2026 PROGRAMME 2026 PROGRAMME
WELCOME
A warm welcome to Qatar School Choir of the Year 2026.
As Director of Music at Doha College, it is my pleasure to introduce you to this year’s competition. As we celebrate the eighth year of the competition, our mission continues, simply Uniting Children Through Singing. As a music community, we firmly believe in the power of music, collaboration and developing the quality of singing and confidence in our young musicians. Over the course of this three-day event, pupils have taken part in a variety of vocal workshops with our esteemed adjudicator and choral expert, Richard Mason. We are truly grateful for his expertise and invaluable guidance to all pupils in this year’s competition. I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to Zlatan Fazlic and Anna Dieterich for their support, insight and adjudication. It is a pleasure to collaborate with fellow music centres across Qatar and share in this enriching experience. A heartfelt thank you also goes to all pupils, music departments, schools, support teams, and parents for their dedication and preparation for this event. For now, we invite you to sit back, relax, and enjoy the wonderful music prepared for you by our talented pupils and their directors.
NICHOLAS TURNER Director of Music Doha College
Introduction to QSCOY
Originally called Qatar Primary School Choir of the Year, the competition was brought to life in 2017 by a team of music teachers, parent volunteers, and choir enthusiasts from Doha College, to add new breadth to music education in Qatar.
The competition anthem “Wings of the Falcon”—a rousing song that was the set piece of the inaugural QSCoY edition—was composed by Dana Al Fardan, a Qatari composer of international prominence, an alumna of Doha College, and a champion of music education.
Following the rise of QSCoY, Qatar has seen choirs emerging or doubling in size, grander performances in local events, and widened participation in the competition itself, year on year. Owing to the continued success of the QSCoY model, we are excited to have expanded the competition and welcome choirs from secondary schools as well.
“
QSCOY Mission
To enable children to experience and enjoy each other’s musical heritage, to give them a platform that encourages a touch of competitive spirit, with the desire to perform and excel, and to contribute to Qatar’s Vision 2030 by enriching education in performing arts.
ADJUDICATORS
RICHARD MASON
Richard Mason is a graduate of the University of Warwick. He was Head of Music at Whitemore School and subsequently Director of Music at Aldridge School which offered a music scholarship scheme for talented young musicians being the first state school to offer such a particular opportunity. He was responsible for A level teaching over five schools. His many past pupils have included Oxbridge organ and choral scholars and students studying music at all the major conservatoires and universities in the UK and across Europe.
With school choirs he has performed major choral works including Vivaldi’s ‘Gloria’, Haydn’s ‘Creation Mass’, Faure’s ‘Requiem’ and Britten’s ‘Noye’s Fludde’ all with full orchestral accompaniment. He advises, directs or accompanies many festivals including ‘Kalterer Seespiele’ in Italy.
He founded his Church Choir in 1976 and has directed it ever since that time. The Choir have sung in most major cathedrals in the UK, sung for members of the Royal Family and undertaken ambitious concert tours, for choirs and orchestras in Europe and the USA. The Choir has sung regularly at York Minster in the UK and Notre Dame de Paris. Other European Cathedrals include Berlin, Cologne and Aachen. The Choir recorded regularly with the Abbey/Alpha label and has broadcast live on the BBC. He also directs the Royal Sutton Coldfield Choral Society, and the Sutton Coldfield Chamber Choir Richard has coached singers for various diplomas and for auditions to such institutions as Glyndebourne and UK conservatoires. He has examined for the Royal School of Church Music. Richard is a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Musicians and strives to promote the importance of, and benefits gained from, singing at all ages.
ADJUDICATORS
ZLATAN FAZLIC
Zlatan Fazlić was born in former Yugoslavia. He graduated from the Music Academy in Sarajevo, where he earned a first-class Honors degree in Piano Performance. His further music and teaching education continued at the Guildhall School of Music and Kingston University in London.
His teaching career spanned over 25 years, during which time he taught at and led some of the finest Music and Performing Arts departments in the UK. Apart from teaching composition, his main passions are Jazz, Musical Theater, and Choral Conducting. While teaching in Scotland, his ESMS Big Band was the best Scottish School Jazz Ensemble for many years. His Junior, Middle School, and Senior Choirs won many local, county, and international choral competitions in the UK between 1995 and 2019, covering a wide range of repertoires from The Beatles to Bernstein and from Handel to Bruckner.
He was the musical director for a wide range of school, amateur, and professional musical productions, including Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Whistle Down the Wind, Drake, Take That Musical, Calamity Jane, Oliver, Sweet Charity, The Addams Family, and West Side Story.
Zlatan arrived in Qatar from the UK in August 2021. He is excited about leading Qatar Music Academy and hopes to pass on his experience and passion for all good music to its students and staff.
ANNA DIETERICH
Anna studied opera singing in Vienna with Maria Loidl and Lied and Oratorio with the acclaimed Professor Walter Moore. She furthered her studies with Professor Claudia Visca and participated in masterclasses with Ester Salaman, Verena Rein, and Thomas Hampson.Anna has performed with ensembles such as the Wiener Singakademie Kammerchor, which won an award at the International A Cappella Competition in Spittal an der Drau. She has sung under renowned conductors including Bertrand de Billy, Georges Prêtre, Christian Thielemann, and Ton Koopman. Her operatic roles include Christel (Der Vogelhändler), Gretel (Hänsel und Gretel), and Bastienne (Bastien et Bastienne). She has given Lied recitals in Germany and Austria and collaborated with the Doha Baroque Ensemble in works such as Handel’s Messiah, Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, and Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater. She was also part of the Mozart Sitcom production for the 15th Anniversary of the Qatar Philharmonic and continues to perform regularly with chambermusic ensembles. Anna has been teaching voice at the Qatar Music Academy since 2011.
2026 Uniting children through singing
FINAL - 21 JANUARY 5PM Ages 5 - 8
School Oryx International School
Director Cathryn Navarro
Free Choice Song Hot Chocolate!
Composer A. Beck and B. Fisher
School Doha College
Director Hannah McHugh
Free Choice Song The Polar Express
Composer G. Ballard and A. Silvestri
Uniting children through singing
FINAL - 21 JANUARY 5PM
Ages 7-11
School Al Khor International School
Director Jo-Mari Reynolds
Free Choice Song Clap and Sing, Join Together!
Composer C. Lee and V. C. Johnson
School Doha College
Director Paulo Vincente
Free Choice Song The Bells
Composer E. Allan Poe and B. Kapilow
School Oryx International School
Director Cathryn Navarro
Free Choice Song Heartbeat Rhythm
Composer A. Beck
School Doha British School
Director Lucy Martin
Free Choice Song Be Who You Are
Composer R. Main
FINAL 21 JANUARY 5.30PM
Ages 11- 18
School Park House English School
Director Gabriela Nunez
Free Choice Song Hope is the Thing with Feathers
Composer K. Potter
School Doha College
Director Hayley McGivern
Free Choice Song Yo Vivo Cantando!
Composer J. Estes
School The Philippine School of Doha
Director Kryzchan Zapanata
Free Choice Song Kruhay
Composer B. Castillon
EYFS
3-4 years old
At Doha College, we place great importance on our EYFS programme, designed to inspire exploration, discovery, and skill development through play. This engaging approach fosters a love for learning while building a strong foundation that seamlessly supports our youngest learners as they progress to the Primary school.
PRIMARY 5-10 years old
We believe in an inclusive approach to education that engages and inspires a happy and positive mindset in children's approach to learning and indeed life.
SECONDARY 11-15 years old
At Doha College, secondary pupils thrive as we nurture individual potential, foster personal growth, and achieve outstanding academic results. Beyond the classroom, diverse co-curricular activities ensure a balanced and well-rounded experience.
6th FORM 16-17 years old
As a British 6th Form in Doha, our emphasis is on helping each student develop their full potential academically and become a well-rounded individual, equipped to go out into the world and achieve their dreams.
