1989-1964
It has been more than 40 years of enthusiastic ovations for the Youth Choir Maribor. The choir has a continuity not many choirs can boast about. The choir, which was first named the Central Choir of Maribor and later renamed into the Youth Choir Maribor, was founded in 1964 by Branko Rajšter together with a group of music pedagogues and enthusiasts. Thus, strong foundations were set and they remained firm for the next 25 years under the first conductor's baton. Without doubt the choir become one of the leading choirs in the world of choral music. It went on many tours abroad, made many recordings and won the highest prizes. It performed in public for the first time in 1965. This was also the year it attended the first competition in Celje where it won bronze; but the next five years were all golden (1967, 1969, 1971, 1973, and 1975). At the international competition of the same festival it won twice (1975, 1977). It won many prizes world-wide: third prize in Arezzo (1969), the BBC Award in London (1974), first prize in Varna (1975), first prize and Special Jury Prize for best performed obligatory song in Neerpelt (1976), second prize in Prato (1982), second place in its category, and the special BUFA Fund Award (awarded for the first time) for best performed obligatory song at the intercontinental festival in Haag (1983), second prize and Special Award of Radio Zurich in Montreaux (1984), first prize in the category of choral singing and second prize in the category of renaissance singing in Karditsa (1988). The choir has made recordings for many radio and TV houses home and abroad. In 1974, it was awarded the Gallus Plaque, in 1976 the Prešeren Fund award for artistic achievements, in 1985 the Golden Coat-of-Arms of the City of Maribor for its exceptional artistic achievements. Several of the choir members became distinguished musicians and musical pedagogues. One of them is Karmina Šilec who took over the leadership of the choir in December 1989. She introduced fresh new approaches and gave it a distinctive identity which separates and unites at the same time.