The Singers’ Academy gives young singers the opportunity to experience community, develop their own ideas and sing side by side with the professionals of the Balthasar Neumann Choir. Since the majority of music academies focus on soloist training, the Singer’s Academy has set itself the task of preparing young people specifically for singing in a choir or vocal ensemble. The focus is on the special Balthasar Neumann Choir sound: singing is done without vibrato with the aim to merge all the voices into one.
In addition to Lionel Sow, Detlef Bratschke and Jakob Pilgram, vocal coaches from the ranks of the Balthasar Neumann Choir are responsible for training the academy members. External experts from selected disciplines also accompany the young singers on their way – also beyond the pure individual lessons and singing in the choir or ensemble. Of course, joint concerts and opera performances are also part of the academy programme: the academy members take part in various projects of the Balthasar Neumann Choir and thus get a taste of the stage among the professionals. The participants of the Singers’ Academy can also be heard regularly in their own concerts.
The Singers’ Academy focusses on the following three main topics:
Intonation: theoretical and practical exploration of pure intonation as an effective means of improving a cappella singing and as a point of reference for all temperaments
Blending: examination of the topic “blending” and the question of how to achieve a homogeneous sound within a section without renouncing a satisfying technique and healthy vocal production
Musical expression: utilising the emotional engagement of each singer in the ensemble to achieve a coherent and unified musical performance
