2027 Jury

	Eduardo Garcia-Novelli (USA) He is the Director of Choral Studies at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, KS. A native of Argentina, Eduardo is a graduate of the Conservatorio Manuel de Falla and the Conservatorio Juan José Castro, both in his homeland. He earned his Master's degree at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ, and his DMA at the University of Houston in Houston, TX. His choirs have been selected to perform at TMEA, WMEA, WCDA, NCCO. They have also performed at Carnegie Hall, Chicago's Orchestra Hall, and toured the US, Europe, and South America extensively. While serving as Director of Choral Activities at Carthage College, his Carthage Choir won the prestigious Spittal International Choir Competition in Spittal, Austria, in 2019. With his choir he won Grand Prix at Cracovia Cantans in 2025 and was finalist of 2026 World Choral Championship.
	Raul Talmar (ESTONIA) He graduated from the Estonian Music Academy as choral conductor in 1982. He sang in mixed choir Noorus since 1977 and was the choir’s principal conductor in 1991–2012. At present, he conducts the mixed choir K.O.O.R. and mixed choir of Tallinn University BFM Institute. Earlier, he has worked with the Academic Male Choir of the Tallinn University of Technology, the male choir of the Helsinki Trade University, the female choir of the Klementi Sewing Factory, the Pärnu Mattone Chamber Choir, the national girls’ choir Leelo, the Tallinn Russian Choir and Tallinn St. Charles Church Concert Choir. In 2006, he was nominated the Conductor of the Year by the Estonian Choral Association. Since 1993, Raul Talmar has conducted mixed and female choirs at the Youth Song Celebrations and since 2004 at all Estonian Song and Dance Celebrations. In 2011 he was the artistic director of the Estonian programme of the 16th Gaudeamus Students’ Song Festival. In 2018 was Raul Talmar Estonian artistic director of Europa Cantat Talinn2018 and from the same year he is a Board member of EC-ECA. In 2019 in Estonian Song and Dance Celebration was Raul Talmar artistic director of female choirs programm. Raul Talmar is Assistant Proffessor of choral conducting in Tallinn University since 2008 and from june 2013 to may 2019 he was the President of Estonian Choral Assotiation. From 2022 is vice president of European Choral Assotiation.
	Rihards Dubra (LATVIA) Was born in Riga. He studied music first in Jurmala School of Music, after that at the Emils Darzins College of Music. In 1989, he graduated from the Latvian Music Academy composition class under Adolfs Skulte (as an elective he learned symphonic conducting), and in 1996 earned his master’s degree at the Latvian Academy of Music under Juris Karlsons. During his studies, he began to teach harmony and composition at the Jurmala School of Music. Presently he is a professor Ventspils Music School. His other sphere of work is involved with the organ and liturgy. Rihards Dubra was the organist at the Riga Our Lady of Suffering Church, and, as of 1999, he is the cantor of the Riga St. Mary Magdalene Church. The basic genres of the composer’s creative work are large-scale genres for voices with accompaniment, choir music, organ music and symphonic music. Irrespectively of his genre choice, Dubra’s basic creative interests turn to sacred music. “As the belief is the only purity in this world, I cannot see anything better, only to write sacred music,” the composer comments on his creative activities. The composer’s activities at St. Mary Magdalene congregation in Riga and singing in the group Schola Cantorum Riga from its very beginning give inspiration for his creative work. The basis of Rihards Dubra music style is the unification of minimalism and neo-romantic tunes with the intonation, form and philosophy of Gregorian, Medieval and Renaissance music. “My music often is meditative; I like to stop a moment and to check it for some time. It is not possible in life, but music lets manage the impossible – light, longing and eternity speak to us feeling every moment…” Rihards Dubra’s music has been performed in several countries of the world: Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Sweden, Norway, Germany, Poland, England, France, Austria, Italia, Japan, South Africa, Canada, Argentina, USA and others.
	Ambrož Čopi (SLOVENIA) Ambrož Čopi studied composition under the tutelage of Dane Škerl, Uroš Rojko, and piano at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana. He is recognized as a composer, conductor, lecturer, and the artistic director of the International Youth Choirs Choral Festival Aegis Carminis in Koper. Presently, he is a leader of choral activities at the Conservatory of Music and Ballet Ljubljana (KGBL) and teaches at the Artistic High School in Koper.. His original compositions, recorded on five CDs, regularly grace stages worldwide. Published predominantly by Astrum Music Publisher, with select works featured by Sulasol, TICF and Hinshaw Music. Čopi has guided numerous Slovenian choirs to remarkable achievements in both national (15 gold plaques) and international competitions (29 first places). He was manytimes awarded for outstanding performances and as best conductor. Presently, he conducts the KGBL Chamber Choir and the University of Primorska Academic Choir, both esteemed among Slovenia's premier choral ensembles. In 2014, he was honored with the Gallus Plaque, Slovenia's highest recognition in the realm of musical endeavor, alongside the prestigious national award, the Prešeren Fund Prize, Mrian Kozina Prize and Republic of Slovenia Prize for Education.. He is regulary invited to act as a jury member at choral competitions worldwide, he actively engages in choral music seminars and masterclasses for conductors and composers alike, offering his expertise as a lecturer.
	Pawel Lukaszewski (Poland) Paweł Łukaszewski Composer, conductor, educator. (Warsaw, Poland) He is a graduate of the Fryderyk Chopin Music Academy in Warsaw. He has received numerous com- missions from Poland and abroad (Japan, Germany, Great Britain, Switzerland). His discography includes over 100 CDs. Over sixty of his pieces have been published in many countries of Europe and the United States. In recent years Paweł Łukaszewski’s music has gained a high recognition in Britain. His works have been performed by such renowned choral ensembles from London and Cambridge as The Holst Singers, BBC Singers, Trinity College Choir, Tenebrae, Britten Sinfonia and Polyphony under the direction of prominent conductors Stephen Layton and Nigel Short.

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