“ZIMA” Wins Three Awards at the International Choral Competition in Herceg Novi

The ZIMA Choir and Women’s Ensemble returned from Herceg Novi with three awards after taking part in the XI International Choral Competition.

This year, the ensemble prepared three different competition programmes. The “ZIMA” Women’s Ensemble won a silver medal in Category C1 (women’s ensembles), scoring 86 points. The mixed choir won a silver medal in Category C2 (mixed choirs) with a score of 88 points — just two points short of the score required for a gold medal. The third award was a gold medal in Category D1 (sacred music), for which the ensemble received 90 points.

ZIMA artistic director Varvara Loyko thanked the choir members for their dedicated work, as well as the choir accompanist, Nikita Loyko, for his great support. She expressed special thanks to Nina Bazhenova, choirmaster of the women’s ensemble.

“For our ensemble, taking part in competitions is not only an opportunity to meet leading experts serving on the jury, but also an invaluable experience of attending concerts by our colleagues — choirs from our region and from other countries. We wholeheartedly congratulate the Indonnation Choir from Greece on their well-deserved Grand Prix, as well as our friends from the Siparantum Choir, who won in the mixed choirs category. Their performance touched everyone in our choir and inspired us to pursue new artistic achievements,” said Varvara Loyko.

For choral ensembles from Bar, such festivals are not only competitions, but also opportunities to meet, exchange experiences and discover different choral traditions.

“Concerts by our colleagues are particularly valuable because, outside the framework of competition, they allow musicians to see how other ensembles develop their sound, shape their repertoire and create their artistic identity,” Varvara added.

“ZIMA” thanks the Municipality of Bar for its longstanding cooperation and assistance in organising the trip, as well as for its attention to the development of culture and support for local artistic initiatives.

Special thanks go to the Archdiocese of Bar, headed by Archbishop Roko Đonlešaj and Reverend Don Alberto Jakaj, for their support, trust and longstanding cooperation.

Financial support for the ensemble’s participation in the festival was provided by Padel Club Arena under the leadership of Sergei Olkhovsky. We are sincerely grateful for this support.