About us

SIPARANTUM CHOIR 

The Siparantum Choir, an influential presence in Kosovo’s vibrant music scene, was established in 2017 when a dedicated group of volunteers united with a shared passion for singing and a mission to showcase Kosovo’s diverse cultural heritage on a global platform.

Under the esteemed leadership of permanent conductor Memli Kelmendi, the choir comprises soloists, a female choir, a male choir, a mixed choir, and the “Siparantum Kids” children’s choir, with accomplished pianist Agron Shujaku as a key collaborator.

Since 2018, Memli Kelmendi has represented Kosovo in the World Choir Council and was appointed as Kosovo’s national Ambassador to the International Federation of Choir Conductors (ICCF) in 2022. In 2023, he became a member of The World Choral Conducting Network (WCCN), emphasizing the choir’s commitment to fostering global musical connections.

The Siparantum Choir has gained international recognition through its participation in competitions and choral festivals. It showcases a diverse repertoire ranging from Renaissance classics to contemporary compositions. Collaborations with renowned composers and conductors such as Simon Carrington, Ēriks Ešenvalds, Robin Tyson, Omer Meir Wellber, Petr Popelka, Heinz Ferlesch, Josip Degl’ Ivellio, William Bennett, and Mihaly Zeke have strengthened the choir’s global reputation.

Performances at prestigious international venues such as the Berliner Philharmoniker in Germany, Queen Elisabeth Hall in Antwerp, Belgium, Wiener Konzerthaus in Austria, Hrvatski Glasbeni Zavod in Croatia, the Cathedral of Ljubljana in Slovenia, and the Gangneung Art Center in South Korea have solidified the choir’s reputation. With over 140 successful appearances across Europe and beyond, the choir has demonstrated outstanding vocal talent and artistic excellence. The choir’s global tours have placed them among the top 20 Chamber Choirs & Vocal Ensembles, according to the World Ranking List INTERKULTUR. They have conducted concerts and participated in prestigious festivals in numerous countries across the globe, including the United States (Washington D.C.), Germany, France, Italy, Spain, South Korea, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Sweden, Portugal, Croatia, Poland, North Macedonia, Slovenia, and Albania.

As the Ambassador of Albanian Choral Culture, the Siparantum Choir proudly holds 14 significant awards, contributing to the advancement of global choral artistry. As a cultural ambassador, the choir shares Kosovo’s rich cultural heritage through music, making a lasting impact on the global stage.

AWARDS

  • Golden Plaque at the International Choir Festival “The Golden Lime of Tuhelj,” Croatia (2021)
  • Gold Medal at the International Choir Festival “The Golden Lime of Tuhelj,” Croatia (2021)
  • Winner in the “Musica Contemporanea” Category at the World Choir Games, Belgium (2021)
  • Golden Diploma in “Musica Contemporanea” at the World Choir Games, Belgium (2021)
  • First Prize in Category F at the European Festival for Young People, Neerpelt, Belgium (2022)
  • First Prize in Category G – Pennant Category at the European Festival for Young People, Neerpelt, Belgium (2022)
  • “Siparantum” selected by the professional jury for the “Laureates’ Concert” at the European Festival for Young People, Neerpelt, Belgium (2022)
  • Winner in Category A1 (Mixed Choir) – Mixed Voices – Difficulty Level I at “Lisbon Sings,” Portugal (2022)
  • Golden Diploma in A1 (Mixed Choir) – Mixed Voices – Difficulty Level I at “Lisbon Sings,” Portugal (2022)
  • Silver Diploma in the Sacred Music Category at “Lisbon Sings,” Portugal (2022)
  • Golden Medal (Champions Competition) – Musica Contemporanea at the World Choir Games, South Korea (2023)
  • Golden Medal (Champions Competition) – Mixed Choir at the World Choir Games, South Korea (2023)
  • Golden Medal at the European Choir Games & Grand Prix of Nations, Sweden (2023)
  • First Prize in Category G at the European Festival for Young People, Neerpelt, Belgium (2024)
  • Golden Medal (Adult Choirs), The World Choral Cup, Barcelona (2024)
  • Special Award for the best contemporary program and stage performance, The World Choral Cup, Barcelona (2024)
  • “Best Youth, Culture and Art” at the B40 Creative Industries Youth Awards, organized by B40 Balkan Cities Network and Bashkia Tiranë (2024)