1. The International Choir Competition MUNDI CANTANT is open only to amateur choirs.
2. Participation in competition categories: In 2025, one choir can participate in a maximum of 2 categories.
3. Age limit: Organisers will require a list of singers with their full names and dates of birth submitted in advance from choirs competing in categories limited by age.
4. Technical support and instrumental accompaniment: It is assumed singing will be without microphones and without sound system. An acoustic or electric piano will be available in the competition venue. Other accompanying instruments must be provided by the ensemble.
5. Competition repertoire: At least 1 piece must be performed a cappella (in the category of Sacred music there are 2 mandatory a cappella pieces). If a choir competes in 2 categories of the MUNDI CANTANT competition, a different programme must be performed in each category (each piece may be performed by the choir only once). This rule does not apply to the Absolute Winner Competition.
6. Sheet music and list of competition repertoire: The list of competition repertoire containing full names of authors, full titles of compositions/cycles and duration of each piece must be provided no later than 30 March 2025. Competition repertoire sheet music must be sent in electronic form via e-mail no later than the deadline date. Compositions must be performed in the order indicated on the sent list of competition repertoire. Any changes to the repertoire will need to be communicated to the organisers as soon as possible. Transpositions, unauthorised alterations or other interventions in the competition pieces should be indicated in the submitted sheet music and reported in advance to the organiser.
7. Acoustic rehearsal in the competition venue: The maximum time of the acoustic rehearsal is 10 minutes including the arrival and the exit from the stage. If the time limit is exceeded, the rehearsal will be interrupted by the organiser. The rehearsal time is assigned by the organiser, it is binding and must be respected. If the given date or time is not respected, no alternative rehearsal time will be arranged and the participant's right to an acoustic rehearsal in the sense of these rules expires.
8. Competition venue: After arriving at the competition venue, the choir will immediately announce itself to a member of the organising team. The choir will be assigned a rehearsal room for singing and a dressing room. The maximum time for the use of the rehearsal room is 10 minutes. The minimum time for the use of the dressing room is 25 minutes, the maximum time is limited according to the current occupancy of the competition venue. All participants are required to respect the competition schedule and follow the organiser's instructions. Dressing rooms are not to be used for singing, but only for changing and storing belongings during the competition performance.

Evaluation rules

1. Competition jury: The competition is judged by an international jury headed by a chairman of the jury. The decision of the jury is final and irrevocable.
2. Evaluation system: Each juror has a maximum of 30 points at their disposal that are awarded on the basis of the evaluation criteria: intonation and rhythm, expression and style of interpretation, singing technique, dramaturgy of the competition programme and artistic impression. The final score is determined by the average of the points awarded by individual jurors. Based on the final score, choirs and ensembles are placed in the relevant award level (bronze, silver and gold). Award levels are not limited by the number of placed choirs and ensembles.

Honourable mention (1.00–6.99 points)

Bronze medal (7.00–14.99 points)

Silver medal (15.00–22.99 points)

Gold medal (23.00–30.00 points)

3. Special awards of the jury: The jury may award a special award for exceptional performances, e.g. for an outstanding performance of a certain composition, vocal culture, dramaturgy and other qualities of the competition performance noted by the jury.
4. Documentation of the evaluation: After the announcement of the results, each choirmaster, choir member or representative has the opportunity to participate in an analysis seminar with the competition jury to receive a feedback. The evaluation sheets of each juror will be sent to the choir in electronic form after the festival.

1. The Absolute Winner Competition is the second round of the International Choir Competition MUNDI CANTANT, for which the participating choirs are nominated on the basis of their results in the MUNDI CANTANT Competition, regardless of the category or age.
2. The usual number of finalists is 5. However, the jury may decide to change this number.
3. Qualification: Choirs with the highest number of points within the golden award level across all categories qualify for the second round of the Competition (in case a choir competed in 2 categories and was awarded golden medal in both of them, the choir may only advance to the second round in the category with a higher score).
4. In the case that a qualified choir refuses to participate in the Absolute Winner Competition, the place of finalist will go to the choir with the next highest score. Choirs will notify the organiser of their intention to participate or not to participate in the Absolute Winner Competition (if qualified) after submitting the application form, at the latest when checking in at the festival office. This decision cannot be changed afterwards.
5. Nominations will be announced at the results announcement of the MUNDI CANTANT Competition. The Absolute Winner Competition will take place as an evening concert on Saturday 7 June 2025.
6. Competition repertoire: There is no limit to the repertoire in the Absolute Winner Competition. Copies and electronic versions of sheet music are not required. Potential competition repertoire must be submitted by choirs interested in competing, at the latest when checking in at the festival office.
7. Number of compositions and time limit: Finalists will chose up to 2 compositions to perform that will not exceed 10 minutes. The time limit excludes time taken by entering/leaving the stage, the time between pieces or the time taken by applause.
8. Competition jury: The Absolute Winner is chosen by an extended jury, i.e. the international jury of the MUNDI CANTANT Competition extended to include professional public and choirmasters of other participating choirs (with the exception of choirmaster performing in the Absolute Winner Competition). The jury is headed by a chairman of the jury. The decision of the extended jury is final and irrevocable.
9. Evaluation rules: Each of the jurors has 1 vote at their disposition, which they will assign to their preferred choir. They will put their vote into an envelope with their name on it. Envelopes will be opened and votes will be counted in the presence of the chairman of the extended jury, who in case of equality of votes will use their second vote and thus decide on the Absolute Winner. The finalist with the highest number of votes wins.
10. Title and awards: The choir with the highest number of votes will be awarded the title of the “Absolute Winner of MUNDI CANTANT 2025”. There may be financial and non-financial prizes for the Absolute Winner and for the other finalists. Any information about these prizes will be published on the festival organiser's website and will become an addition to these competition rules.

1. The International Vocal Ensemble Competition VOCALIS BELLUS is open only to amateur vocal ensembles.
2. It is assumed that vocal ensembles are not conducted by their artistic director or choirmaster during their competition performance, as it is the case with choirs.
3. Technical support and instrumental accompaniment: : It is assumed singing without microphones and without sound system. An acoustic or electric piano will be available in the competition venue. Other accompanying instruments must be provided by the ensemble.
4. Competition repertoire: At least one piece must be performed a cappella.
5. Sheet music and list of competition repertoire: The list of competition repertoire containing full names of authors, full titles of compositions/cycles and duration of each piece must be provided no later than 30 March 2025. Competition repertoire sheet music must be sent in electronic form via e-mail no later than the deadline date. Compositions must be performed in the order indicated on the sent list of competition repertoire. Any changes to the repertoire will need to be communicated to the organisers as soon as possible. Transpositions, unauthorised alterations or other interventions in the competition pieces should be indicated in the submitted sheet music and reported in advance to the organiser.
6. Acoustic rehearsal in the competition venue: The maximum time of the acoustic rehearsal is 10 minutes including the arrival and the exit from the stage. If the time limit is exceeded, the rehearsal will be interrupted by the organiser. The rehearsal time is assigned by the organiser, it is binding and must be respected. If the given date or time is not respected, no alternative rehearsal time will be arranged and the participant's right to an acoustic rehearsal in the sense of these rules expires.
7. Competition venue: After arriving at the competition venue, the vocal ensemble will immediately announce itself to a member of the organising team. The ensemble will be assigned a rehearsal room for singing and a dressing room. The maximum time for the use of the rehearsal room is 10 minutes. The minimum time for the use of the dressing room is 25 minutes, the maximum time is limited according to the current occupancy of the competition venue. All participants are required to respect the competition schedule and follow the organiser's instructions. Dressing rooms are not to be used for singing, but only for changing and storing belongings during the competition performance.

Evaluation rules

1. Competition jury: The competition is judged by an international jury headed by a chairman of the jury. The decision of the jury is final and irrevocable.
2. Evaluation system: Each juror has a maximum of 30 points at their disposal that are awarded on the basis of the evaluation criteria: intonation and rhythm, expression and style of interpretation, singing technique, dramaturgy of the competition programme and artistic impression. The final score is determined by the average of the points awarded by individual jurors. Based on the final score, choirs and ensembles are placed in the relevant award level (bronze, silver and gold). Award levels are not limited by the number of placed choirs and ensembles.

Honourable mention (1.00–6.99 points)

Bronze medal (7.00–14.99 points)

Silver medal (15.00–22.99 points)

Gold medal (23.00–30.00 points)

3. Special awards of the jury: The jury may award a special award for exceptional performances, e.g. for an outstanding performance of a certain composition, vocal culture, dramaturgy and other qualities of the competition performance noted by the jury.
4. Documentation of the evaluation: After the announcement of the results, each artistic director, ensemble member or representative has the opportunity to participate in an analysis seminar with the competition jury to receive feedback. The evaluation sheets of each juror will be sent to the choir/ensemble in electronic form after the festival.
5. There may be financial and non-financial prizes for the winners of the VOCALIS BELLUS Competition. Any information about these prizes will be published on the festival organiser's website and will become an addition to these competition rules.
6. The best vocal ensemble, i.e. the winner of the VOCALIS BELLUS Competition, will have the opportunity to perform at the evening concert as part of the MUNDI CANTANT Absolute Winner Competition.