Every year internationally renowned experts in vocal music form the jury of the acappella competition. In the past years we could welcome Ward Swingle (founder of the Swingle Singers), Michele Weir (USA), Peter Eldridge (New York Voices, USA), Andrea Figallo (Flying Pickets, ITA). 

Kim Nazarian (USA)

A native "up-state" New Yorker and Magna Cum Laude graduate of Ithaca College, Kim is a founding member of the Grammy award-winning group New York Voices, formed in 1987. She has recorded numerous CD's and toured the world with this outstanding vocal quartet. In Japan, Kim has a solo CD on the JVC label entitled "Red Dragonfly In New York", an educational project with a collection of Japanese folk songs. Ms. Nazarian is also a featured artist on a number of other CD's. Kim also disseminates her highly sought after perspectives through the teaching of private students, clinics, workshops, master classes, festival adjudication and guest conducting for all levels from grade school to graduate school. In New York, Kim continues not only her private studio, but also her active involvement in the "studio scene" where her credits include numerous jingles and major motion picture scores. After establishing her "dual residency" in Pittsburgh, PA, Kim was a featured vocalist along with Ray Brown and Stanley Turrentine in the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre production, "Indigo In Motion".

Website of the New York Voices

Anders Jalkeus (Sweden)

Anders Jaléus, born in 1962, was introduced to folk music by his parents and started playing the violin and piano at the age of six. By the time he started studying music at the Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm he was able to play almost every instrument.There he also met some fellow students and together they formed the world famous Real Group. Since the beginning of their professional career they have sold more than 200,000 albums, performed more than 1,000 live shows and worked with great musicians like George Martin, Bobby McFerrin, Barbara Hendricks and Toots Thielemans. Jalkéus is a internationally sought-after singer, arranger and vocal coach and is also a dedicated chorus singer who loves Swedish "romance" music, especially when he gets to jump into the tenor
section.

Website of the Real Group

Matthias Becker (Germany)

Diploma as choir conductor (at Helmut Rilling), degree in musicology, PhD in “choir music in jazz”. Winner of the first prize at the national competition of voice (category jazz). Founder and manager of VoKAL ToTAL, the famous German vocal jazz quartet. Golden Diploma and 1st prize at the 4th international choir competition in Budapest, 1993. Two times ‘Jazz-CD of the Month’ awarded by the music journal “audio”. He is a concert and studio musician and his activities include: holding national and international courses in music for choirmasters, choirs and vocal ensembles, publishing choir arrangements and articles on voice and jazz choir.

Website of Mattias Becker 

Andrea Figallo (Italy), Pop, Jazz, Comedy

The bass singer and vocal percussionist of the Flying Pickets studied voice and drama in Bologna, conducted choirs and performed with various vocal ensembles in Italy and Switzerland. Before becoming the youngest member of the Flying Pickets he worked as a studio singer for international advertising campaigns and was part of the internationally renowned Italian a cappella sextet Jazz’n Jam. Today he is a sought-after vocal coach in seminars, workshops and master classes. He also appeared on Bobby McFerrin's new CD "VOCAbuLarieS"

Website of Andrea Figallo

Franz Jochum (Austria), classical vocal ensemble

Master Diploma with Honours in Conducting and Choral Conducting, Violin and sound engineering at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz. Was awarded the Appreciation Award of the Federal Ministry of Vienna for his accomplishments in arts. Teacher at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz for Choir, Conducting, Choral Conducting and Vocal Ensemble. Internation-ally much asked for guest speaker and coach at seminars and symposia such as the European Acad-emy for Young Choral Conductors, Ars Choralis / Zagreb and federal and state academies in Ger-many.

Website of Franz Jochum