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The Mädchenchor am Dom zu Speyer (Girls' Choir of Speyer Cathedral) and the Speyerer Domsingknaben (Speyer Cathedral Boys' Choir) celebrated a small anniversary in 2023: both ensembles were founded ten years ago. From the tender beginnings of a newly formed children's and youth choir in 2010, two large choirs have been established today, which make up the largest number of personnel in the cathedral music choir family. After the 2013 summer holidays, the number of young singers had increased so much that it was possible to separate the choir into a girls' and a boys' choir. The re-establishment of the Klosterschule St. Magdalena (St. Magdalena Monastery School) with a vocal focus, also in the 2013-2014 school year, was and is still an important basis for the successful development over the past decade. The Haus der Kirchenmusik (House of Church Music), which the Dommusik moved into in 2015, also contributes to the good development of all Dommusik choir groups with its spatial facilities. Rehearsal rooms for singing groups and individual lessons are available there. In addition, children from the 5th grade can attend afternoon care there.
Today, almost exactly 400 girls and boys are involved in different age groups, from the music garden to the concert choirs of the Mädchenchor and Domsingknaben. In several weekly rehearsals, age-appropriate choral music from all eras is rehearsed for church services and concerts. Any child who enjoys music can take part, regardless of which school they attend.
The older choir groups travel at home and abroad. In addition to many tours - for example to friendly choirs from other German cathedrals - visits to Speyer's twin cities Ravenna and Chartres were already on the travel program. The young singers have already been on concert tours in Brazil, Sweden and Belgium. In May 2021, all boys and girls went on a concert and pilgrimage to Rome.
The choirs became known to a larger audience through their participation in the ZDF production "Weihnachten mit dem Bundespräsidenten" (Christmas with the Federal President) in December 2019. The girls and boys also present their musical skills on some of the cathedral music's CD productions.
Overall, the artistic development of the choirs is so pleasing that the oldest girls' choir group and the young male voices of the Domsingknaben will also perform as a mixed youth choir on a project-by-project basis in the future. This new KathedralJugendChor (Cathedral Youth Choir will) perform J.S. Bach's Johannes-Passion BWV 245 in two concerts in collaboration with the Dance Theater Heidelberg on Palm Sunday weekend 2024 in its first major project. |
