazarian (USA)

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    Kim Nazarian is a world renowned, Grammy nominated jazz performing and recording artist, educator and clinician. Besides her work as a sought-after solo vocalist, she has been performing all over the world with the vocal group “New York Voices“ (NYV) for more than 35 years. She is a jazz voice teacher for Vocal Jazz Majors at Ithaca College and she shares her perspectives on music and life as a musician through teaching private students in clinics, workshops, jazz camps and masterclasses, as well as through festival adjudication and guest conducting for singers on all levels in the US and abroad. One of Nazarian's most recent accolades was being awarded the "Jazz Educator of the Year 2023" by the JEN organization. She is the first female, and the first vocal jazz recipient of this prestigious honor. Continuing to climb the professional ladder, Kim has added Artistic Director to her list of titles, working with the established team of the DeMiero Jazz festival. Nazarian was recognized as one of the top 50 most influential Armenian artists in 2012 and inducted into her High School’s Hall of Fame. She is also proud to be the lead vocalist for the Latin influenced jazz ensemble “El Eco“, spearheaded by Argentinian drummer and composer Guillermo Nojechowicz; and appears as a featured vocalist on the 2 latest CD's of Gabriel Espinosa.

    Kim Nazarian is a world renowned, Grammy nominated jazz performing and recording artist, educator and clinician. Besides her work as a sought-after solo vocalist, she has been performing all over the world with the vocal group “New York Voices“ (NYV) for more than 35 years. She is a jazz voice teacher for Vocal Jazz Majors at Ithaca College and she shares her perspectives on music and life as a musician through teaching private students in clinics, workshops, jazz camps and masterclasses, as well as through festival adjudication and guest conducting for singers on all levels in the US and abroad. One of Nazarian's most recent accolades was being awarded the "Jazz Educator of the Year 2023" by the JEN organization. She is the first female, and the first vocal jazz recipient of this prestigious honor. Continuing to climb the professional ladder, Kim has added Artistic Director to her list of titles, working with the established team of the DeMiero Jazz festival. Nazarian was recognized as one of the top 50 most influential Armenian artists in 2012 and inducted into her High School’s Hall of Fame. She is also proud to be the lead vocalist for the Latin influenced jazz ensemble “El Eco“, spearheaded by Argentinian drummer and composer Guillermo Nojechowicz; and appears as a featured vocalist on the 2 latest CD's of Gabriel Espinosa.

    Website
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    Tine Fris-Ronsfeld (DEN)

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    Tine Fris-Ronsfeld is a professional singer, vocal arranger/composer and choir leader based in Denmark. Tine is co-conductor and singer in the world-renowned choir Vocal Line, founding member of the award-winning experimental vocal group Postyr and former conductor of the a cappella choirs Lyt and the Danish National Youth Choir Syng Selected. She arranges for leading international pop and jazz choirs and is also known for her catchy compositions for Postyr. Tine has more than 20 years of experience teaching singers, choirs and vocal groups at all levels in Europe, the USA and Asia. She has published several award-winning albums and choir scores as well as 2 hand books on icebreakers and a handbook with vocal warm-ups. Tine is chairwoman of Aarhus Vocal Festival and a member of CASA’s advisory, the European Choral Association’s Singtank and the music commision of Leading Voices. Tine is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music in Denmark with a master in pop/jazz singing and a soloist degree in pop/jazz choir leading.

    Tine Fris-Ronsfeld is a professional singer, vocal arranger/composer and choir leader based in Denmark. Tine is co-conductor and singer in the world-renowned choir Vocal Line, founding member of the award-winning experimental vocal group Postyr and former conductor of the a cappella choirs Lyt and the Danish National Youth Choir Syng Selected. She arranges for leading international pop and jazz choirs and is also known for her catchy compositions for Postyr. Tine has more than 20 years of experience teaching singers, choirs and vocal groups at all levels in Europe, the USA and Asia. She has published several award-winning albums and choir scores as well as 2 hand books on icebreakers and a handbook with vocal warm-ups. Tine is chairwoman of Aarhus Vocal Festival and a member of CASA’s advisory, the European Choral Association’s Singtank and the music commision of Leading Voices. Tine is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music in Denmark with a master in pop/jazz singing and a soloist degree in pop/jazz choir leading.

    Website
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    Matthias Becker (GER)

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    Diploma as choir conductor (at Helmut Rilling), degree in musicology, PhD in “choir music in jazz”. Winner of the first prize at the national competition of voice (category jazz). Founder and manager of VoKAL ToTAL, the famous German vocal jazz quartet. Golden Diploma and 1st prize at the 4th international choir competition in Budapest, 1993. Two times ‘Jazz-CD of the Month’ awarded by the music journal “audio”. He is a concert and studio musician and his activities include: holding national and international courses in music for choirmasters, choirs and vocal ensembles, publishing choir arrangements and articles on voice and jazz choir.

    Diploma as choir conductor (at Helmut Rilling), degree in musicology, PhD in “choir music in jazz”. Winner of the first prize at the national competition of voice (category jazz). Founder and manager of VoKAL ToTAL, the famous German vocal jazz quartet. Golden Diploma and 1st prize at the 4th international choir competition in Budapest, 1993. Two times ‘Jazz-CD of the Month’ awarded by the music journal “audio”. He is a concert and studio musician and his activities include: holding national and international courses in music for choirmasters, choirs and vocal ensembles, publishing choir arrangements and articles on voice and jazz choir.

    Website
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    Andrea Figallo (ITA)

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    For the past 11 year Andrea Figallo has been the bass singer and vocal percussionist of the Flying Pickets. He has studied voice and drama in Bologna, conducted choirs and performed with various vocal ensembles in Italy and Switzerland. Before becoming the youngest member of the Flying Pickets he worked as a studio singer for international advertising campaigns and was part of the internationally renowned Italian a cappella sextet Jazz’n Jam. Today he is a sought-after vocal coach in seminars, workshops and master classes. He also appeared on Bobby McFerrin’s new CD “VOCAbuLarieS”. Starting with 2013 Andrea has been singing bass with the famous German vocal group “Wise Guys”.

    For the past 11 year Andrea Figallo has been the bass singer and vocal percussionist of the Flying Pickets. He has studied voice and drama in Bologna, conducted choirs and performed with various vocal ensembles in Italy and Switzerland. Before becoming the youngest member of the Flying Pickets he worked as a studio singer for international advertising campaigns and was part of the internationally renowned Italian a cappella sextet Jazz’n Jam. Today he is a sought-after vocal coach in seminars, workshops and master classes. He also appeared on Bobby McFerrin’s new CD “VOCAbuLarieS”. Starting with 2013 Andrea has been singing bass with the famous German vocal group “Wise Guys”.

    Website

    Participating Groups

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    We are looking forward to welcoming the following groups at vokal.total.2025

    4ME (AUT)

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    The name '4ME' provides a clue to the origin of this vocal ensemble: Lukas Joham (Tenor 1), Manuel Schwandt (Tenor 2), Matthias Rosenberger (Bass 1), and Stephan Scheifinger (Bass 2) are graduates or current students of Music Education at the University of Arts Graz, forming a dynamic quartet. With four albums already under their belt and notable TV appearances such as 'Große Chance der Chöre' on ORF in 2016 and 'Show your talent' on Puls4 in 2021, they have garnered significant experience in the show business. Their performances, filled with captivating arrangements and abundant humor, have captivated audiences across Austria and Germany. At vokal.total, the men's ensemble competes in the pure category.

    Anakrousis Vocal Group (ITA)

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    Anakrousis, from the Greek word meaning "pickup" (a motif that precedes the first downbeat in music), is a vocal ensemble from Gropada, Italy. Founded in 2009 as a school choir, it officially became an association in 2013. The group blends swing and jazz with other genres like surf, bounce, pop, evergreen, and gospel. In addition to their performances, they are known for the international a cappella festival Vocal Explosion, which they founded in 2016. The six-member main group shares their passion for a cappella music, creating unforgettable experiences for all music lovers. We are excited to see Anakrousis on the vokal.total stage for the second time in our pure category.

    Beat Poetry Club (AUT)

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    BEAT POETRY CLUB is one of the few all-female a cappella groups in the Austrian music scene and the international a cappella circuit. The five soul ladies impressively show that a powerful sound can be created without instruments. With their unique style and energetic stage performance, the award-winning band has already made a name for itself at renowned festivals and competitions, even touring to China in 2024. Their current program, This Girl Is On Fire, is inspired by influential women in pop culture such as Beyoncé, Alicia Keys, and Nicki Minaj, tackling themes that resonate with women. Through re-arrangements of popular hits and original songs, they share what it means to be a woman and a musician. The female group will perform in the augmented category at vokal.total.2025.

    dasVOK (AUT)

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    dasVOK is a vocal ensemble that originated from the school choir at BG/BRG Leibnitz. It was formed to interpret more sophisticated choral music with experienced singers in a smaller format. The beginnings of dasVOK are closely tied to the charismatic music educator Irmi Schuller, who inspired generations of singers to engage in choral singing, both in concert and staged productions. Today, the ensemble is led by Astrid Pal, who learned the craft of choir leadership from Schuller. dasVOK is dedicated to musical excellence and community. At vokal.total.2025, the choir will perform in the mic'd choir category.

    eleven seconds (GER)

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    eleven seconds is a five-part vocal ensemble based in Cologne and Frankfurt, brought together in 2023 by their shared passion for vocal jazz. With original arrangements created within the group, alongside carefully selected arrangements by others, they present a versatile repertoire: from moving ballads to upbeat numbers. The ensemble consists of Cologne-based musicians Kayla Meyer (soprano), Merle Böwering (soprano), and Tilman Brand (tenor), alongside Frankfurt-based singers Caro Smykla (alto) and Tobias Happ (bass). Despite the physical distance between Cologne and Frankfurt, they have built a strong musical unity. Their performance at the Vokal.Total competition in Graz will mark their competition debut and they are competing in the categories pure and augmented.

    Elision (GBR)

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    Elision is actually a 15-piece a cappella ensemble from the UK, founded in 2022 by university friends. The group brings together some of the best voices from the UK a cappella scene, delivering contemporary pop covers and original songs. Following the success of their debut EP Sign Here and original Christmas single How Christmas Used to Be (nominated for the 2025 A Cappella Video Awards), Elision has performed at various events, including the V&A Museum. In 2024, they received the Tobias Hug Scholarship and attended the Black Forest Voices Festival in Germany. The ensemble will compete in the pure and augmented categories at vokal.total.

    Flok (FIN)

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    Flok is a fresh new voice in Nordic a cappella. By writing their own original pop music, the group seeks to push the boundaries of a cappella and challenge preconceived notions of what it can be. In addition to more traditional venues for vocal music, Flok sees themselves performing at mainstream clubs and festivals. In June 2023, Flok won 1st prize in the prestigious Amplified Ensembles category at the Tampere Vocal Festival, becoming the first Finnish group in 20 years to win this award. They also received the Audience Award. The group has already reached over 1 million views on TikTok (@flokvocals) and has introduced new audiences to the genre. Their exceptional sound has been recognized on social media by record labels and recording artists alike. At vokal.total.2025, the group will perform in the categories unplugged and pure.

    Greg is Back JUNIOR (GER)

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    Greg is back JUNIOR is the youth division of the renowned pop choir Greg is back from Augsburg, established about 12 years ago. Participation is possible from the age of 13, and anyone who wants to join can do so. In addition to their own concerts, the juniors also perform as the opening choir at large Greg is back concerts, giving them the opportunity to sing in front of thousands of people. The repertoire includes contemporary pop music, and the arrangements are specially tailored to the needs of the young singers. The juniors usually sing with 3 female voices and one male voice. For every song, training tracks are created to facilitate access for less experienced kids. At vokal.total 2025, the choir will perform in the mic'd choir category.

    laulaa (GER)

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    laulaa is a women's vocal ensemble from Berlin that was founded in 2022. The Finnish word laulaa describes singing itself, however, also stands for the power and magic of singing together, telling stories and awakening emotions. As an all-female ensemble, which tries to cover as many vocal registers as possible, laulaa stands out in the a cappella scene. The group’s hallmark is a wide repertoire of jazz and pop songs, all of which are arranged by the singers themselves. The artists create harmonic and rhythmic foundations for themselves, function as a musical unit and always leave room for solo performances. At vokal.total, the ensemble competes in the pure category.

    Les Chanteuses Anonymes (BEL)

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    Based in Brussels, Clara Legros, Lydie Thonnard and Anne Bernard, all three professional musicians, are brought together by their love of singing in this vocal trio Les Chanteuses Anonymes. Their repertoire is 100% a cappella, and they explore many genres of songs from world music to jazz and classical music. Guided by their personal favourites, they make original arrangements that highlight their vocal complicity and their respective timbres. Les Chanteuses Anonymes work with two types of repertoire: one is dedicated to the Christmas season, and is mostly jazz standards, custom-arranged for their three voices. At vokal.total.2025, the group will perform in the category unplugged.

    Naked Notes (AUT)

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    Naked Notes was formed in 2018 in Seekirchen in Salzburg. The choir has one vision: redefining pop-choir-music and bringing it to a new level by combining passion, innovation and pure joy in singing together. Complicated harmonic connections, compact chords and narrow voicings are mixed with groovy sounds, hot rhythms and a great sound experience. Naked Notes enthuse their audience again and again with their multi-faceted choir arrangements, pop, jazz and gospel elements, and professional sound engineering. At vokal.total.2025, the choir will perform in the mic'd choir category.

    Pinopela (PHI)

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    Pinopela is a collective of vocalists who are not only passionate about a cappella but also work across the Philippine music industry as lead and backup singers, musical arrangers, composers, and producers. Formed in 2013, their love for vocal harmony brought them together, and since then, they’ve consistently wowed audiences, winning competitions in the Philippines, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Their music has earned some recognition on the international stage, and their recent success was at the 2024 Moscow International A Cappella Festival, where they placed first out of 51 groups worldwide. At vokal.total.2025, the group will perform in the categories of pure and augmented.

    Pitch Pipe Project (GER)

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    Pitch Pipe Project sind die Reunion einer vor 20 Jahren unter gleichem Namen zu Kultstatus aufgestiegenen a-cappella-Band. 2001 gegründet, 2023 wieder vereint: Die Berliner Männergruppe begeistert ihr Publikum mit ihren mal humorvollen bis satirisch-absurden, mal subtilen und nachdenklich stimmenden Eigenkompositionen. Ob Geschichten von Workaholics, Trennungsschmerz oder altkluge Ratschläge – das Themenspektrum von Pitch Pipe Project decken so einiges ab. Ihr Programm spielen Sie in kleinem und großem Rahmen gleichermaßen gerne, von Kleinmachnow bis Zürich. At vokal.total.2025, the group will perform in the category unplugged.

    The Bleinders (TPE)

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    Established in 2011, The Bleinders were co-founded by Yun-Hung Chen and Ray (Yuan-Lei) Chu. This is the world's first visually impaired vocal group. The concept of "seeing the world through sound" has opened up a new world for the vocalists through singing, enabling them not only to become self-reliant but also to give back to society and touch hearts through art. In 2016, they performed as guests at vokal.total in Graz, and have since performed at numerous charity concerts across Taiwan. Although the members cannot see the world, they perceive it with their hearts and express their love for life through singing. At vokal.total.2025, the group will perform in the categories unplugged and pure.

    The Bookmarks (GEO)

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    The Georgian vocal group The Bookmarks was formed in spring 2023. The members of the group were chosen through a time-consuming casting process. All the members are finalists of the Talent TV show „Ranina“, which sends one winner of the show to participate in the Youth Eurovision Contest each year. Despite the ensemble being newly formed, The Bookmarks managed to produce several hits on the national market. They are giving concerts and taking part in festivals regularly. The average age of the group members is 14 years - which most likely makes the ensemble one of the youngest on the professional market. The ensemble will compete in the unplugged, pure and augmented categories at vokal.total.

    Vocalodie (AUT)

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    Vocalodie is an uprising vocal ensemble, founded in 2017 in Vienna, who has great passion for a cappella music. It leaves an impression on its audience with the performance of a variety of genres and styles from the renaissance to the modern age, and with its innovative and inclusive concert experiences. The singers are constantly striving for musical authenticity and professionalism and their own growth as musicians. Vocalodie can already look back on numerous Christmas and summer concerts throughout Austria, inspiring collaborations, and workshop participation. At vokal.total.2025, the group will perform in the category unplugged.

    Voice Drops (HUN)

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    The a cappella group Voice Drops was formed in Budapest, Hungary. Their program this year is defined by the theme "The Faces of Jazz," celebrating the diversity of the genre. The group’s repertoire includes well-known jazz standards, elements of folk music, modern jazz compositions, as well as funky and pop-jazz arrangements. In 2018, Voice Drops participated in vokal.total in Graz and brought home a silver diploma. While their profile remains unchanged, the group took a break from performing for a while. Their restart is driven by their passion for music and their dedication to shared harmonies. At vokal.total.2025, the group will perform in the category pure.

    zwo3wir (AUT)

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    zwo3wir are two women and three men from Upper Austria who are connected by their love of singing together. With their original songs they are telling stories of life, the sign of the times and take their audience with them into their world. In their interesting versions of well-known hits, zwo3wir present a full band sound, pulsating basses and throbbing beats – with voices only. From fragile ballads to exciting hymns, everything is possible with zwo3wir. Their focus lies on breaking barriers to the audience and spreading the collective spirit, which allows everyone to enjoy the music together. We are excited to see zwo3wir on the vokal.total stage in the unplugged and augmented categories.

    Time To Say Thank You!

    supporters and co-operations

    We are very thankful for the generous support from: