Advent Prague

Only a few cities in Europe offer the historical and cultural variety as the Czech Capital Prague. The tradition of music lives not only in the many concert halls of the “Golden Town”, but also on the roads and in the pubs. Smetana, Dvorak and Mozart have coined Prague musically; today this tradition is continued by composers as Petr Eben and Zděnek Lukáč. Prague offers daily hundreds of concerts in all musical genres.

Since 1999, the Prague Advent Choral Festival is organized by music&friends without interruption with more than 40 Czech and foreign choirs every year. The organization of all concerts at the central Christmas Market at the Old Town Square during the weekends is done exclusively by music&friends including the planning, presentation and assistance. Many choirs performed several times at this event.

One of the most beautiful squares in Europe is the Old Town Square, home of the central Christmas Market with a nice open-air stage. Here meet during the Advent weekends the inhabitants of Prague and tourist from all over the world to listen to Christmas carols from choirs from different countries. Available for the choirs are heated waiting containers, a multilingual presenter and a sound system.

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	One of the concert halls for the friendship concerts is the Music Academy HAMU in the Liechtenstein-Palace with an impressive concert organ and a Steinway concert piano. Another concert hall is the art deco-style hall of Hlahol, one of the oldest choirs in Prague, where Smetana has been one of the first choir directors. At the end of each friendship concert all participating choirs sing a common song. Concerts in churches in Prague: The Nicholas Church at the Old Town Square (built 1732-1737) is every year the main place for church concerts. Church services can be planned at the weekends - in the famous St Vitus Cathedral and other churches in the city. More than 10 years of experience of music&friends guarantees best services and organization. A typical Bohemian souvenir for each choir reminds still for a long time to these days in Prague and the musical experiences with other choirs work motive. The high quality of these events reflects itself in the numerous comments of participating choirs. There are already around a dozen copies of this festival, but only music& friends can confirm the most attractive concert venues!

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Dates:

Nov 23-26, 2012

Nov 30-Dec 3, 2012

Dec 7-10, 2012

Dec 14-17, 2012

Dec 20-23, 2012

For all kinds of choirs

Organized since 1999





		By coach: Coming by own coach to Prague, the coach must be available for all transfers of the choir. By flight: Many flights ar eoffered to Prague. Coming by flight, music&friends will organize all necessary ground transport. Just check the following links for flight information and pricing: www.bmibaby.com, www.clickair.com, www.easyjet.com, www.flysnowflake.com, www.jet2.com, www.smartwings.com Extension: music&friends can organize an extension in Munich, České Budejovice or Nürnberg. Of course with guided tours and additional concerts.

Comments 2011

Extracts of comments from participating choirs:

"I would not fail to thank you for the perfect organization of our stay in Prague! Even at the Info-Weekend 2010, I felt that we are in good hands with you; our choir members are excited about this fantastic city, which has been brought to us by Pavla with her big knowledge, much charm and kindness. The friendship concerts in HAMU and the St. Nicholas Church, and of course, the church service in the St. Vitus Cathedral will remain in our great memories." (Mixed Choir Langnau a.A., Switzerland)

"Yesterday the Men's Choir Cecilia Langensendelbach returned from his choir tour to the International Advent Choral Festival in Prague. We were all excited about this tour. The organization has worked out perfectly. The venues' Academy of Performing Arts" and the Open-Air-Tribune at the "Old Town Square" offered an incredibly festive and stylish atmosphere. The acoustics in the concert hall of the Academy was excellent. I would like to make a special complement to our tour guide. She guided us very friendly, knowledgeable and informative through the sights of Prague and did help us to organize hotels, tours, rehearsals, performances, entertainment etc. All went well without any stress." (Men's Choir Cecilia Langensendelbach, Germany)

"I want to thank you for the great organization. It really has worked perfectly .... Mary as a tour guide was perfect and professionally competent. Altogether an event, we will remember a long time" (chorus voestalpine Linz, Austria)

"Our stay in Prague went very well. The organization was perfect. You really are the professionals in the line of business! The 3 concerts went very well. We have brought a little from our Sardinian tradition and that is as always very appreciated by the audience ... the guide was prepared very well and helped us in organizing the transfers, etc. The hotel was very pleasant and we can say that we travelled home more than happy." (Cantori della Resurrezione, Italy)

Comments A

Extracts of comments from participating choirs:

Back from Prague with wonderful memories! The choir members enjoyed our visit to the city of Prague as this was for many of us the first trip to the Czech Republic. Our performances in Hlahol Concert Hall, a hall with such a long history, as well as in the Old Town Square were totally new experiences for us. We enjoyed the snow and now we are back in the sunshine. We are sure that some of us will return to Prague soon! (Cyta Choir, Nicosia, Cyprus)

For all participating singers of the choir of the ADAC (General German Automobile Association) the days in Prague will remain unforgettable. The city tours with well informed guide as well as the meetings with the singers of the other choirs gave us much pleasure. The organization leave nothing to be desired. The concert in the impressing scenery of the Christmas Market at the Old Town Square has been the closing highlight of this tour. We are already planning the next tour. (Choir of the ADAC (General German Automobile Association) Munich, Germany)

Thank to your most efficient organization the whole weekend was superb. All the concerts were also most enjoyable and well organized and it was nice to meet other choral directors at the little lunch. The Christmas Fayre concert attracted hundreds of people and was a good contrast to the other more sedate groups. (St Vincent Singers Gosport, Great Britain)

Our recent travel to the lovely city of Prague was one of the best experiences my High School Choir has ever had! The concert venues were wonderful, the hotel was great and our MCI guide was there for us the entire time. (The Covenant Singers, Virginia, USA)

All singers as well as the companions returned enthusiastically from this festival. Isn't that the largest honour, which we can give to the organizers? (Psalette de Bruxelles, Belgium)

The hosts and the cosy atmosphere kept us warm and welcome even at the freezing wintery temperatures. The choir director will certainly remember her birthday celebration, when 'Happy Birthday' was sung to her in three different languages, as one of here best” (Mixed choir HKD LISINSKI Našice, Croatia)

35 Australians shared an experience which they will never forget - they saw things they only read about in books - and 25 young Aussie kids sang in some of the most beautiful and renowned places in Europe. It was such a thrill and it is impossible to describe our feelings adequately….It is the end of what has been the most amazing tour, where we have experienced things that should be etched in our memories for the rest of our lives. (Bendigo Youth Choir Australia)

We want to thank music&friends for its excellent organization. Everything has been wonderful! From all highlights we will keep the open-air concert especially in our mind. Some long-standing choir members gave the following comment: "This has been the greatest concert, we ever experienced!" You can nothing add to this comment. Again many thanks for the super-organization and the perfect support service. We enjoyed it very much. (Choir Joy of life, Hergiswil, Switzerland)

...would like to thank you for the perfect organization ... the days in Prague become to remain unforgotten (Gesangverein Steinach 1838, Germany)

Our trip to Berlin and Prague was truly a lifetime experience for these high school students from a small town in West Texas. The Hlahol Concert Hall and St. Nicholas Church were amazing places to sing and the choir will remember the feelings they had as they performed for years to come….This was the second trip we made and are already planning the third one in 2010! (KISD Honor Choir, Texas, USA)

We were inspired in all interest (Young Choir Bad Salzdetfurth, Germany)

I want to thank in the name of the choir for the wonderful days in Prague. Everything has been organized perfectly and all participants are delighted from the organization and the hotel. Thanks for all and see you at the next event. (Coro Cima Vezzena, Italy)

Everything has been organized in a perfect way, a wonderful hotel and a first-class guide! We did see a lot of the wonderful city of Prague and enjoyed our concerts! The Christmas Market - great atmosphere - and in the church - wonderful! (Choir of St. Michael at Bruckbach, Austria)

We would like to thank for the beautiful days, we have spent in Prague. Further we thank you for the optimal organization, which brought satisfaction and new experiences at our advent concerts, for the extremely nice and prepared guide and the excellent hotel. In our hearts Prague remains for us in unforgettable memory. (Gruppo Corale Teresina Unfer, Italy

It pleased all very much and we are enthusiastic till today. For the choir it has been a beautiful experience. (Fritz-Reuter-Chor Stavenhagen, Germany)

Comments B

Thank you very very much for a FANTASTIC Advent sing in Prague! All 38 choir members and the director have had an unforgettable weekend and we have already decided to return in a couple of years. (Tertnes Sangkor, Norway)

Everything was perfect (Church Choir Soßmar/Bierbergen, Germany)

As choir singers we felt it very pleasantly to meet choirs from other countries during the concert venues. The concert hall Hlahol was wonderful for singing. Prague as host city was fantastic. (Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Chor Berlin, Germany)

For the 58 singers from the Singakademie Chemnitz this weekend during the advent has been an eventful „works outing“ after a busy concert year. We did like to sing this time without stress and brickbat. Meeting other choirs, the experience of the „Golden Town“, the perfect organization, the attentive assistance by Magdalena and Zdena and at least the great party in the Strahov Monastery – this all has been a wonderful, Pre-Christmas experience for us. We will have it in our mind for a long time. We hope that Marie and Wolfgang Buchmann will organize in the future choir meetings like this. We thank for the very wise co-operation during the planning and the acceptance of all our wishes. (Singakademie Chemnitz, Germany)

Our second tour to Prague has been for us all a lasting experience – for everybody himself and for the choir together. We remember with joy to the performances at the big stages and most of all to many nice meetings with singers from all over the world. We could closely experience that music is international and thank "music & friends" for their organization. They have formed a perfect frame with caution and heart. (Mixed choir Schmalförden, Germany)

...all - without exception everybody - participants were full of praise (MGV Eintracht Kirchheim Heidelberg, Germany)

Fantastic!!!! - Fortissimo!!!! - Exciting!!! (Coro Cima Verde, Trento, Italy)

...the excellent organization of the festival, the warm welcome, the quality of the hotel, the friendliness of the whole town and many other things. Our members are continuously asking the same question: "When are we going back to Prague? It was wonderful..."...a big "thank you" to the organizer of the "music & friends" festival in Prague, to Mr. Buchmann and his team. (Collegium Pro Musica Sacra, Zagreb, Croatia)

All our choir members did enjoy the stay in Prague very much. We thank you for your good service. We will come back to you. (Silberbachchor Bad Schlema, Germany)

Overall evaluation of the event: Excellent. Information, consultation, program and organization of the concerts, hotel, service, assistance, guides: all excellent! Staff in the hotel Astoria very nice. Guide Lubos: Super!!! (Liberi Cantores, Italy)

The tour to Prague was in several aspects an experience for our choir: Musically seen it has been the friendship concert and the mass service in the church "Maria in the Snow". Unforgettable for us is the cordial meeting by the priest after the service. Our outstanding guides Erika and Katharina gave us many impressions of the city. And Prague is an experience - not least because of that Advent feeling with the Christmas markets. (Philharmonic Choir Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany)

We had a wonderful stay. Everything has been organized perfectly. Prague is a dream! (Coro Harmonia Mundi, Italy)

We thank for your first-class organization of the concert tour to the Advent Choral Festival Prague 2009…For all singers it was a unique experience in the beautiful “Golden Town“ Prague. (Choir Unerhoert, Coburg, Germany)

For our choir the Prague tour was a great experience. All choir members were completely enthusiastic! A fulsome praise to music&friends for the perfect organization and the completely terrific local support. We hope to organize in a few years another tour with music&friends. Many thanks for the perfect co-ordination with the Prague team. (Choir Inigazingo, Austria)

…we would like to thank again for the beautiful weekend in Prague. Thanks to your organization it was for our choir an event, which we will surely have in our mind for a long time. (Ladies Choir Beelitz, Germany)

What a wonderful experience a small town church choir had in the beautiful city of Prague. The experience of singing in those ancient churches has touched our hearts and we will forever be changed. From the fabulous accommodations to the friendships that were formed, we have been truly blessed!!! We are so thankful for this once in a lifetime opportunity and would highly recommend it to anyone who is giving it some consideration. We are holding fast to the possibility of touring again someday. (First Evangelical Lutheran Church Choir, Idaho, USA)

…the organization and the programme were excellent; for us this was the first but special and unforgettable experience in Prague. As a result, we cherish to the idea of a further cooperation….(Mixed choir KORONA Umag, Croatia)

...everything was simply the optimum... (Singgemeinde Munster, Germany)

Comments C

We had an absolute ball as having been to Prague before it was just like going home and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Please pass on our thanks to all the organizers for us and let them know how much we appreciated the organization etc…..We particularly enjoyed the Open Air Concert in the Old Town Square, such a lovely atmosphere, and meeting the other choirs at St. Nicholas and the Farewell Concert - and dinner - was also very special. All the tours and extras were very well organized. (Esk Community Choir, Australia)

A total success and an extraordinary experience... without forgetting the super organization that made our life easier and made us feel great... (TV-Men Choir Wenigumstadt, Germany)

We were absolutely satisfied with the concerts and the organization particularly with our hotel. You have been fantastic! We hope that, in future, we can take part in one of your events again. Compliments and many thanks. (Corale Polifonica Angelicus, Italy)

Perfect organization, our totally committed guide, Dana. In a word, a unique experience... (Gesangverein Schmalförden, Germany)

....we experienced a highly successful event that was extremely stimulating for our chorus...(Church Choir St. Cäcilia Bruchköbel, Germany)

Thank you very much for the perfect organization. Everything has been wonderful and Prague is a very special event. (Unterhaltungsgruppe Ludesch, Austria)

...all of the participants are still under the effects of “Prague fever...(Katholischer Kirchenchor Pfullingen, Germany)

Everything has been wonderful. Perfect organization, Prague is a marvellous city and we have been highly pleased. (Le Voci di Vico, Italy)

....everything was perfectly prepared up to the slightest detail. We would like to give our heartfelt thanks to Mr. & Mrs. Buchmann for the organization of the 2001 festival.... (Men Choir 1843 Vorsfelde, Germany)

We just returned from Prague, where we spent divine days. The guide Michaela was very nice and showed us the most typical places of Prague. The journey, the concerts and the farewell dinner were fantastic! We had the feeling to belong to a family and got the chance to meet choirs from all over the world! (Coro Voci della Val Gotra, Italy)

Thank you for the organization and the wonderful local support. It has been simply fantastic ... (Langenhorner Gesangverein 1866, Germany)

All participants were very satisfied (although otherwise a very critical behaviour of the choir) (Constantia 1878 Walldorf, Germany)

A perfect organization, a remarkable engagement of our wonderful guide Pavla with her high knowledge has been a great experience….The organization and preparations of the concerts have been well organized. A great weekend to remember for a long time. Many thanks to the organization team; with their sense and experience the weekend becomes a big event. We will repeat this choir meeting in Prague. (Goethechor Bad Ems, Germany)

For our choir the participating at this festival has been the highlight of our musical year (Ladies Choir Freundschaft Neustrelitz, Germany)

We had wonderful days in Prague, which will be in our mind for a long time. A perfect organization of the tour - as well as the choice of the hotel, the guide, the concert in the Academy of Music and the farewell dinner at the Monastery of Strahov. (Ladies choir community Cantemus St Ingbert, Germany)

...we want to thank for the good organization of our concert tour to Prague. Everything worked very well and all of us have been happy... We want to realize another wonderful concert tour with your organization. (Singgemeinschaft Pflersch, Italy)

The advent tour has been the highlight for our choir in 2007. Not only the scenery of the festive Prague, but mainly the international meetings with singing people brought us unforgettable moments in our life. (Men Voice Choir Zeuthen, Germany)

We could feel that the well-being of the choirs has been in your heart. The meeting of the choir directors is a very good idea to get contacts to other choirs. (Kantorei Rahden, Germany)

In the name of the choir I want to thank you very much for the professional organization of our concert tour to Prague – everything worked very good...Prague is a wonderful city and we will highly recommend your organization! (CHORporation Neudorf, Austria)

...still to this day, this trip remains as an incredible moment in the hearts of all the participants... (Choir Quodlibets Springe, Germany)

The precision and punctuality with which everything went off impressed us very much. We had very beautiful days in Prague. (Singkreis Hohenau, Austria)


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