The focus of the organisers stayed on the artistic side – participants included professional symphonic orchestras and selected choirs, who performed vocal symphonic works on the first day of the festival. It was also the first time that toddlers’ choirs sang at the festival.

CHIEF CONDUCTORS:

Arvo Volmer (chief conductor of the first concert), Elo Kaarepere (mixed choirs), Venno Laul (boys’ choirs), Jüri Rent (male choirs), Aarne Saluveer (toddlers’ choirs), Vaike Uibopuu (female choirs), Toomas Voll (children’s choirs), Andres Avarand (brass orchestras).

856 choirs and orchestras with 24,875 singers-musicians took part in the festival.