Lüdenscheider Vokalensemble (Chamber Choir)

Founded: 1982 - Lüdenscheid, Northern Westphalia, Germany

The Lüdenscheider Vokalensemble was founded in 1982 by Mary Sherburne through her work as Kantor of the Kirchenkreises Lüdenscheid. Over the years the ensemble has developed into a regional choir, so that it now consists about 35 singers from several federal countries.

In monthly all-day rehearsals two to three different programs over the year are usually developed. The repertoire of the Lüdenscheider Vokalensemble ranges from classical vocal-symphonic Baroque and Romantic to contemporary works, such as Miserere by Arvo Pärt, which was performed together with the Hilliard Ensemble. The concern of the Vokalensemble, in addition to sacred and secular a-cappella choral literature is to the oratorio, although the focus is on the implementation of the principles of historical performance practice. For example, Georg Frideric Handel's Messiah and J.S. Bach's Johannes-Passion (BWV 245) were performed with historical instruments. In addition, there are in the program also Swing and Spirituals and choral music from Australia, North and South America that attempt to focus on certain issues in the widest possible variety of musical presentation.

In addition to regular concerts at the Lüdenscheider Erlöserkirche the Choir aims at wider environment resulted in numerous concert tours and competitions including France, Poland, Scandinavia, Italy and the USA.

In addition, the Lüdenscheider Vokalensemble made several CD recordings including recordings for the WDR-Hörfunk.

Special milestones in the history of the events of the Lüdenscheider Vokalensemble have included:
- 2000 1^st Prize at the Hagen's choir competition (Hagener Chorwettbewerb)
- 2001 1^st Prize at the German Choir Competition NRW (Deutschen Chorwettbewerb NRW) in Hamm in the category "Mixed Choir"
- 2002 3^rd Prize at the Federal German Choir Competition (Deutschen Chorwettbewerb Bundesausscheidung) in Osnabrück in the category "Mixed Choir", Special Prize for the best interpretation of a German folk song
- 2003 Chichester Psalms by Leonard Bernstein in the orchestral version

Source: Lüdenscheider Vokalensemble Website, English translation by Aryeh Oron (April 2009)
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (April 2009)

Mary Sherburne: Short Biography | Ensembles: Lüdenscheider Vokalensemble
Bach Discography: Recordings of Vocal Works

Recordings of Bach Cantatas & Other Vocal Works

Conductor

As

Works

Dmitri Grigoriev

Choir

[CV-1] (2023, Video): BWV 166

Links to other Sites

Lüdenscheider Vokalensemble (Official Website) [German]