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The Singakademie Cottbus was founded in 1977 as Städtischer Chor Cottbus (Municipal Choir Cottbus). The goal of the first chorus-master Rainer Schill was the creation of a Singakademie. First, however, folksongs, songs of old masters and modern practices were heard in the concerts of the Städtischer Chor Cottbus.
After Otto Wahrenburg (1982-1985) and Martin Winkler (1985-1986), Matthias Brauer, director of the choir of the Theater of the city of Cottbus, took over the choir directing of the Städtischer Chor Cottbus and began the systematic development of choral-symphonic literature. That was the main cause for the foundation of the Kammerchor (Chamber Choir) as part of the Städtischer Chor Cottbus. Consists of about 25 particularly interested singers, the Chamber Choir was founded in 1986 under the direction of Wolfram Otto to cultivate a-cappella choral literature.
After the successful performance of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Krönungsmesse and Requiem by the Symphonic Choir the then Ministry of Culture of the GDR gave in the autumn of 1989 the title Singakademie. For concerts in the Hessian Pohlheim, the Deutschen Chorkonzerttagen in 1991 in Neuss, in Leverkusen and Zielona Góra the ensemble earned great applause.
Since 1991 choir director at the Christian Möbius has worked further to expand the profile of the two choirs and developed respected partnership with the Staatstheater Cottbus. The joint concerts with soloists and the Philharmonic Orchestra are part of the concert plan of the Staatstheaters for many years now and enrich the music culture in Cottbus and the surrounding area.
The Singakademie is supported by the Verein zur Förderung der Singakademie e.V. (Society for the Promotion of Singakademie e.V.). The Singakademie Cottbus e.V. is a member of the Association of German Concert Choirs.
The Singakademie Cottbus has 150 registered members (as of April 2008). They come from different professions, including, inter alia, locksmiths, salespeople, doctors, educators and government employees. Retired singers alongside students, pupils and job seekers. As musical amateurs, they are all in their leisure time maintaining high artistic standards. They have intensive rehearsals in weekends and every spring and fall outside of Cottbus. |
