Unite! Choirs Initiative: Choral Music unites UPC and PoliTO Choirs
The project aims to foster meaningful connections between members of different European universities through a shared choral music experience.
Unite! has supported, through its Seed Fund programme, an inspiring intercultural initiative between the choirs of Politecnico di Torino (PoliTO) and Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), as part of the United Choirs Initiative (UCI). This project is part of the Unite! Seed Fund for Student Activities. After an initial exchange held in Turin, where the Cor UPC Terrassa performed together with Coro PoliEtnico during the last weekend of June, the collaboration will conclude with the Italian choir’s visit to Catalonia. The highlight of this exchange was a joint concert, open to the public, on 12 July at 7:00 PM at the Auditori Municipal de Terrassa, held as part of the International Choral Festival of Terrassa.
Music, Community, and Cultural Exchange
The UCI initiative is inspired by the spirit of Erasmus and promotes the formation of a mixed choir of students, faculty, and staff from participating universities. The project unfolds in multiple stages: individual repertoire preparation, university exchange visits, joint rehearsals, cultural activities, and performances both in the streets and in concert venues.
This collaboration not only strengthens the ties between the two institutions but also offers a transformative experience for participants — encouraging friendship, personal growth, and intercultural dialogue. Public performances in both Turin and Terrassa help bring cultural vibrancy to the cities while reinforcing the role of universities in community life.
A Meeting of Two University Choirs
The Coro PoliEtnico of PoliTO, founded in 2014, is known for its ethnic diversity and wide-ranging repertoire that blends classical music with traditional songs from around the world. It has performed across Italy and Europe, including at the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
The Coral UPC Terrassa, with roots dating back to the late 1990s, was successfully revived in 2022 under the direction of Alicia Prieto. The choir includes students, faculty, and staff from UPC and has become an important cultural force both on and off campus.