Pärnu's newly founded Endla women's choir wins gold at Sopot international festival

The Endla women's choir of Pärnu Song Society, founded just last autumn, made a remarkable international debut at the Mundus Cantat choral festival in Sopot, Poland. The amateur ensemble, conducted by Toomas Volli, returned home with a gold diploma and third place in the sacred music category.

The Endla women's choir of Pärnu Song Society has made a stunning debut on the international stage, winning a gold diploma and third place in the sacred music category at the Mundus Cantat choral festival in Sopot, Poland — all in their very first trip abroad.

What makes the achievement particularly remarkable is the choir's age: the ensemble was only founded last autumn, meaning the singers took on the challenge of a demanding international competition within months of their first rehearsal together. Conducted by Toomas Volli, the amateur singers exceeded even their own expectations with a challenging programme.

The Mundus Cantat festival in Sopot is a prestigious international choral competition that draws ensembles from across Europe and beyond. Competing in the sacred music category, the Endla choir stood out among far more established ensembles, claiming a podium finish that few newcomers could dream of achieving so early in their existence.

The result signals a bright future for the young collective and reflects positively on the broader choral culture of Pärnu, a city with a long and proud tradition of song. The choir's gold diploma debut is a rare achievement for any ensemble, let alone one barely a year old.