国际交流

The International Festival Chorus (IFC) is an international choir based in Beijing. It was founded by a British conductor, Nicholas Smith, and its first performance for an audience was in March 2002. The concept of the choir is very simple. Anyone living in Beijing can audition to join, provided that the person has experienced singing in a choir and speaks English.

Nicholas moved to China in 1995 and started a few years later to lead the Beijing ContemporAIR Chamber Choir. From 1998 he was the conductor of Beijing's Baroque Chamber Orchestra Choir, until he founded IFC.

The IFC has about 120 permanent members in Beijing, but usually 60-80 singers attend the public performances. "The rehearsals take a long time and the choir is in a constant need of new members", says Nicholas.