Four music teachers and conductors working in St. Stanislav’s Institution attended the American Choral Directors Association convention (ACDA), which was held from 8th – 11th March 2017 in Minneapolis, USA. ACDA is one of the largest professional organizations for choral directors in the world, with a membership of over 20,000 conductors representing one million singers and has as its highest purpose to encourage the finest choral music and to promote its development in all ways, including performance, composition, publication and research.

In four days, they listened to numerous quality choir ensembles, participated in lectures and workshops, got to learn about the new methods of teaching and latest trends in choral singing in the USA.  This was nice opportunity to meet conductors from all over the world and purchase loads of music materials.

At the conference, the conductor Helena Fojkar Zupančič met the British composer Bob Chilcott, who wrote the song God of the Open Air especially for St. Stanislav Girls’ Choir The song was commissioned by International Federation for Choral Music (IFCM). The world premiere of the song will take place in July 2017 at the 11th World Symposium on Choral Music in Barcelona, Spain.

We are happy to announce that a new website  of St. Stanislav Girls’ Choir of The Diocesan Classical Gymnasium, Ljubljana has been launched. Here you will learn more about the choir, its history, achievements, concerts, including the details about the latest news on the choir’s concerts and in particular the 11th World Symposium on Choral Music in Barcelona, where the choir is to perform in July. We hope you enjoy browsing the new site!

https://en.stanislav.si/11th-world-symposium-in-barcelona/

Habemus victorem! Maruška Schenk has joined twenty-eight other students from all over Europe for winning the 2016-2017 translation contest for secondary schools ‘Juvenes Translatores’! Besides, another student from the DCG, Matija Šprogar, received a special mention for his translation. They both translated from German to Slovene and agreed that Latin, which they have been learning now for the third year, contributed to the excellency and accuracy of their work. Mirjam Lindič, the teacher of German at the DCG, is their mentor. This year The Diocesan Classical Gymnasium has competed for the third time in a row and won the competition twice! Well done indeed!

The Commissioner Günther Oettinger, responsible for Budget and Human Resources at the European Commission congratulated the winners, parents and teachers, pointing out that »languages open minds and break down barriers. They help us understand other peoples and cultures. Congratulations for showing creativity and flair in all 24 EU languages.« The aim of the contest is to promote language learning in schools and give young people a taste of what it is like to be a translator.

The Contest in numbers

For the 10th time since 2007, over 3000 students from across the European Union translated texts, this time on the subjects of languages and translation. They could choose from any of the 552 possible combinations between any two of the EU’s 24 official languages. Students used 152 language combinations. All winners chose to translate into their strongest language or mother tongue, as the official translators in EU Institutions do.

The Slovene Context of Juvenes Translatores

On the national level, there were 35 students competing from eight Slovene high schools. There were five contestants from the DCG, translating from English, German and Spanish. Peter Jakša, Language Officer from the Representation of European Commission in Slovenia, congratulated warmly the students, mentors and the headmaster Simon Feštanj on the outstanding success of the school. In terms of languae learning at the DCG, Latin and English are compulsory and all students have to choose a third foreign language from German, French, Spanish or Russian. Classical Greek is optional.

Maruška will travel to Brussels to collect her award for the most accurate translation of Slovenia on 6 April 2017. /Lily Schweiger Kotar/

St. Stanislav Girls’ Choir performed on Wednesday, 25^th January 2017, on the occasion of presenting Gallus awards in the field of amateur cultural activities. The event took place on Ljubljana Castle hill. The Slovenian Public Fund of Cultural Activities annually awards the deserving musicians. The piece was the song premiere by Lojze Lebič, a contemporary Slovene composer. The composition entitled “Something is in the air” is based on a poem by Tone Pavček, one of the most renown Slovene contemporary poets. The composition is said to be wonderful and inspiring with full of positive vibe. It has brought about so much optimism!

Breaking news: we are thrilled about the brand new piece composed by Bob Chilcott, British choral composer, conductor and singer. It is dedicated exclusively to St. Stanislav’s Girls’s Choir and its conductor Helena Fojkar Zupančič. It bears title God of the Open Air and is based on a heartwarming ode to nature – a poem by Henry Van Dyke (1852-1933), an American author, educator and clergyman.

And what is the conductor’s first reaction? »The piece is exactly up my street! It is wonderful, soft, melodious, lively and airy. I believe this compostition will enable the girls to show all the attributes of their singing and interpreting. What a lovely challenge!«

We cannot wait for the first performance to take place in July at the 11th World Symposium on Choral Music in Barcelona!

Pavel Orešnik, alumnus of The Diocesan Classical Gymnasium (the first generation) is an attorney specialised in German transport, civil engineering and architecture law, with an office in Tettnang, Bavaria, Germany. Pavel is a member of Slovene-Bavarian Economic Club as well as of Academic Society Unitas Würzburg.The latter enabled him to study law in Germany and consequently he has been helping other DCG students ever since to pursue their studies in Germany. This year the opportunity was offered to Jan Pintar, who graduated at the DCG in July 2016. Irena Bolta, teacher of German at the Diocesan Classical Gymnasium and Pavel’s class teacher, has been in charge of the link with Society Unitas since its very beginnings in 1997.

Jan Pintar is the third student of the Diocesan Classical Gymnasium Pavel has assisted so far in this matter. Jan, after successfully passing a comprehensive test DSH (Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang) has taken up socio-political studies at Bayerische Julius-Maximilians Universität Wurzbürg. Jan says: “A new life started for me in October 2016. I got to learn many new friends and I feel very much at home here. Especially the Academic Society Unitas Hetania Würzburg provides a fruitful environment for a foreign student.” The so- called Ankneipe introduced him successfully to the student community, where he met other freshmen as well as senior members of the club.

We wish Jan all the best in his studies and would like to thank warmly Pavel Orešnik for his kind and steady support to the students of St. Stanislav’s Institution. /Lily Schweiger Kotar/

The second choir exchange between Bischgym, the mixed choir from The Bischöfliches Gymnasium Graz and the (Re)Mixed Choir of the Diocesan Classical Gymnasium took place from 10th-12th January 2017. On the first evening the guests took part in the rehearsals for the traditional  New Year’s concert in St. Stanislav’s Chapel. The next day they presented themselves to the school community at the lunch concert which attracted many students and teachers. For an energetic performance they were welcomed and rewarded with a loud applause. In the afternoon the sightseeing tour of Ljubljana took place, during which some even went up the castle hill to admire the stunning winter view of the capital city. After the common rehearsals, members of both choirs offered an unforgettable singing event.  To start with, Matija Tomc Hall was packed. The (Re)Mixed Choir of the Diocesan Classical Gymnasium presented itself for the first time this school year and sang same inspiring spirituals as well as the Queen medley for good old rock lovers. The guests came up with some Christmas repertoire, both traditional and modern as well as some eye-catching choreography. Both choirs sang jointly the introductory and closing pieces.

The occasion has proven that the exchanges are a good way to learn new things, broaden horizons and make friends. Most of the hosts welcomed their Austrian friends from last year and were most pleasantly surprised by their peers’ eagerness to see Ljubljana sights, the school and join the common endeavours for a lovely musical experience. Each and everybody invested in the event loads of energy, love for music making and kind understanding to which all member choirs, host families and above all both conductors, Valentin Zwitter and Helena Fojkar Zupančič, are highly beneficial. /Lily Schweiger Kotar/

Voila! The video presentation of St. Stanislav Girls’ Choir on the occasion of their visit to Barcelona is out! The girls have it all: subtle interpretation, colourful sonorities, fascinating creative and vivacious performances, youthful passion with incredible concentration and sound accuracy. So they say. Check it yourselves and simply enjoy!

»Those who walked in the dark have seen a bright light. And it shines upon everyone who lives in the land of darkest shadows. A child has been born for us. We have been given a son who will be our ruler. His names will be Wonderful Advisor and Mighty God, Eternal Father and Prince of Peace.« (Is 9,1.5)

May these festive days strengthen our desire for the light and peace. Allow the light of the newborn Jesus to illuminate the darkness of our lives and fill us with the joy of life and open our eyes, heart and hands for the needs of our neighbours.

I wish you all Merry Christmas and a Joyful New Year 2017.

Roman Globokar, Ph. D., Director

On November 30, twenty-nine students from the Diocesan Classical Gymnasium participated in the European online English Language Competition Best in English for the first time. They were more than eager to grasp the opportunity to compare their English language skills with those of 15 107 European peers coming from 683 schools and 28 countries. The test fulfilled the needs of students of all years and abilities.

Today we are delighted to announce some really impressive results of our students. The most outstanding achievement of Tinkara Uršič Fratina from 3C class, who held the 42th place, was just the best among other impressive results obtained by Nika Knez, Nina Katarina Štular, Mark Loborec, Matic Kotar and Matevž Herič. We offer our sincere congratulations to all our contestants! /Petra Kromar/