Radiotelevizija Slovenija (RTV Slovenia) is the only public, non-profit radio-television broadcaster in Slovenia. One of its many missions is to promote musical creativity in Slovenia. The music production unit of RTV Slovenia also includes the Symphony Orchestra, the Big Band, and the Youth Choir. These orchestras and choirs cater to the broadcasting needs of both radio and TV programmes.
Charming children’s voices
The RTV Slovenia’s Children’s Choir brings together around 60 children from all over Slovenia. The choir includes choristers aged 7 do 13. Each year in September, RTV Slovenia invites children to a public audition where they are asked to sing a song of their choice in Slovenian. New voices thus join and enrich the choir every year. Older and more experienced choristers with more mature voices may, after leaving the children’s choir, join the Youth Choir. The Children’s and the Youth Choirs have been active since 1957. Countless songs have been sung in this period. From folk songs to newly composed children’s songs.
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The Choir records extensively, particularly new songs by Slovenian composers, both for the purpose of radio broadcasting and radio archives. Photo: Sergej Semibratov
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RTV Slovenia’s Children’s Choir. Photo: Sergej Semibratov
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Currently the RTV Slovenia’s Children’s Choir is recording the “Kje je Tina?” cantata. Photo: Sergej Semibratov
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Children’s voices make any event richer and bring joy to the listening community. Photo: Sergej Semibratov
Children’s voices make any event richer and bring joy to the listening community. The Choir’s singing is also available on CDs, including Mavrica, Violinček 1, 2 and 3, 4 and 5, Otroška glasba, Pisani svet glasbe and Ribič Pepe. Currently the RTV Slovenia’s Children’s Choir is recording the “Kje je Tina?” cantata. The cantata recounts true events, which make this vocal composition particularly attractive. The Children’s Choir also regularly performs with both adult orchestras, the Symphony Orchestra and the Big Band, and choristers eagerly look forward to the occasion.
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The RTV Slovenia’s Children’s Choir is currently conducted by Anka Jazbec. Photo: Sergej Semibratov
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The RTV Slovenia’s Children’s Choir was established in 1957 at the initiative of the pedagogue and composer Janez Bitenc. Photo: RTV Slovenia archives
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Its first director was Janez Kuhar, who was also a composer of children’s music and whose kind nature was always appealing to children. Photo: RTV Slovenia archives
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Initially, most songs for the Children’s Choir were composed by Janez Bitenc and Janez Kuhar. Photo: RTV Slovenia archives
“For me, the most important feature of the Children’s Choir is its educational aspect, as its music enriches both homes and the pre-school and school musical audio space. Following our recent musical projects, in particular Violinček, compositions and recordings are widely included in music textbooks and in choir competitions,” says Matej Jevnišek (radio First programme editor for children’s music).
