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University of Cologne Choir

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Overview

Overview

Overview

The choir is the largest ensemble at the University of Cologne. Currently numbering around 120 members—primarily students, but also professors, alumni, and university staff, as well as music-loving singers from outside the university—they are united by their joy in making music together. The program features primarily large-scale oratorio works, but also a cappella music by Bruckner and Rachmaninoff, as well as contemporary composers such as Arvo Pärt and Javier Busto, and world premieres such as Martin Herchenröder’s *Erscheinung* and Gerhard Stäbler’s *AUSREISSEN DAMIT / ES GRÜN BLEIBT. The ensemble also delights audiences with opera choruses by Verdi and music by Leonard Bernstein. Together with the djo NRW, the choir has performed at the Essen Philharmonie and the Historische Stadthalle in Wuppertal. In the summer of 2018, it performed Frank Martin’s *In terra pax* with the Bochum Symphony Orchestra at the Anneliese Brost Musikforum Ruhr. In 2019, the University of Cologne’s anniversary year, the ensemble took the stage at the Cologne Philharmonie with George Gershwin’s *Porgy and Bess* and Verdi’s *Requiem*. Programs such as the Christmas concert in December 2019—where 1,000 people in the audience sang along with the choir—and a performance with the iconic Cologne band Bläck Fööss (Oct. 2019) are also part of the choir’s repertoire. During the pandemic, the choir continued its work digitally and participated, among other things, in a video for the major COVID-19 project *Totentanz* by the Collegium musicum (Collegium musicum Koeln YouTube channel). In April 2023, the ensemble was part of the Poetica Festival Choir (Festival of World Literature) and performed with punk and rock singer Patti Smith. 

Conductor

University Music Director Michael Ostrzyga
Rehearsal Assistant: Clara E. Smith

Contact: Johanna Merckens (SHK)

Program for Winter Semester 26/27

Program I
Howard Shore: LORD OF THE RINGS
Featuring the WDR Radio Choir, the WDR Symphony Orchestra, the Cologne Cathedral Choir, and the Cologne Cathedral Girls’ Choir, with concerts at the Lanxess Arena in Cologne and the Rudolf-Weber-Arena in Oberhausen.
Conductor: Ludwig Wicki | Rehearsal Director: UMD Michael Ostrzyga

=> Tenors urgently needed; basses on the reserve list; soprano and alto sections are already fully cast.
 

Program II
John Williams: HOME ALONE (KEVIN ALONE AT HOME)
Together with the Neue Philharmonie Westfalen and the University of Cologne Chamber Choir, with concerts in Frankfurt (Alte Oper) and Cologne (Philharmonie).
Rehearsal director: UMD Michael Ostrzyga
 

Program III
Gabriel Fauré: MESSE BASSE & MESSE DES PÊCHEURS DE VILLERVILLE
Concert Sun, January 10, 2027 | 4:00 p.m. | Basilica of St. Aposteln
OR Wed, January 13, 2027 | 8:00 p.m. | University of Cologne Auditorium. Details to follow.
Conductor: UMD Michael Ostrzyga

=> For soprano and alto voices only!

Rehearsals

During the semester: Mondays, 6:00–10:00 p.m. | music hall
Rehearsals begin on October 12, 2026

Regular attendance at the weekly rehearsals is expected. Participation in the rehearsal weekend as well as in the main rehearsal and dress rehearsal is mandatory in order to perform in the concert. All dates can be found in the rehearsal schedule. 

Audition

The choir is open to anyone interested after a short and simple informational audition. This takes place in small groups during the first rehearsals of the semester.

What happens during the audition?

  • Exercises
  • a short passage sight-read

PLEASE NOTE: In the winter semester 26/27, all new interested singers can join, but for the Lord of the Rings concerts, spots in the soprano, alto, and bass sections can only be offered on the waiting list. New tenors can participate in all film music concerts. Sopranos and altos are warmly welcome to join the Fauré Project!

Concerts

10Jan 2027

Fauré-Konzert

Köln | Basilika St. Aposteln | 16.00 Uhr (noch unsicher)