Two of Europe's most prestigious choral conductors and composers, Bob Chilcott and Sigvards Klava, have been announced as judges of Let the Peoples Sing (LTPS). The biennial Euroradio Choral Competition will take place on 14-15 October 2017 in Helsinki, hosted by EBU Member YLE. The two prestigious names will form part of the event's International Jury, made up of EBU organization representatives and chaired by Bent Grønholdt (DR).

Expressing his enthusiasm, Bob Chilcott said that he was "proud that Let the Peoples Sing, which began in Britain, is able to attract the support of so many radio stations from all over the world and in doing so to promote the world’s rich heritage of choral singing.  I look forward to hearing those groups perform in what will be a wonderful weekend of choral music.”

About LTPS, Sigvards Klava remarked: "Time today is rapid, over-saturated with dramatic events of the world. When singing, we multiply this positive energy – the strongest weapon against all the negativity in the world. That is why it is so important to cherish and maintain singing traditions. Let us create our own singing celebration!"

Described by one critic as "a contemporary hero of British choral music", Bob Chilcott (b. 1955) began his career as a professional singer and member of the renowned King's Singers for 12 years. Since 1997, he has embraced his vocation as a composer, not only producing a large catalogue of music for all types of vocal ensembles, but also working with singers and choirs in over 30 countries. It was precisely through his many works for young singers that he came to prominence as a composer, prompting large-scale performances of his music at the Estonian Song Festival, the BBC Proms, etc.

His numerous sacred works include the Salisbury Vespers, St John Passion and Requiem. In 2013, he wrote The King shall rejoice, which was sung at Westminster Abbey to commemorate the 60^th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation.

Born in 1962, Sigvards Klava is one of Latvia's most outstanding choral conductors and has been Music Director of the Latvian Radio Chorus since 1992. During his tenure, the ensemble has gained an international reputation through its recording of music by little-known or forgotten composers, as well as for its collaboration with such notable Latvian contemporary composers as Peteris Vasks, Eriks Esenvalds and Maija Einfelde.

Maestro Klava also works with the leading representatives of Latvian traditional music. With Ugis Brikmanis, he has collected and recorded samples of Roman Catholic musical culture and women's chant in the regions of Kurzeme (Courland) and Latgale. He is active as well in the amateur choral movement in his country and is professor of choral conducting at the Latvian Academy of Music.

The deadline for indicating participation in LTPS is 1 November 2016, while the deadline for submitting recordings, scores and complete information on competing choruses and their members is 1 December 2016.

Complete information about the 2017 LTPS can be found here.