Grand Prix for the Volantes Soni Choir of Poznan University of Technology

On 17–18 January 2026, the Volantes Soni Choir of Poznan University of Technology participated in the 2nd Christmas Carol and Pastorale Games in Warsaw. The festival marked the culmination of an intensive period of artistic work devoted to Christmas repertoire, which had recently become a central focus of the choir's activities.

The choir arrived in Warsaw on the day of the competition auditions, held at Primary School No. 339. The ensemble was well prepared, having already performed its Christmas programme at several events, including the Christmas Concert in the auditorium of Poznan University of Technology, which attracted an exceptionally large audience, and the Poznań Christmas Carol Festival (Poznańskie Kolędowanie).

Upon arrival, the choir held an acoustic rehearsal in the school's sports hall before taking part in the competition. The jury consisted of distinguished musicians and conductors: Prof. Dawid Ber, Dr Joanna Łukaszewska, Dr Błażej Połom, Dr Anna Perzanowska-Tarasiuk, Dr Bartosz Michałowski, and Ariadna Pustoła, MA. The auditions proceeded according to schedule, with the choir presenting its prepared competition programme.

The festival brought together 21 choirs, competing in four categories. The Volantes Soni Choir competed in Category B – Mixed Choirs.

The same evening, the Festival Gala took place at the Church of Our Lady of Mercy in Warsaw, combining an awards ceremony with performances by the participating ensembles. Each choir had the opportunity to present one selected piece before the audience and fellow competitors.

The Volantes Soni Choir achieved an outstanding score of 96.5 points, earning a Gold Diploma and first place in Category B. Of the 21 participating choirs, only eight were awarded a Gold Diploma.

The highlight of the evening came with the announcement of the festival's Grand Prix, which was awarded to the Volantes Soni Choir of Poznan University of Technology. In addition to the prestigious title, the choir received a PLN 3,000 cash prize and the Festival Cup. This marked the fourth Grand Prix in the choir's history and another consecutive victory of this kind.

The gala concluded with encore performances by the Grand Prix winner and the winners of each competition category, followed by a group photograph of all festival participants.

On the second day of the festival, the choir gave a festival concert, once again at the Church of Our Lady of Mercy in Warsaw. The ensemble performed its Christmas repertoire for the audience, showcasing not only its artistic achievements but also the academic community and the university it proudly represents. As is their tradition, the choir invited the audience to join in singing Christmas carols, creating a warm and engaging atmosphere. The concert concluded with an encore and enthusiastic applause before the choir returned to Poznań.