Dear choir singers!

Ladies and gentlemen!

Our city, the capital of the state of Steiermark, was European Capital of Culture in 2003. Our motto was: "Graz darf alles: Graz is allowed to do everything". Back then, our interpretation of the term "culture" covered a broad and colourful spectrum. This spirit has remained with us ever since and will accompany us into the future. The fact that we are hosting the fifth World Choir Games in July 2008 is pleasing proof of this enduring spirit.

We are expecting some 500 choirs from all continents to attend and take part. In addition to the main venue, the Grazer Stadthalle, the singers will be able to exercise their vocal skills in our historic town centre and enliven our public spaces in a unique and special way. It will also be a time of encounters, as people from diverse cultural backgrounds meet the citizens of Graz. I hope that this will lead to lively exchanges and that through music, we can build bridges.

On behalf of the city of Graz, I would like to extend a hearty welcome to all choirs. We hope you feel at home and enjoy your stay with us!

Yours truly
Siegfried Nagl
Mayor of Graz, State Capital of Steiermark

WELCOME!

From the 9th to the 19th of July 2008, Austria's greenest and most wooded Federal State, Steiermark, will play host to tens of thousands of singers, bringing them together for the world's biggest choir festival in the regional capital Graz, a World Heritage Site, a city of human rights and meeting point for world religions and a centre of dialogue for Christian churches.

Choral singing has been an integral part of this country's cultural tradition for 145 years. From the simple folk song to high mass in churches, from the tunes of Robert Stolz' operettes to vocal and instrumental jazz sounds.

This broad range of traditional folk culture will leave its mark on the atmosphere of the 5th World Choir Games, to which I cordially invite all the choirs of this world.

Hermann Schützenhöfer
Deputy Head of Steiermark Regional Government