Florilège Vocal de Tours

The only international choral singing competition in France

Since its creation in 1972, the Florilège Vocal de Tours has established itself as the only international choral singing competition organized in France. For half a century, this exceptional event has hosted choirs from all over the world for a high-level competition judged by a jury of international professionals in choral music.

A prestigious competition

The Florilège Vocal is distinguished by the rigor of its competition, organized in several stages:

• Set program: choirs perform works selected by the jury
• Free program: each ensemble presents a repertoire of its choice
• Grand Prix de la Ville de Tours: the highest award given to the best choir

Choirs from all over the world

Each year, the competition welcomes vocal ensembles from all continents, from small ensembles to large formations, with mixed or equal voices. Recent editions have seen choirs from the Philippines, the United States, Italy, France, Ukraine, and Spain participate, demonstrating the international reach of the event.

A musical setting in Tours

The competition takes place in emblematic venues in the city of Tours:

• L'Opéra de Tours (Grand Théâtre): main venue of the competition
• L'Église Saint-Julien: opening concert in this Romanesque church in the center of Tours

International recognition

The Florilège Vocal de Tours enjoys major international recognition:

• Member of the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing
• Labeled EFFE (Europe for Festivals, Festivals for Europe) as a Remarkable Festival
• Member of the Choral Festival Network

50 years of choral history

In 2022, the Florilège Vocal celebrated its 50th edition, marking half a century of excellence in promoting choral singing internationally. The event has faced organizational and budgetary difficulties in recent years but remains an absolute benchmark in the choral world.