Hundreds of children and young people sang for each other

Although this year's festival had little to do with previous EJCFs, it was still a great success, according to the festival management. As no audience was allowed on site, some events were streamed. By the end of the festival, around 6000 downloads had been registered.

The international choir exchange ultimately fell victim to the coronavirus regulations. After all, it was all Swiss choirs that traveled to Basel, were accommodated in the Hotel Ibis and catered for in the halls of Messe Basel in compliance with corona regulations. All singers had to be tested every morning and those over the age of 12 had to wear a mask. No infections have been reported so far. The more than 700 children and young people under the age of 20 also followed the strict safety rules when singing together at various events. These included workshops led by experts who are well known in the European choral scene: Sanna Valvanne from Finland, Basilio Astùlez Duque from Spain, RoxorLoops from Belgium and Patrick Secchiari and Dominique Tille from Switzerland. They also sang at choir meetings, as well as on the acoustic walk, on boats and on the Rösslitram.

Over 70 choir conductors from all over Switzerland discussed topics such as stylistics, yodeling, beatboxing unplugged and pop canons for choirs at the 10th Swiss Choir Conductors' Meeting.

Despite all the restrictions, the choirs and volunteers in attendance still had that typical festival feeling. This was reported by festival director Kathrin Renggli in the concentrated one-hour review at the end of the festival in the Hans-Huber-Saal of the Stadtcasino Basel. She and her team showed in exemplary fashion how the unforeseen can be approached pragmatically and creatively in order to create something new.

All the many fans who missed out this year - usually around 30,000 people attend over 40 events - can look forward to the 13th European Youth Choir Festival over Ascension Day in two years' time.