Investigation of the Economic Dimensions of Choir Festivals-Festivities in Terms of Participating Choirs and Organizations: “Choral Tourism”

Abstract

Choirs constitute an important area of music education and play an important role in increasing the artistic, social, and academic quality of societies as well as spreading music education. Choir festivals, in which the works performed in choirs are exhibited, have become widespread in Turkey for the last ten years, and it is observed that the choirs participating in these festivals also participate in various events and festivals abroad. These festivals and events are important for choir members and conductors, as they introduce themselves and provide opportunities for choirs to take the stage outside of their own environment. Choirs from within each country and from all over the world participate in national-international festivals and festivities held in Turkey and in various countries of the world, exhibit their works, and benefit from these activities as a social and touristic trip.
 In this research, a study was conducted on the expenditures of 3 choirs and 4 organizations in order to address the economic dimension of choral festivals. In the study, the participation process of the three choirs in the choir’s festival/festivities held in a different city was discussed, and it was tried to determine what kind of expenditures a choir made, based on their expenditures during this participation process. In addition, the expenditures made in the organization of the 4 choir festivals were tried to be revealed and the economic dimensions of the festivals were tried to be exhibited. Thus, it is desired that the choir educators and conductors who will participate in the choir festivals/festivities are informed about financial expenditures and that the executives of the cities where the festival/festivities are held should follow the issue carefully.