Created July 2020
For Immediate Release

Contact: Gaizka Lasa, Organizer, Global Whistling Championship
Phone: +1 918 408 3931
Email: whistlersguild@gmail.com

WORLD PREMIER: ONLINE INTERNATIONAL WHISTLING COMPETITION BREAKS DOWN GEOGRAPHIC AND ECONOMIC BARRIERS AMIDST COVID-19

  • New innovative online global whistling competition replaces world whistling competition in Japan cancelled due to COVID-19
  • Whistlers from around the world are invited to join the opportunity to compete for the first Global Whistling Champion title
  • Participants must submit a video recording by August 6 to compete against whistlers globally

July 2020 - From July 6th to September 3rd, the International Whistlers Guild is holding the inaugural Global Whistling Championship, a first of its kind online international whistling competition on YouTube.

The 2020 Tokyo Olympics wasn’t the only world-class competition that was cancelled in Japan this year. In April 2020, a few train stops outside of Tokyo, the international World Whistlers Convention was slated to host 59 well-prepared whistlers from nine different countries, but was cancelled due to health concerns, leaving the dozens of hopefuls unable to showcase their talent on the world stage.

The hole that was left in the hearts of the tight-knit whistling community inspired a small group of ambitious young whistlers from four countries to found The International Whistlers Guild. Their aim: bring to light hidden musical whistling talent from the farthest corners of the globe. After months of preparation across time zones, The Global Whistling Championship (GWC) was launched.  The GWC is the first ever online international whistling competition, making a new mark in the little known 50+ year history of competitive whistling.

This innovative competition is exclusively online and is open to professional musicians as well as amateur whistlers of all ages, ethnicities, gender identities, whistling styles, and economic backgrounds. The virtual aspect of The Global Whistling Championship greatly reduces the usual costs incurred when attending a global competition which is often cost prohibitive, requiring travel to another country. An online event provides an opportunity for almost anyone with a smartphone and an internet connection to vie for the gold from the comfort of their own home. “As whistling is a universal human talent, this competition will attract many previously unknown talents globally and surprise the existing whistling community,” says Taro Kuchibue, trustee of the Japan Whistlers Federation.

Contestants must submit a video by August 6th. Each submission will be evaluated by a panel of expert judges consisting of professional classical, jazz, and whistling musicians. The top 25 whistlers will reach the final round where public voting will account for 20% of their scores. Finally, On September 3rd (World Whistling Day), the first Global Whistling Champion will be crowned, and will be sent a trophy.

Global Whistling Championship - Summary of key details for participants

  • Submission method: Fill form on https://www.whistlersguild.org/
  • Submission period: July 6th - August 6th (11:59PM Pacific Daylight Time)
  • Entry fee: 10 US dollars (payment via PayPal)
  • Announcement of results: September 3rd, on IWG website

For further information about the Global Whistling Championship, please contact the International Whistlers Guild. www.whistlersguild.org | whistlersguild@gmail.com | Facebook: /WhistlersGuild