Choir profile
The mixed choir TIRNAVIA was founded in 1988 by Gabriel Kalapoš and the current conductor is Michal Stahl.
In 2018, the choir celebrated the 30th anniversary of its foundation.
The choir Tirnavia confirms the rich tradition of choral singing in Trnava by its origins and existence. The members of the choir are mainly young people of various professions, but also students of colleges and universities, all of them singers with rich choir experience (Cantica nova, vocal group Kruhy, Bratislava Conservatory Chamber Choir, Technik, Chorus Alea, Musica Vocalis among others). The repertoire of the choir includes compositions from the Baroque period, Renaissance, Romanticism, 20th century music, folk songs, adaptations of various popular songs, Negro spirituals, Christmas carols and others.
During its existence, Tirnavia has recorded four CDs, collaborated with several leading Slovak and foreign conductors (L. Svárovský, O. Rózsa, A. Popovič, B. Kostka, M. Lejava, R. Štúr, P. Tužinský) and orchestras (The Slovak National Theatre Opera Chamber Orchestra, Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, Žilina Chamber Orchestra, Trnava Chamber Orchestra, etc.).
The choir participates in domestic and foreign choir competitions (Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Wales etc.).
1997 – Competition in Cantonigros, Spain
1998 – Competition in Debrecen, Hungary
2000 – Competition in Udine, Italy
2001 - Grand Prix Slovakia Competition, Trenčianske Teplice, two 3rd places;
2002 - Competition in Tours, France, Llangollen Competition, Wales - 3rd place.
2003 - Choral Festival Montreux 2003 - International Choir Competition;
2004 - IFAS 2004 competition in Pardubice, Czech Republic - 2nd place in the gold zone in the mixed choirs’ category and 1st place in the gold zone in the folklore category;
2005 - Concert tour - Gliwice, Poland;
2006 – Miltenberg Competition in Germany - 2nd place in the category of classical music and 3rd place in the folklore, jazz and spiritual category; Neuchatel Competition, Switzerland;
2007 - Competitions in Spain - Cantonigros, Torrevieja;
2008 - Spittal Competition, Austria;
2018 – Festival Alta Pusteria, Italy
2019 – Festiválek 2019, Nechanice, Czech Republic
- Festival Alta Pusteria, Italy
- Festival KAMPANILA 2019, Mikulov, Czech Republic
The choir regularly participates in various concerts at home and abroad at which it presents both sacred and secular vocal-instrumental compositions by both domestic and world composers.
In 2010, the choir performed at the festival Trnava Musical Spring a concert with the compositions by Arvo Pärt in cooperation with the conductor Oskar Rózsa and the Slovak National Theatre Chamber Orchestra.
In 2012, the choir introduced the composition by Franz Liszt - Via Crucis during the Trnava Musical Spring; in Trenčianske Teplice and Bratislava it performed Missa Tirnaviensis, a mass by Stanislav Šurin, in cooperation with the Slovak Philharmonic. The choir also took part in the awarding ceremony of Tatrabanka Foundation prizes in cooperation with Braňo Kostka.
In 2013 in St Martin’s Cathedral, the choir performed two compositions by the Slovak composer Pavol Krška: Te Deum - as a graduate concert of the conductor Zuzana Holičková and on the occasion of celebrating the 1 150th anniversary of the arrival of Saints Cyril and Methodius to Great Moravia, the world premiere of the Cyril and Methodius Oratorio. In the autumn of that year, the choir celebrated the 25th anniversary of its foundation with a gala concert at which it performed a wide selection of compositions from the 20th century ̶ a separate section was dedicated to the 1930s and the compositions by Frank Sinatra and Gejza Dusík, arranged for a band and choir by Michal Stahl; and during another section, accompanied by a band, the choir performed a pop-rock programme consisting of songs by Sting, ABBA, Beatles, Michael Jackson, Robbie Williams, arranged by Milan Olšiak and Michal Stahl.
In 2015 the choir performed two concerts with the so-called “Old music” selection, with the emphasis on the mass for 8 voices by the Spanish author from the era of culminating Renaissance, Thomas Luis de Victoria "Missa Alma Redemptoris" (Trnava, Bratislava).
In 2016, the choir performed at the final concert of the Trnava Musical Spring together with the American organist David di Fiore and the Slovak organist Zuzana Záhradníkova, which featured the compositions by Ján Levoslav Bella "Requiem c mol" and Louis Vierne "Solemn mass" and the world premiere of a composition by Vladislav “Slnko” Šarišský "Gloria". Furthermore, the choir recorded a public record of the programme “Rádio Devín na cestách” (Radio Devín on road) for Radio Devín. In October it performed at the opening concert of the Orfeus Festival at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava where it premiered the works of young Slovak composers, and in November the choir performed at a concert dedicated to the memory of the Slovak composer Zdenko Mikula.
In 2017, the choir, together with the Trnava Chamber Orchestra and soloists, performed the compositions by the Trnava composer M. Schneider-Trnavský at the opening concert of the restored M. Schneider-Trnavský International Vocal Competition conducted by the conductor Marián Lejava.
In 2018, the choir performed at the final concert of the Trnava Musical Spring presenting the works of Zoltán Kodály "Missa Brevis" and M. Schneider - Trnavský "Missa in Honorem Ssmi Cordis Jesu" under the baton of the Hungarian conductor Tamás Bubnó. In June, the choir participated in the international festival Alta Pusteria in Italy, being the only choir representing Slovakia. Finally, in the autumn, the choir celebrated the 30th anniversary of its foundation by hosting a gala concert at which it presented the wide range of its repertoire — from classic choir compositions through arrangements of Slovak folk songs to a pop-rock programme accompanied by a band, including a choir arrangement of Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen.
In May 2019, the choir attended the 22nd annual meeting of chamber choirs “Festiválek 2019” in the town of Nechanice, Czech Republic; in June, the choir participated in the international festival Alta Pusteria again and performed its new repertoire rehearsed for the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the choir’s foundation and in August, the choir performed at the 21st edition of the international choir festival “Kampanila” in the town of Mikulov, Czech Republic. In August, the choir also performed at a concert during the Trnava Organ Days. In October, the choir performed at the 50th anniversary concert on the occasion of the foundation of the Trnava Gymnasium Choir Cantica Nova and also at the 20th edition of the student festival ORFEUS 2019 at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava. The end of the year will be dedicated to Christmas concerts and performances not only in the town of Trnava, but also in its vicinity.
In January 2020, the choir has performed along with the Slovak band Iné Kafe at concerts dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the band’s foundation. Also, further in January, the choir attended the international choir festival “The Sea of Galilee” in Israel based on a personal invitation by the main organizer of the festival.