15^th Krakow Advent & Christmas Choir Festival4-6^th December 2026

Margrethe Ek started conducting at the age of 14. Ek studied music for eight years, including master in singing, an education in music performance and presentation, and a diploma in conducting from the Norwegian Academy of Music. She has written a book of the health benefits of singing in a choir (Cantando 2012). An article of choir and health benefits are to be published in the bulletin of international federation of choral music (IFCM). Ek currently works as a teacher in music at two local high schools. She has previously worked at the University of Oslo within the subjects of song and conduction for 11 years. Being a conductor filled with energy and dynamic presentations, she has conducted several ensembles at high levels within several genres – both choirs and instrumental ensembles (symphony orchestras and wind ensembles). Ek’s different ensembles have often been seen on national TV and radio, and they have participated in choir contests at international levels with great results. Margrethe Ek has been acknowledged as both a lecturer and a visiting conductor for both businesses and musical ensembles in Norway. She is often invited to be a judge in both national and international choir contests. Today Margrethe Ek is the conductor of Moss Ensemble Consensus, founded in 2010.

He attended masterclasses and choral conducting workshops with esteemed internationally renowned conductors (Lorenzo Donati, Adriano Martinolli D’Arcy, Alessandro Cadario, Fred Sjoberg, Luc Guilloré, …)

He participated as a conductor  in the  “Festival di Primavera” for children’s choirs organized by Feniarco in 2010, 2011, 2017 and 2018. He collaborated with the italian singer Elisa for the choral arrangements of the CD “Ivy” and several musical productions (Amici, Ivy Tour, Arena di Verona, Luce in Cattedrale and many others).

He participated with Piccolo Coro Artemìa at the 74th edition of the Sanremo Festival where they performed with the italian singer Annalisa. In 2009 and 2015 he was awarded as best director at the National Choral Competition in Malcesine and Vittorio Veneto.

He conducts the Children’s Choir, the Young Voices Choir and the Piccolo Coro Artemìa in Torviscosa (UD) with which he has won several national and international  competitions

Among others first prize in the equal voices category and Golden Angel  at the Krakow Advent and Christmas Choir Festival

Josef Surovík has conducted many choirs (Cantica Zlín, Sonet Vsetín, Moraviachor). He gained his professional education at Church Conservatory Kroměříž – subjects Church music and singing. From 1998 to 2004 he worked as a choir conductor at Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic Orchestra, Zlín. He’s a lecturer of conducting courses and a member of juries in many choir singing competitions. In 2009 Josef Surovík was awarded the National Prize for choirmaster junior by Czech Choral Union. In 2012 he gained a Special Prize for Exemplary Work with the Youth Choir at FSU Jihlava. One of his latest projects is the Children’s Opera Zlín (founded in 2011). Josef Surovík is a member of expert committees Nipos-Artama for children and secondary school choirs. In September 2014 Josef Surovík was awarded by the Mayor of Zlín for his excellent achievements as choral conductor. With his Moraviachor won Golden Diploma at the Krakow Advent and Christmas Choir Festival 2023

Małgorzata Langer-Król – graduated Krakow Academy of Music in the choral conducting class of prof. Adam Korzeniowski. In the years 2003-2009, as a conductor and choirmaster, she worked with the String Chamber Orchestra and the Mixed Choir “Educatus” of the Pedagogical University
in Krakow . Since 2008, he has been leading the “Dominanta” Choir of the University of Economics
in Krakow. With this ensemble she won many top awards at competitions in Poland and abroad. She also cooperated as a conductor with the choir and orchestra of the “Passionart” Association, the Górecki Chamber Choir.
She received four individual awards for the best conductor at choral competitions and several awards for group recordings, including the prestigious l’Orfee D’or and the “Fryderyk” award. As a singer, she performs solo and choral parts, constantly giving concerts with: Octava ensemble since 2004, Collegium Zieleński since 2009, Górecki Chamber Choir since 2013. She cooperated with, among others: with the Cappella Cracoviensis choir in 2007-2015, the Krakow Philharmonic choir, the Krakow Opera choir, the Wrocław Opera choir, and the Polish Radio Choir. He promotes choral music around the world by giving concerts, among others: in the USA, Japan, Australia, Russia, Turkey and most European countries.
She has recorded many CDs as a conductor and as a singer, including: “Christmas Carols and Pastorals”,  “Christmas Carols and Pastorals” with the Educatus Choir, “Opera Omnia” by Mikołaj Zieleński (6 CDs) , “Opera omnia” by Bartłomiej Pękiel (3 CDs), “Opera omnia” by Franciszek Lilius, “Live style”, “From church songs by H.M. Górecki”.

Rolandas Daugėla is Associate Professor at the Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) Music Academy of Kaunas (Lithuania); since 1998 the chief conductor of World Lithuanian Song Celebrations; Artistic director and conductor of church chamber choir “Cantate Domino”, VMU Academic choir “Vivere Cantus”, and the childrens choir “Cantica”; Lithuanian choral expert – advisor. In 1992 he launched Cantate Domino, a festival of sacred music, which evolved by 2011 into a series of international choral competitions under the Kaunas Cantat brand before becoming Lituania Cantat, an organisation in charge of six international choral contests and festivals. A member of the Lithuanian Musicians’ Union and the Lithuanian Choir Union, he has been the chief conductor of regional song festivals in Kaunas since 1996 and larger events for Lithuanians from all over the world since 1998. Every year he works as head or member of jury at international choral competitions in Lithuania and Europe. 1998, the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania provided this artist with the 1st degree S. Šimkus award, a winner of “Authentic music” award (2008), “Golden bird” award for nomination of “International shine star” (2009), was awarded the Kaunas City Municipality Culture and Art Prize (2010) and the city of Kaunas burgomaster Jonas Vileišis brass medal (2011). Lithuanian Choral Association Art award (2020).