The vocal scene is alive

An encouraging signal to the choral scene was sent by the German Choral Association with the successfully implemented choir.com. The unsettled sector was finally able to meet, exchange ideas and encourage each other again at the major specialist conference in Hanover - albeit under protective measures such as 3G. More than 270 workshops and reading sessions dealt with topics such as intergenerational choral work, singing with children, rehearsal methodology and choral works for small ensembles. Non-musical ensemble leaders discussed other areas from the heterogeneous field of amateur singing: generational change in structures, choir-specific target group work and diversity.

Stephan Doormann, artistic director of chor.com, spoke of a positive signal from the vocal scene, which, after a long period of standstill, is responsibly practising singing together again and emphasizing its social relevance. The almost one thousand participants discussed controversially how the new start should be organized: back to a pre-corona state or emphatically towards choral work that reflects social change in a sustainable way? It is not yet certain whether the audience will attend the numerous planned events; there is also concern that older choir singers in particular will not return to keep their respective choir home alive. It is feared that the "lost" 18 months will have a serious impact on the recruitment of new talent, particularly in the children's choir sector.

This year's focus was on all aspects of Nordic choral music: masterclasses (including with Grete Pedersen from Norway) and reading sessions provided an opportunity to get to know new choral literature and work from Scandinavia in greater depth. At one panel, Florian Benfer (Gustav Sjökvist Chamber Choir Stockholm) reported on the advantages of composers having choral experience. In Denmark and Sweden, people (still) sing together as a matter of course at small and large events, there is a rich repertoire that is created in elementary school and connects the generations.

Photo: Rüdiger Schestag

Norway workshop with Grete Pedersen

Despite pandemic-related admission concepts, an extensive program with 33 concerts was performed by professional ensembles such as the Norwegian Soloists' Choir, the Collegium Vocale Gent, but also high talents such as the Landesjugendchor NRW and the Rundfunk-Jugendchor Wernigerode. In the city churches of Hanover, the NDR broadcasting hall and the university, happy concertgoers were also able to enjoy completely new choral music: the Audi Youth Choir Academy had 16 world premieres by young composers in its luggage, multi-faceted and performed at a high level. The Leipzig Synagogal Choir, on the other hand, put together masterpieces of the synagogue and newly arranged Yiddish songs in a touching and entertaining program.

Photo: Rüdiger Schestag

52 exhibitors were present at the trade fair.

The trade fair connected to the congress, with 52 exhibitors, was very popular as a place to stock up on literature, discuss the dos and don'ts of online rehearsals and get to know what the associations have to offer. In 2022, the Federal Music Association Choir & Orchestra will once again provide funding for choirs in the New Start Amateur Music" program provide.

The four-day event gave an important signal of departure in a thoroughly ambivalent situation and gives hope that the European choral scene will regain its former strength.