Denmark rose to the challenge at the Eurovision Song Contest in Tel Aviv, but they have something major to cheer about this evening. That’s because their choral group Vocal Line won the second ever Eurovision Choir contest— the newest addition to the Eurovision Family of Events from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).

Organised by Swedish broadcaster SVT and in partnership with Interkultur and Goteborg&Co, this year’s competition took place in the Swedish city of Gothenburg — and combined with the Opening Ceremony of the European Choir Games also in Gothenburg.

The BBC’s Petroc Trelawny co-hosted tonight’s event alongside SVT’s Ella Petterson.

Ten choirs participated in this year’s competition — including the first ever winners Slovenia and Sweden, who made their debut as the host country. For the first time ever in a Eurovision event, Scotland competed as its own nation under the BBC’s Scottish Gaelic channel BBC Alba. Wales returned to the contest, this time with choir Ysgol Gerdd Ceredigion.

Eurovision Choir 2019 running order

  1. Sweden – Zero8
  2. Belgium – Almakalia
  3. Latvia – Koris Maska
  4. Germany – Bonnvoice
  5. Norway – Volve Vokal
  6. Denmark – Vocal Line
  7. Scotland – Alba
  8. Slovenia – Jazzva
  9. Switzerland – Cake O’Phonie
  10. Wales – Ysgol Gerdd Ceredigion

Each choir performed a set lasting no longer than four minutes. After the performance, a three-member professional jury panel then gave their feedback.

Results

The three jurors consisted of Swedish singer and composer Katarina Henryson; American singer, director, producer and composer Deke Sharon; and British composer and conductor John Rutter as the jury chairperson.

After all ten countries performed, it was up to the juries to make their all-important deliberations. Unlike the previous contest — and for the very first time — the jury selected Latvia, Denmark and Slovenia as the final three choirs, where they performed again with a different set lasting no longer than three minutes. They were judged based on the following criteria:

  • Technical skill
  • Accuracy
  • Quality of sound
  • Communication

After a nervous wait, the juries made their decision and Denmark were announced as the winners of Eurovision Choir 2019. Latvia finished as the runners-up, with 2017 winners Slovenia in third. Not only do Vocal Line take home a specially made trophy, they will also travel to next year’s World Choir Games in Belgium.

Eurovision Choir is a biennial choral competition. It was first held in 2017, then called Eurovision Choir of the Year. Nine countries competed in the first event, with Slovenian choir Carmen Manet becoming the first ever winner. From 2019, it has been renamed to Eurovision Choir.

What do you think of this year’s Eurovision Choir? Were Denmark’s Vocal Line your favourite choir? Let us know in the comments below!

Photo: EBU/Interkultur

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ESCFan2009
ESCFan2009
4 years ago

It was a great evening! And after the first round I was rooting for Cake O’Phonie from Switzerland (cool name), the Belgian ones (with that one gorgeous young man in my age) and Slovenia HUNTY! I predicted the superfinal for them…

Esc1234
Esc1234
4 years ago

Not only the concept has issues, but also there wasn’t any suspence or interesting moments, looks like a 1985 show with some leds on the back. Thank you next

Roy Moreno
Roy Moreno
4 years ago

I can’t believe I missed it 🙁
Congrats to all choirs and Denmark! 🙂

Ern
Ern
4 years ago

This choir contest brings back some of the nostalgia of “old” Eurovision (pre-1990), which was more formal.

I like it!

David
David
4 years ago

Well Done to Scotland and all the team at Alba for a fantastic debut under their own flag and language… Junior eurovision next or even going through the semi finals at ESC as its own entry ? ???????

Also, do you think Wales and S4C should host this in 2021? Be an ideal size for a smaller broadcaster to organise and considering Wales’ global reputation for singing?

Roy Moreno
Roy Moreno
4 years ago
Reply to  David

Does this contest take place only every second year?

Ariso Light
Ariso Light
4 years ago

I think Latvia was robbed of the victory, but still, congrats to Denmark!

Joe
Joe
4 years ago

Could you please go away

Vocal Egg
Vocal Egg
4 years ago

Denmark do have luck in Sweden!
accept from 2016

James
James
4 years ago

I was rooting for Scotland and Wales but Denmark really impressed me with their final performance.

And yey for live music.

Hannah
Hannah
4 years ago

After the first round I was rooting for Latvia (Father Thunder was so good!) but Denmark definitely deserved the win after their final performance

Skiwalko
Skiwalko
4 years ago

Fantastic show first of all, well done SVT. There was plenty of different people, styles, languages and choreographies to be found. I’m still a bit upset about Volve Vokal and Cake O’Phonie not advancing, but thet’s just how it goes, as John Rutter said there could only be 3 finalists. Also, congratulations to Scotland for their Eurovision debut, we hope to see you back soon. In the final the choirs really brought their A game and it must have been very hard to choose between the traditional, atmospheric Latvia, laid-back pop Denmark and jazzy fun Latvia, yet Denmark won and… Read more »

YorgunumAnla
YorgunumAnla
4 years ago
Reply to  Skiwalko

Scotland has been participating since 1957, as part of the United Kingdom. Scotland hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in 1972, and a Scottish singer, Lulu, won the competition in 1969. Kenneth McKellar wore a kilt representing the UK in 1966. Rikki wore tartan in ’87. Scott Fitzgerald came within a point of victory in 1988. Artists and composers from all over Great Britain and Northern Ireland have brought their talent to the festival over the years. So you will see Scotland back soon, and Wales too, next May in fact, when the UK representative takes to the stage in the… Read more »

Skiwalko
Skiwalko
4 years ago
Reply to  YorgunumAnla

Fair enough, still the last time we’ve seen a singer from Scotland representing UK was 31 years ago, and yesterday for the first time we’ve seen the Scottish flag and heard the Scottish Gaelic at the Eurovision event. On a side note Fitzgerald’s “Go” is one of my favourite Eurovision songs ever, too bad it didn’t won, but Celine was great too.

Joe
Joe
4 years ago

I think it’s nifty to see the EBU running events like this that let countries shine in such a unique way (including Scotland and Wales). And to think, Denmark almost withdrew before changing their minds. Now look what happened! Hope the next one is good too.

Adno
Adno
4 years ago

This is such a random contest for the EBU to be running. If it didn’t have the “Eurovision” name no one would care about it outside the choir community. RIP Eurovision Young Dancers.

Joe
Joe
4 years ago
Reply to  Adno

Pretty much all the ones outside Eurovision itself are niche. JESC appeals to kids (and Eurofans who need something to follow in the off-season) while the other two are for classical/choral music buffs.

Skiwalko
Skiwalko
4 years ago
Reply to  Adno

Is it really random? In a way it’s a variation of the long running EBU’s competition “Let the Peoples Sing” meant for the radio, only with different rules and live tv broadcast. And to be fair there were much weirder EBU shows in the past, like “Jeux Sans Frontiers” or Eurovision Magic Circus Show (yeah, that was a thing).