Vocal Ensembles

Bild: Konzert-Chor ZHdK
KonzertChor ZHdK (Foto: Daniela Huser)

  • The Kantorei ZHdK choir is made up of students taking the Church Music and Master’s programme School Music II courses. In the course of their rehearsals and performances, the future choral directors and school music specialists become acquainted with a wide range of choral repertoire, and also gain essential practical skills, particularly in warming-up vocal exercises and rehearsal techniques, and programme design. The choir rehearses and trains its members’­ voices for high-calibre programmes across a wide range of styles (from fifteenth-century works to premieres of new works, mainly classical, but also choral light music). The ensemble exclusively performs sacred music. The membership varies between 20 and 30 voices, and rehearsals are held on Tuesdays, from 18:30–20:30 h.

    These rehearsals prepare the choir for participation in six to eight Tuesday vespers services in the Zurich Church of St. Johannes (Johanneskirche). Once a year, the choir also undertakes an oratorio project, culminating in the performance of a major work in collaboration with other ZHdK choirs or ensembles:

    • 2004 Martin “In Terra Pax”
    • 2008 Brahms “Ein deutsches Requiem”
    • 2010 Honegger “König David”
    • 2011 Mendelssohn “Elias”
    • 2013 Britten “War Requiem”
    • 2015 Prokofiew “Iwan der Schreckliche”
    • 2017 Janácek “Glagolitische Messe”
    • 2019 Burkhard “Das Geischt Jesajas”
    • 2023 Mendelssohn “Paulus”

    The choir is directed by Ernst Buscagne.  

    → Video impressions

  • The “Kammerchor ZHdK” is, along with the orchestra, a top ensemble of the Zurich University of the Arts and consists of selected students with majors in voice, choral conducting, and other interested students who are admitted after an audition. It offers insight into choral work with professional standards. The repertoire is selected on an exemplary, concert-specific basis according to stylistic and thematic aspects and includes well-known works as well as rarely heard choral literature. Concert performances at home and abroad and participation in competitions and concert tours.

    The main focus of the ensemble's work is

    • Development of demanding a cappella literature
    • Stylistically appropriate performance of choral music from different eras
    • Work on a balanced ensemble sound
    • Broad repertoire
    • Cooperation with renowned institutions (Tonhalle Zurich, Musikkollegium Winterthur and others)
    • CD recordings, concert tours
    • Participation in competitions

    The ensemble performs at least once each semester as part of the university concerts and is also available for master classes in choral conducting:

    The artistic direction is in the hands of Prof. Markus Utz.

  • “Singing is the foundation to music in all things.” (Georg Philipp Telemann)
    In the course of their studies, all music students at the ZHdK engage with their own singing voice. All Bachelor students attend the semester choir and the project choir in the first two years of study. Prospective school or church musicians sing in the Kantorei ZHdK and students majoring in voice do ensemble training in the vocal ensemble. In the Kammerchor ZHdK, selected students gain an insight into choral work with professional standards. The diverse vocal ensembles at the ZHdK thus offer different objectives and at the same time also cover a wide stylistic range.
    Biennially, these various ensembles unite to form the KonzertChor ZHdK, which performs larger oratorical works together with the Orchester der ZHdK:

    • 2004 Martin “In Terra Pax”
    • 2008 Brahms “Ein deutsches Requiem”
    • 2010 Honegger “König David”
    • 2011 Mendelssohn “Elias”
    • 2013 Britten “War Requiem”
    • 2015 Prokofiew “Iwan der Schreckliche”
    • 2017 Janácek “Glagolitische Messe”
    • 2019 Burkhard “Das Geischt Jesajas”
    • 2023 Mendelssohn “Paulus”

    →  Watch the video

  • All students taking classical music courses in the Bachelor’s degree programme with main subjects other than Voice sing in the Bachelor’s Semester Choir. Weekly rehearsals are conducted by Ernst Buscagne and Prof. Markus Utz, assisted by Choral Conducting students. Each semester ends with a concert. The choir’s repertoire ranges from masters from the early baroque and classical periods through to premieres of new works. Depending on the works on the programme, the Bacehlor’s Semester Choir performs with the ZHdK instrumental or voice students. Every other year, all the university’s vocal ensembles come together to perform an oratorio, together with soloists from the university and the Orchester der ZHdK.

  • The Bachelor’s Project Choir is an ensemble for all classical music students in their third semester who are not taking Voice as their major subject. In the academic years between oratorio performances, they spend a project week work on a demanding a cappella programme, which is then performed. The Bachelor’s Project Choir is generally directed by Prof Markus Utz. In those academic years where the students in the Project Choir have worked only on a cappella or chamber music church works during their compulsory participation in the Semester Choir, during their project week they rehearse an oratorio in combination with all the ZHdK vocal ensembles, which is then performed with soloists and the Orchester der ZHdK.

  • The Motettenchor ZHdK comprises students in the DAS in Organ and DAS in Choral Conducting programmes, and Bachelor’s and Master’s students who participate in the Motettenchor ZHdK as a semester course. The group performs a wide range of mainly sacred music. Occasionally, part of the rehearsal is led by a Church Music student. The choir gives a performance once every semester (generally at vespers services in the Johanneskirche).  

    The musical director is Stephan Klarer.

  • The Choralschola ZHdK is a mixed ensemble for male and female voices, with the aim of exploring the fascinating world of Gregorian chant, the cradle of European music, in a vital, living style of performance right here in Zurich. Choralschola ZHdK is one of seven vocal ensembles at the ZHdK.  

    Drawing on the tradition of the famous Einsiedeln Abbey choral school, the choir approaches Gregorian chant with a particular focus on vocal quality, a unified sound and a homogeneous tone. It gives performances at ZHdK events. In terms of rhythmical and vocal aspects, its interpretations are based on the earliest manuscripts (neume notation from the tenth century), and the findings of musicological research on these sources.  

    The Choralschola is led by Stephan Klarer, who has lectured at the ZHdK in Gregorian chant since 1999.

  • The various ensembles with ZHdK students unite biennially to form the KonzertChor ZHdK, which performs larger works together with the Orchester der ZHdK or instrumental ensembles of the university.

    • 2004 Martin “In Terra Pax”
    • 2008 Brahms “Ein deutsches Requiem”
    • 2010 Honegger “König David”
    • 2011 Mendelssohn “Elias”
    • 2013 Britten “War Requiem”
    • 2015 Prokofiew “Iwan der Schreckliche”
    • 2017 Janácek “Glagolitische Messe”
    • 2019 Burkhard “Das Geischt Jesajas“
    • 2023 Mendelssohn “Paulus“

  • The LunchTimeChoir ZHdK comprises staff and students, and the group is also open to other amateur singers, preferably with some previous choral experience. Weekly rehearsals are held during the lunch break (Wednesday, 12:15–13:15 h), in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. The repertoire ranges from classical madrigals, folk songs and spirituals through to jazz canons and spoken and body percussion pieces. The choir regularly gives open-air performances in the Old City of Zurich, along with performances of Christmas carols on the Toni campus.

    The choir is led by Prof Markus Utz.

    Rehearsals Wednesdays, 12:15–13:15 h, Toni Campus