Conductor: Professor Klaus-Jürgen Etzold
www.vokalensemble-hannover.de
Junges Vokalensemble Hannover was founded in 1981 by Klaus-Jürgen Etzold. The choir consists of 45 singers, most of whom are current or former students of Hanover University of Music and Drama. Some members have different professions, but they are all united in their extensive choral experience and their joy in singing challenging works together. Performing a broadly varied repertoire is particularly important to the choir. In addition to sacred and secular a cappella music, the choir sings cantatas, oratorios, and Passions.
The choir has recorded ten CDs and performed several world premières. In 2010 the choir received the prestigious ECHO KLASSIK award for their CD “Glaubenslieder”.
The choir has performed at festivals and competitions throughout Europe, as well as in Egypt, Mexico, Israel, Turkey, China and Venezuela, and has won various prizes. Its recent accomplishments include silver and bronze medals at the international choral competition in Tallin, Estonia in 2011; first place and special mention in the choral competition at Panyu, China in 2010, and third place at the European Broadcast Corporation’s “Let the People Sing”, in Wupperta, Germany in 2007.
Their participation in festivals and competitions gives the choir the opportunity to become acquainted with new works and other choral traditions. In addition, the choir works with artists like composer Eric Whitacre, conductor Maria Guinand of Venezuela, and Germany's famous choral conductor Frieder Bernius.
