Samford’s A Cappella Choir took some of the top honors at the Florilége Vocal de Tours competition in Tours, France, May 25-27, including:

First Prize, Renaissance Competition
Ronsard Prize, Renaissance Competition
First Place, Free Expression
Third Place, Mixed Choirs

In addition to its recognition as an outstanding international choir, the ensemble will bring home €2,600 ($3,260) in prize winnings.

A Cappella Choir director Philip Copeland, who joined Samford’s School of the Arts faculty in 2010, said several judges confided in him that they thought Samford’s choir was the best overall in the competition.

“The choir was completely magnificent in the Grand Prix competition today,” Copeland wrote on his Samford A Cappella blog on the last day of the competition. “It was easily the best performance we've ever given together and many of us were crying after the concert”. Copeland also noted that most of this year’s choir members were freshmen and sophomores.

Founded in 1939, Samford’s A Cappella Choir performs free concerts on campus throughout the fall and spring each year, including the new Choral Vespers series, which formally combines the university's sacred spaces and Christian mission with several School of the Arts musical ensembles.