SZSU OZVENA

Slovakia

The Choir of Slovak teachers OZVENA is linked to the activities of the Bratislava teachers’ choir, the first amateur female choir in Slovakia. Conservatory Professor Jozef Weber was the founder and first conductor of the Ozvena Choir, which he founded in 1946. The choir has been integrated into the organizational structure of the SZSU home in Trenčianske Teplice by the guarantee of the Ministry of Education SR. The current artistic director and conductor is Tomáš Vrškový. Ozvena has been at the top among Slovak Women's choirs. Performing at major domestic and international events, carrying out educational concerts for school youth, cathedral concerts and occasional performances at various important and state events, Ozvena regularly represents Slovak choral art at international and domestic competitions, festivals, and concerts. Its repertoire presents sacred and secular compositions, the works of classical and contemporary authors, adaptations of folk songs, spirituals and others. One of the most significant achievements of the Ozvena Choir is a gold certificate and the title of competition winner from the international competition Smetana’s Litomyšl. Other mentionable awards are a Gold medal from the Festival of Songs in Olomouc, the second and fourth place in Cantonigròs International Music Festival, two first places in the international competition festival Trnava Choir Days, the title of the winner of the competition and a gold certificate at the competition Festival of Choir Singing of Viliam Figuš - Bystrý in Banská Bystrica.