Standing ovations for the Junge Chor Speyer's first US concert in NYC

They could not have had a better opening concert. The 23 singers of the "Junge Chor Speyer" directed by Marie Theres Brand performed to a full house in New York City on March 26, 2008 in beautiful St. Matthias R.C. church. The program of sacred and secular works titled "Mozart & Friends" received several minute-long applauses and the choir was rewarded with standing ovations from almost everyone attending when the concert concluded. Especially the selection of German folk songs were true crowd pleaser: "Kein schoener Land" was requested as an encore and became particularly moving when many of the German-speaking guests sang along during that repeat performance. Mozart's "Sancta Maria" - accompanied by the string-quartet traveling with the choir - was also performed twice.

Between 400 and 500 people from all over the Big Apple attended their very first concert on US soil, some even came all the way from New Jersey and Connecticut as the performance hosted by St. Matthias and co-organized by Incantato Tours & Concert Management had been advertised all over the Tri-State area and highlighted as a special event in the media and various official information outlets like the German consulate's website. Director Marie Theres Brand and her singers were very moved by the warm reception and positive feedback they received from the audience and also their hosts.

Msgr. Ed Scharfenberger of St. Matthias who had spontaneously welcomed the choir from Speyer into his parish when approached only a few months ago commented on the event in an email shortly after the concert: "The Junger Chor was a true and timely gift to our community. You could see the expression on the faces of the people who attended ��� how happy they were. I heard so many people comment about how uplifting it was to see and hear so many young people come together to make such beautiful music. But it was even more than the music. It was the sense of HOPE that their presence gave to the people who are not always given an opportunity to see the results of good leadership, youthful goodness and enthusiasm and ��� let���s face it, love and discipline ��� all come together. The many connections that were made will only deepen the impression made. This was a wonderful event that will always be a treasured memory of our parish."

The choir continues to Ohio and Illinois were additional formal and informal concerts are scheduled. They return to Germany on April 3, 2008.

Junger Chor Speyer performs in NYC

The German Youth Choir "Junger Chor Speyer" presents the first formal concert of its 11-day Performance Tour to the USA tonight at St. Matthias R.C. Church in Ridgewood, NY.

Starting at 7:30 pm, the 23 singers present a selection of sacred works and international folksongs. "Mozart & Friends" is the title of their performance which is part of the centennial celebration at the Queens parish founded 100 years ago.

The entrance is free.

Pictures and videos taken at the event will be posted here later today.
Here is a first glimpse taken during the afternoon rehearsal.

Junger Chor Speyer coming to the US in March

The German Youth Choir "Junger Chor Speyer" is counting the days until their very first North-American Performance Tour. The ensemble from Speyer is going to land in New York City on March 24.

The "Big Apple" is the starting point for an 11-day tour leading them via New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Ohio to Illinois. The choir directed by Marie Theres Brand is flying out of Chicago on April 3.


Their concert schedule is as follows:

Wednesday, March 26, 7:30 PM concert at St. Matthias R. C. Church - Ridgewood, NY
Friday March 28, &:30 PM concert at Church of Ascension - Lakewood, OH
Sunday, March 30, 10 AM worship service at Faith Lutheran Church - Fairlawn, OH
Sunday, March 7:30 PM concert at Fairlawn Lutheran Church - Fairlawn, OH

Additional performances and exchanges are scheduled at and with: Central Christian Concert Choir, SCC Touring Choir, Firestone H.S. for Visual & Performing Arts, Red Rose Children's Choir of Lake County.

The "Junger Chor Speyer" thanks all hosts for their hospitality. The choir also says a special Dankeschoen to St. Matthias Church, the Summit Choral Society as well as the Goethe-Institute for their generous support.

Junger Chor Speyer - Speyer Youth Choir
The Junger Chor Speyer was founded in 1993 by the St. Joseph Parish and the city of Speyer's Conservatory. This non-profit organization presently offers choral music education to nearly 100 boys and girls (beginning at age four) in various levels and ensembles. These young singers learn and perform a great variety of repertoire consisting mainly of classical literature, but also many selections from international folk music. In addition, the choir is known to premiere specially commissioned works by young German composers. The Speyer Youth Choir sings regularly for Sunday Mass at St. Joseph's in Speyer, presents concerts locally and in nearby communities and parishes. The choir's touring ensemble has performed internationally in England, Russia, Norway and Switzerland. The singers and their families have also hosted several visiting choirs in their 2000-year-old hometown of Speyer. The Junge Chor Speyer has been featured on both national TV and radio. The ensemble has also recorded several independent CDs.

Speyer Touring Choir
Twenty-four young singers between the ages of 12 and 22 form the touring choir arriving in the US on March 24, 2008. They are joined by a string-quartet and adult chaperones which bring the traveling group to a total of thirty-two - although they actually had to book 33 plane seats as the cello required its own spot. These young musicians, their friends and supporters are very excited about their upcoming tour to New York City, Ohio and Chicago, Illinois. They are being supported by the Goethe Institut, the Summit Choral Society of Akron, Ohio and Incantato Concert Management with a special emphases being placed on musical and cultural exchanges. The Junge Chor Speyer will meet with fellow musicians in parishes and fine music organizations almost every day of their sojourn. In addition to the three formal concerts titled: "Mozart & Friends", several recitals and impromptu performances will take place. While in the USA these young singers and their director consider it their mission to contribute to international understanding and friendship through the universal language of music.

Artistic Director – Marie Theres Brand
Marie Theres Brand, a renowned organist and church musician from Speyer serves as the Artistic Director of the Speyer Junge Chor as well as the Speyer Motettenchor which she founded in 1986. Mrs. Brand holds both under-graduate and graduate degrees in choral conducting, organ and music education from the University of Mainz as well as the Conservatory of Music and the Performing Arts Mannheim-Heidelberg (founded in 1776). She has been the music director at St. Joseph in Speyer since 1981, the same year she started teaching at the Speyer Conservatory of Music. Additionally, Brand is a member of the staff at the Bishop's Institute for church music in Speyer. She is frequently called to adjudicate in international choral competitions and is heading to Moscow for just such an event immediately after returning from this tour – the Speyer Junger Chor's very first performance tour to the United States.