The Youth Choir Association offers various badges of merit and awards to recognize its members, including the Heinz Hofmann Medal and the Erkki Pohjola Award. These awards are granted by the board of the Youth Choir Association upon application from a member association or other organization. The association or organization applying will be responsible for the cost of the badge of merit or award, as set by the Youth Choir Association’s board. Current prices are available on the Youth Choir Association’s website.
The application can be informal but must include sufficient grounds and information of the recipient. The time and place of the presentation must also be included.The board, if it so wishes, may also grant an award without application. The Youth Choir Association keeps a record of the badges of merit. Badges of merit should be applied for in order of merit. If a badge of merit is lost, a new one can be purchased from the Association.
The items are available for pickup from the Youth Choir Association’s office in Helsinki, or they can be mailed, with postage added to the price. Awards, including the badges of merit, Heinz Hofmann Medal, and Erkki Pohjola Award, should be presented to the recipient in a concert or another event of similar significance. Applications, with justifications, can be sent to the Youth Choir Association at: toimisto@nuortenkuoroliitto.fi.
Badges of Merit and Awards:
- Silver Choir Badge
This badge can be awarded to a choir member who has sung with distinction in a member choir for at least five years.
Price: €25 - Gold Choir Badge
This badge can be awarded to a choir member who has sung with distinction in a member choir for at least eight years.
Price: €35
- Bronze Badge of Merit
- The bronze badge of merit can be awarded to a choir conductor, an active member in a support association, or other active choir actor who has worked with distinction for at least five years in the field of children’s and youth choirs. It can also be awarded to an exceptionally dedicated or long-term member of the choir.
- Price: €40
- Silver Badge of Merit
The silver badge of merit can be awarded to a choir conductor, an active member in a support association, or other active choir actor who has worked with distinction for at least eight years in the field of children’s and youth choirs.
Price: €60 - Gold Badge of Merit
This badge can be awarded to a choir conductor, an actor of a support association, or other active choir actor who has worked with distinction for at least 13 years in the field of children’s and youth choirs.
Price: €100
- Heinz Hofmann Medal
- The medal can be awarded to a highly distinguished choir conductor or with particularly notable grounds to an active choir actor who has worked long-term and successfully in the field of children’s and youth choirs, with their work widely known and recognized. The medal can also be awarded to a choir conductor or other highly distinguished person outside of the Youth Choir Association.
Price: €180
- Erkki Pohjola Award
This award can be given to a choir conductor or other significant figure in children’s and youth choir work who has worked exceptionally successfully in the field of youth choirs, and whose work is widely known and recognized, both nationally and internationally. The award can also be granted to a conductor outside of the Youth Choir Association.
Price: €200
