membership, Christian leadership''' Ten Sing is open to everyone irrespective of gender, beliefs, abilities, talents, ethnic and social background. It is not necessary to be a Christian to be a member of Ten Sing. Nevertheless, to secure the Christian context of Ten Sing it's important that at least one of the key leaders is a Christian. Origin Ten Sing originated from Norway in 1968. The name "Ten Sing" is a combination of the Norwegian suffix "-ten" (en. "-teen") and the English word "sing" – a kind of language mixing that was quite common in Norway at the time. The first Ten Sing group was started in Bergen by Kjell Grønner. It was inspired by Sing Out, which later became known as Up with People. The years that followed more groups were formed in Norway, and today there are over hundred groups all over Norway. The Norwegian YWCA–YMCA wanted to implement Ten Sing in other European countries, and the starting point was Germany in 1986. This was the start of Ten Sing Norwegen, now Ten Sing Norway. The name has no relation to Tenzing Norgay. The first European Ten Sing Conference was held in 1987. Key events in the European Ten Sing Group (ETS) 1993: Germany (Dobelmühle) 1995: Norway (Haugesund) 1997: Hungary (Kiskörös) 1999: Czech Republic (Litomysl) 2003: YMCA Festival Czech Republic (Prague) 2006: Denmark (Århus) 2008: YMCA Festival Czech Republic (Prague) 2011: Germany (Ziegenhain) 2013: YMCA Festival Czech Republic (Prague) 2018: Celebrating 50 years of Ten Sing, Norway Annual European Ten Sing Group Conference (location varies) Ten Sing Norway Ten Sing Norway is a one-year leader training program within YMCA/YWCA of Norway. During the year the participants visit YMCA and YWCA – festivals, Ten Sing groups, youth clubs and groups within YMCA/YWCA in both Norway and Europe. When on tour, Ten Sing Norway is holding seminars, shows, concerts and Ten Sing rehearsals. The participants live at Rønningen Folk High School in Oslo, and study Bible studies and Christian Youth Work at the University of Oslo. Sources Høgne, Guro (1998): Ten Sings betydning for musikalsk og personlig utvikling: et casestudie av et Ten Sing-kor (en. The significance of Ten Sing for musical and personal development: A case study of a Ten Sing choir). Master Thesis, Oslo University. Ulstein, Jan Ove (red.): Ten Sing Norway International Inc.: perspektiv på ti års prosjektliv. (en. Ten Sing Norway International inc.: perspective on ten years