The four-day, annual Black Forest Voices Festival in Kirchzarten is all about popular choral and a cappella music. This international festival features over 60 workshops, numerous concerts, a coaching camp, a master class, the free “Sound of Kirchzarten” side program, and “Young BFV,” a program for young people. Individual participants, vocal bands, choirs, concertgoers, and anyone who simply wants to stop by—from near and far—are all welcome.

The Various Components of Black Forest Voices

Black Forest Voices is an international vocal festival in Kirchzarten near Freiburg that celebrates the diverse world of singing every year from Thursday through Sunday. With a focus on pop and jazz, this choral and a cappella festival brings together artists from the region and around the world, amateur musicians, up-and-coming talent, and an audience passionate about singing. For four days, Kirchzarten becomes a stage for musical encounters, new inspiration, and communal singing.

At the heart of the festival are the numerous concerts held at various venues throughout Kirchzarten. On the main stage at the historic Talvogtei and the smaller open-air stage, the Schalampi Stage, international and local ensembles present the full spectrum of vocal music. Churches, public squares, and other locations throughout the village also become concert venues—including St. Gallus Church and the senior center. This allows the entire village to experience the festival and brings music to places where people gather.

There is a special focus on education: With an extensive workshop program, Black Forest Voices offers a wide range of opportunities to discover one’s own voice, develop musical skills, and explore new perspectives. The offerings are aimed at choir singers, choir directors, amateur musicians, and anyone who enjoys singing. The spectrum ranges from low-barrier, hands-on activities to pop and jazz vocals, choral conducting, and beatboxing, all the way to concert programming and management. The program is complemented by open singing sessions where everyone is welcome—regardless of prior experience or musical background.

Through its Coaching Camp, Black Forest Voices provides targeted support to choirs and up-and-coming a cappella groups. Selected ensembles have the opportunity to work intensively with experienced coaches for several days, grow musically, and gain new inspiration for their artistic development. They also present their work on the festival stages.

Children and teenagers are also an important part of the festival. Under the title “Young Black Forest Voices”, there are concerts, workshops, and creative hands-on activities that introduce young people to the world of the voice and making music together in a playful way. Whether through singing, experimenting, or building and discovering at the “Sound Construction Site”—the focus here is on the joy of trying new things.

With “Sound of Kirchzarten”, the festival opens its doors to the entire town. The free supporting program brings local choirs and ensembles from Kirchzarten, the Dreisam Valley, and the Freiburg region to the stage. Free concerts, open sing-along sessions, and musical encounters make the festival accessible to everyone and strengthen the connection between international vocal music and the regional choral scene.

And even offstage, Black Forest Voices is a place to linger and come together: On the festival grounds, with local food trucks, beer benches, and plenty of space to mingle, a lively atmosphere takes shape that invites visitors to chat, enjoy themselves, and celebrate together.