Black Forest Voices festival choir 2026

Matthias Knoche (Berlin) studied jazz singing in Leipzig and performs as a flexible vocal artist together with Tanja Pannier in the a cappella duo Klangbezirk. He teaches choral conducting in jazz and pop at the Berlin University of the Arts, is in demand internationally as an arranger and gives workshops and coaching sessions for choirs, choirmasters and ensembles. Matthias Knoche regularly works with jazz greats such as Ed Partyka and Kim Nazarian. Concert tours have taken him to other European countries, South Korea, Singapore, China and Taiwan.

Julian Knörzer (Freiburg) is a choir director, beatboxer, singer, and arranger active in the German vocal scene, including with Twäng!, the Freiburg Jazz Choir, and UNDUZO. He works internationally as a lecturer and co-founded Black Forest Voices in 2019. As a beatboxer, he specializes in accompanying vocal ensembles. He teaches jazz/pop choir conducting and beatboxing at the University of Music Freiburg and the University of Church Music Tübingen.

Darmon Meader (USA) is an internationally renowned singer, arranger, and saxophonist in the world of vocal and instrumental jazz. As founder, musical director, chief arranger, composer, producer, saxophonist, and singer of the New York Voices, he has had a significant influence on modern vocal jazz. As a member of the New York Voices, he has released numerous recordings and worked with Ray Brown, Nancy Wilson, Ivan Lins, Jim Hall, and the Count Basie Orchestra, among others. His solo albums And So Am I (2008) and Reminiscing in Tempo (2023) showcase his stylistic diversity. In addition, Darmon is an internationally sought-after workshop leader, coach, and guest lecturer at universities and festivals, as well as the author of the textbook "Vocal Jazz Improvisation: An Instrumental Approach".

Kim Nazarian (USA) is a world-renowned, Grammy-nominated jazz performing and recording artist, educatorvand lecturer. Besides her work as a sought-after solo vocalist, she has been performing all over the world with the renowned vocal group New York Voices for more than 35 years. She teaches jazz singing to vocal jazz majors at Ithaca College. She also shares her perspectives on music and life as a musician in her own studio and internationally through private lessons, workshops, masterclasses, jazz camps, festival juries, and as a guest conductor for singers of all levels.