The German contralto, Andrea Effmert, was surrounded by polyphonic music and singing singing in her parents' house from an early age. The school choir at the Bertha-von-Suttner-Schule in Berlin Reinickendorf opened up new perspectives for her, and through many solo quartet and vocal ensemble concerts, the attraction that ensemble singing has had on her has grown stronger and stronger. After high school she studied music education with a focus on singing at the Universität der Künste Berlin, even before the state examination, she became a member of the Rundfunkchorklasse of Professor Uwe Gronostay, the then chief conductor of the RIAS-Kammerchor. The music education studies were followed by singing studies with Professor Dietmar Hackl and Professor Dr. Herbert Brauer. Even in this time - with many exciting opera projects and solo concerts - her affinity for ensemble singing grew ever further. Soon she sang as a temporary assistant in the RIAS-Kammerchor, and in 1984 she became a permanent member of the ensemble. She currently lives in Berlin, Germany. |