Girl not allowed in Berlin boys' choir
The Higher Administrative Court of Berlin-Brandenburg has rejected the appeal of a girl who sought admission to the all-boys concert choir of the Berlin State and Cathedral Choir.
The Staats- und Domchor Berlin is part of the Berlin University of the Arts and is dedicated to cultivating the centuries-old tradition of boys' choir singing. The plaintiff, who had not attended the choir's training choirs, applied for admission to the concert choir at the age of nine. The choirmaster rejected her because she did not reach the level required for the concert choir and her voice did not fit into the sound of a boys' choir.
According to the ruling of the 5th Senate, the selection decision of the choirmaster does not reveal any errors of judgment, according to the court's press release. In particular, their focus on whether the applicants were vocally suited to the sound of a boys' choir in addition to their high level of training was "not objectionable".
The right to participate in state educational institutions enshrined in the Berlin state constitution does not stand in the way of this, as this is based on the dedication of the respective institution. The state of Berlin is permitted by the state constitution to "cultivate the tradition of boys' choirs, which originated from Christian sacred music, in order to protect cultural life".
According to the court, this entitles the choirmaster to exclude girls if, despite their talent, their voices do not match the sound of such a choir. This political decision cannot be criticized by the courts if it is also possible for girls to receive a high-quality musical education in the state of Berlin. In this respect, there are sufficient opportunities for girls' choirs and mixed children's choirs. An appeal against the ruling is no longer possible.
