Windsbacher Knabenchor

A former member of the Boys Choir at Dresden's Church of the Holy Cross (Kreuzchor), Hans Thamm in 1946 founded a boys choir in the Middle Franconian town of Windsbach - a choir which was to develop into a unique ensemble over the following years. In 1978, Karl-Friedrich Beringer took on the direction of the choir, and continued the history of the Windsbach Boys Choir in impressive manner: today, the ensemble numbers among the most important vocal ensembles world-wide, and is at home at the major concert venues across the globe. Since 2012, Martin Lehmann has been the choir's artistic director, following in Hans Thamm's footsteps also in having formerly been a member of the Kreuzchor Dresden. Lehmann holds degrees in musicology and choir direction, and has led renowned ensembles for many years, among them the Schola Cantorum Leipzig, the chamber choir cantamus dresden, and most recently the Wuppertaler Kurrende Boys Choir. Musicality, passion, diversity, precision, beauty of sound, and pure intonation-the list of attributes associated with the choir by reviewers and audiences is long. The choir's repertoire encompasses a cappella works of all periods, as well as the great oratorios from Bach, Mozart and Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, to Stravinsky. Be it the B minor Mass or a folk song-the very special 'Windsbach sound' is unmistakable. As a result of their hard work, the inspired boys inspiringly reach for the stars, winning the hearts of listeners and critics alike in performances at the Rheingau Musik Festival, the Bachwoche Ansbach, RheinVokal, and more: the Frankfurter Rundschau, for example, wrote that 'with them, music begins where it ends for others - beyond the beautiful surface.' More information at www.windsbacher-knabenchor.de