Singing in a choir gives all singers the opportunity to express their feelings in a harmonious community with music - the language of the soul.

Singing societies used to be an expression of the emancipation of the middle classes. Music was not only a leisure activity, but also a political message.

Today, many of the reasons that led to the founding of choral societies have disappeared. Democracy, the welfare state, emancipation and much more.

Of course, choirs sing, but they also offer a sense of community with excursions, trips, balls and much more. But will singing and socialising still have a future? Why do all clubs, not just choirs, have such a hard time recruiting new members?

One answer is the reluctance to make long commitments - for both personal and academic appointments. Added to this are distractions such as television, computers, the internet, but also great mobility, both academic and private.

One specific reason may also be: Music as a language of the mind "forces" people to show their own feelings. Men find this more difficult than women. This intuitively perceived apprehension about showing feelings may be another reason why young men do not join choirs. Is a man - socially accepted - only allowed to show tears when he has won in sport?

Men's choirs offer the chance to set an example to young men that singing can also be part of a man's lifestyle. Men's choral societies can offer this protected space in which young men can try themselves out without embarrassing themselves in public.

About the person

Career history

Other

Musical training:

Instrumental music: Piano and trumpet lessons

Vocal music (bass): Singer in various choirs (e.g. at the Saarbrücken State Theatre, the Music Institute in Koblenz, the Friesoythe Motet Choir). In addition, in various project choirs (Hildesheim and Namibia: ‘Carmina Burana’; Hamburg: pop oratorio ‘The 10 Commandments’).

2012–2016 President of the Lower Saxony-Bremen Choral Association (CVNB)