Staats- und Domchor Berlin
The Staats- und Domchor Berlin is one of Europe‘s most renowned boys‘ choirs and Berlin‘s oldest musical institution. As early as 1465, Elector Frederick II of Brandenburg recruited five “Singeknaben” to provide music in the “Dhumkerke”. Around a century later, the establishment of a court orchestra, also under the direction of Johannes Eccard, led to one of the first golden ages of choral singing.
The ensemble first achieved international acclaim in the 19th century under the direction of Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, Otto Nicolai and August Neithardt.
With the end of the monarchy after World War I, the “Königlicher Hof- und Domchor” lost its political and financial foundation. In 1923, it was named “Staats- und Domchor Berlin” and was situated with the “Staatliche Hochschule für Musik”, today “Universität der Künste”. Since 1990 – after the fall of the Berlin Wall – the choir has once again been performing in the “Berliner Dom”. Concert tours have led them to many countries in Europe, to the USA, Japan, Russia and Israel.
In addition to its numerous awards, e.g. in the “Deutscher Chorwettbewerb” (German Choir Competition), the choir was honoured in 2002 with the European Jugend-chorkulturpreis (Cultural Prize for Youth Choirs) and nominated for a Grammy Award in 2006. Ensemble members enrich Berlin‘s musical life through performances in opera productions and appearances in concerts at the Berliner Philharmonie.