Workshops

We experience an entertaining way to inspire new audiences for jazz. There's something for all vocalists: instrumental music, big band, World Music, Bossa Nova and much more. A colorful mix for the ears, a listening pleasure and an introduction to the music that Kim Nazarian loves and shares with us with passionate and critical listening.

Presented by Chorverband Schwarzwald-Baar-Heuberg e.V.

KIM NAZARIAN
She is a globally renowned, Grammy-nominated jazz artist who has been touring with the New York Voices for over 35 years alongside her engagements as a sought-after soloist. Recently awarded "Jazz Educator of the Year 2023," she is a dedicated teacher of vocal jazz, vocal technique, and ensemble singing, as well as a highly esteemed speaker and adjudicator at numerous singing festivals and competitions worldwide.

Foto: Ellen Schmauss

In this workshop, we explore our human (sound) body through body percussion and playfully approach our movement impulses in order to give these inner impulses and vibrations space to discharge outwards. By grooving and improvising together, we become aware of our body as a musical instrument and realize how we are both orchestra and composer.

Presented by Chorverband Schwarzwald-Baar-Heuberg e.V.

CHRISTIAN HERRMANN
He is a drummer, beatboxer, body percussionist, loop station artist and gives workshops and creative courses throughout Germany. He is part of the a cappella ensemble Neilon and works in the duo GLÄNZ – together with dancer and choreographer Dagmar Ottmann – at the interface of body music and contemporary dance. He usually produces his own music using a loop station and draws inspiration from people, nature and everyday life.

Foto: Raphael Baumann

This workshop is aimed at people who have to deal with different cultures at international events – at home or abroad. And have perhaps already encountered cultural difficulties. Sonja Greiner will show us practical exercises, useful aids, tips and tricks on how to deal with this – also in a team – and how to have fun.

SONJA GREINER
She is the Secretary General of the European Choral Association, a member of the Board of the World Youth Choir Foundation, and governance advisor to the International Federation for Choral Music (IFCM). She was a member and Treasurer of both the European and the International Music Council between 2000 and 2013 and was elected Honorary Member of the International Music Council in 2015.

Foto: Chris Marchal for EMC

In this workshop, Accent shows us how to take a musical idea through all the important steps of arranging. An initial idea is broken down into concrete, realizable parts that can be used regardless of style. We start small and go big!

ACCENT
The six self-proclaimed "Jazz-Vocal-Nerds," met online and have been collaborating on songs and videos since 2011, which propelled them to YouTube stardom. They have released five albums, appeared at the London a cappella festival, performed in two sold-out Christmas shows at the London Royal Albert Hall, and toured extensively throughout Europe, North America, and Asia.

Foto: Karma Cheng

It is about insights into the process of composing: We learn how to create an effective "workflow" and how to constantly explore new ways of expressing emotions, conveying messages through music, refining musical expression and being innovative. By analyzing some of Edenroth's songs, participants will be given practical examples of how to move through the creative process and cross artistic boundaries. The workshop is aimed equally at experienced musicians and newcomers to composing.

ANDERS EDENROTH
He studied choral singing in Stockholm and founded The Real Group with his fellow students: He toured with them in over 40 countries for 37 years! Along the way, he became known as a keyboardist, producer, (television) composer and arranger – especially for his rhythmic effects and vocal percussion. Edenroth is internationally renowned as a lecturer for master classes and workshops.

Foto: Jann Lipka

We experience how the "Icebreakers" technique can put people into flow and transform everyone into a creative superhero! The importance of flow for fun, concentration and creativity will be explored – both individually and as a team. We will focus on the most important two minutes of a choir rehearsal and learn Tine's favorite "Icebreaker" games that combine singing with rhythm and groove.

TINE FRIS-RONSFELD
She is a renowned singer, vocal coach, and choir conductor. As a founding member of Postyr and co-director of Vocal Line, she has achieved international success. With over 20 years of teaching experience and a degree from the Royal Academy of Music, she also serves as the chair of the Aarhus Vocal Festival and is a member of the CASA advisory board.

Foto: Tine Fris-Ronsfeld

Clare Wheeler shows us how to turn off our inner critic and learn to listen! When improvising in a group, we practise the balance of groove, melody and listening.

CLARE WHEELER
She was a member of the Grammywinning group "The Swingles" for eleven years, performing worldwide. As a versatile singer, she masters a wide range of music genres including Early Music, Jazz, Gospel, contemporary Classical, and Pop. She has performed as a backing vocalist for Jacob Collier at the BBC Proms 2018 and contributed to a new setting of the Te Deum by John Featherstone. Since September 2019, she has held the position of Professor of Jazz Vocal at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, teaching improvisation, ear training, and Vocal Jazz.

Foto: Michelle Lindley

In this workshop we will do a little mini-research on transdisciplinary inspiration – from visual elements to music and vice versa. It is aimed at beginners as well as experienced and to enjoy the workshop it would be good to feel free to try out different visual and auditory inputs in a group.

MERZI RAJALA
She is a pioneer in Finnish rhythmic choir conducting, composing, and teaching. She specializes in popular and world music, fusion, and transcultural collaboration. As a lecturer at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, she views choral conducting skills as an artistic means to contribute to society – leading community projects worldwide and valuing multicultural dialogue for her personal growth as an artist and educator.

Foto: Leena Louhivaara

The workshop offers structured instruction for beatboxers in a cappella ensembles, whether beginners or advanced: from the basics to advanced accompaniment in different styles such as swing, salsa and dubstep. Participants are invited to choose one of 17 loop songs of different styles for the choir they wish to accompany. The workshop is also interesting for choir conductors and arrangers as it helps them to better communicate and notate sonic ideas. Curiosity and a willingness to experiment are welcome, because ultimately what counts is what sounds good!

JULIAN KNÖRZER
He is a trained school musician, jazz singer, and choir conductor. In addition to his teaching positions at the Freiburg University of Music and the Tübingen Church Music University, he is active in the German vocal scene as a beatboxer, singer, choir director for the Senior Jazzchor and Twäng! and arranger and works internationally as a lecturer. He has received numerous international awards with his bands Acoustic Instinct and UNDUZO.

Foto: Felix Groteloh

Tine Fris-Ronsfeld presents her and Kristoffer Fynbo Thorning's book "Warming Up – A Handbook on Choir Warm Up, Voice Training, and Singing Together". She will show us the concept of "Singergy", how warming up can be used as a "greenhouse" for community and the joy of singing, her favorite exercises from the book and how we can create our own warm-up programs.

TINE FRIS-RONSFELD
She is a renowned singer, vocal coach, and choir conductor. As a founding member of Postyr and co-director of Vocal Line, she has achieved international success. With over 20 years of teaching experience and a degree from the Royal Academy of Music, she also serves as the chair of the Aarhus Vocal Festival and is a member of the CASA advisory board.

Foto: Tine Fris-Ronsfeld

We dive into the complex world of microtonality and discover infinite sounds between traditional pitches and intervals. The ear opens up to new sonic possibilities – and frees the voice. Listening carefully expands our understanding of the relationships between pitches and thus encourages curiosity and playfulness in vocal expression.

RABIH LAHOUD
He is a singer with Masaa and Markus Stockhausen's Eternal Voyage. As a sought-after vocal coach for vocal bands like MAYBEBOP and ONAIR, he has published the book "Voice in Flow." His composition "Joseph Lamento" premiered at the Cologne Philharmonic in 2011. Lahoud has also been involved in the Bremen Neighborhood Opera and has participated in festivals such as "This is not Lebanon" 2021 with the Ensemble Modern and Florian Weber.

Foto: Andy Spyra

We discover the rhythmic heartbeat of vocal music: the art of the groove. Synchronized breathing techniques, cutoffs and releases allow us to create seamless phrasing. Traditional choral roles are broken down and the bass is "freed" from vocal percussion as we explore the rich textures of choral arrangements by amplifying the inner voice.

ANDREA FIGALLO
Andrea Figallo (ITA) is a choir conductor, arranger, teacher, and vocal coach. In all aspects of his work, Andrea focuses on creating a positive and inclusive environment for harmonious energy flow during rehearsals, ensuring that all participants feel valued and supported. His teaching is widely respected and reflects his deep passion for and commitment to excellence in vocal music.der.

Foto: Michael Gornig

We sing pop! Two new pop choir arrangements are being worked on at breakneck speed. From the first note to the internal performance. It should be fun and sound great, groove and touch.

CARSTEN GERLITZ
He has been leading the Happy Disharmonists since 1985. He arranges for artists like Max Raabe, Reinhard Mey, Ute Lemper, Ernie & Bert, as well as radio orchestras and choirs, and he is a composer and lyricist for musicals. He has served as musical director for television, theater productions, and shows, conducted the Playa) (Pops Symphony at the Burning Man Festival, and collaborated with his children on "Conni" adventures. As a lecturer and author on pop choir topics, he is internationally renowned.

Foto: Marc Secara

This workshop looks at the similarities and differences between Classical and Jazz Singing. We will explore one classical voice, and a New York Voices recording and arrangement to analyze the tools used for both genres and how it is possible to do both with the same instrument: You must have the same foundation and then be able to execute varying skills.

KIM NAZARIAN
She is a globally renowned, Grammy-nominated jazz artist who has been touring with the New York Voices for over 35 years alongside her engagements as a sought-after soloist. Recently awarded "Jazz Educator of the Year 2023," she is a dedicated teacher of vocal jazz, vocal technique, and ensemble singing, as well as a highly esteemed speaker and adjudicator at numerous singing festivals and competitions worldwide.

Foto: Ellen Schmauss

Using familiar songs as examples, Accent demonstrates many of the influences in vocal music that led directly to their own sound as well as the sound of other contemporary groups. Through this exercise, participants will learn approaches to harmony, arranging devices, vocal technique, performance characteristics and production conventions in many contrasting styles.

ACCENT
The six self-proclaimed "Jazz-Vocal-Nerds," met online and have been collaborating on songs and videos since 2011, which propelled them to YouTube stardom. They have released five albums, appeared at the London a cappella festival, performed in two sold-out Christmas shows at the London Royal Albert Hall, and toured extensively throughout Europe, North America, and Asia.

Foto: Karma Cheng

This is a joint workshop by Merel Martens and Rabih Lahoud in which vocal music is created out of the moment.

MEREL MARTENS
She is a full-time choir conductor, arranger, and coach. She received her master's degree in "Vocal Leadership" with highest honors from the Royal Academy of Music (DK). The choirs and vocal groups she works with are award-winning, including MAZE ("best choir in the Netherlands") and Perpetuum Jazzile (SVN). Since November 2015, she has been introducing the "Vocal Leadership" method to the Netherlands and was awarded "Best Choir Conductor" in 2018.

Foto: Arno Bauman

RABIH LAHOUD
He is a singer with Masaa and Markus Stockhausen's Eternal Voyage. As a sought-after vocal coach for vocal bands like MAYBEBOP and ONAIR, he has published the book "Voice in Flow." His composition "Joseph Lamento" premiered at the Cologne Philharmonic in 2011. Lahoud has also been involved in the Bremen Neighborhood Opera and has participated in festivals such as "This is not Lebanon" 2021 with the Ensemble Modern and Florian Weber.

Foto: Andy Spyra

Barbershoppers love to spontaneously sing "tags" (= "appendages") together! These are usually dramatic, sometimes extravagant variations at the end of a song, but they also work on their own – and the singers from Accent show us how it's done! Anyone can join in, as no musical knowledge or previous experience is required, just an open mind, curiosity and the desire to sing together!

ACCENT
The six self-proclaimed "Jazz-Vocal-Nerds," met online and have been collaborating on songs and videos since 2011, which propelled them to YouTube stardom. They have released five albums, appeared at the London a cappella festival, performed in two sold-out Christmas shows at the London Royal Albert Hall, and toured extensively throughout Europe, North America, and Asia.

Foto: Karma Cheng

The BFV Festival Choir is open to all singers of all ages and abilities from near and far who would like to sing together, get to know great conductors and practice – three to four songs and some improvisation and sound collages – to be brought to the stage straight away: including at the service in the St. Gallus Church and with ONAIR at the Big Vocal Night. No costs, registration required.

CARSTEN GERLITZ
He has been leading the Happy Disharmonists since 1985. He arranges for artists like Max Raabe, Reinhard Mey, Ute Lemper, Ernie & Bert, as well as radio orchestras and choirs, and he is a composer and lyricist for musicals. He has served as musical director for television, theater productions, and shows, conducted the Playa) (Pops Symphony at the Burning Man Festival, and collaborated with his children on "Conni" adventures. As a lecturer and author on pop choir topics, he is internationally renowned.

Foto: Marc Secara

MEREL MARTENS
She is a full-time choir conductor, arranger, and coach. She received her master's degree in "Vocal Leadership" with highest honors from the Royal Academy of Music (DK). The choirs and vocal groups she works with are award-winning, including MAZE ("best choir in the Netherlands") and Perpetuum Jazzile (SVN). Since November 2015, she has been introducing the "Vocal Leadership" method to the Netherlands and was awarded "Best Choir Conductor" in 2018.

Foto: Arno Bauman

TANJA PANNIER
She is a singer, composer, arranger, vocal coach and educator from Berlin, offering workshops nationwide and internationally for singers, choirs, and ensembles. She is a founding member of the internationally acclaimed a cappella duo Klangbezirk and has composed theater music for GRIPS Theater and Schauspielhaus Düsseldorf, among others. Since 2021, she has been working as a lecturer and department head for jazz/pop vocals in the educational programs at the University of the Arts Berlin. She has been the Artistic Director of the Black Forest Voices Festival since 2022.

Foto: Ellen Schmauss

Anyone can chat, munch, sulk or laugh with it, but can you also make music – with your mouth? The Razzzones show how it's done, from the "pizza cat" to the drum set, from the tongue knot to the beatbox orchestra: the basic skills of the art of beatboxing, as well as advanced techniques and sounds from the world of mouth-made noises, beats and songs. This works for beginners to advanced – it's always fun!

Präsentiert vom Arbeitskreis Musik in der Jugend, Landesverband Baden Württemberg

THE RAZZZONES
The four outstanding musicians imitate and innovate instruments and sounds with their mouths and voices: one of the most exciting bands and beatboxer formations of today. They interpret well-known songs and their own pieces virtuosically, offering a varied program full of charm, wit, and surprises. With sophisticated arrangements from various music genres, they captivate their audience – not least until the semi-finals of The Voice of Germany.

Foto: Sven Hagolani

The beginning is often challenging! New sheet music can be overwhelming with all the crosses, bows, flags, signs and symbols. Together we develop strategies on how to approach the new piece without stress: We learn to categorize the notes and signs and gradually grasp the voice, because it also interacts with the other voices. Everything suddenly becomes clearer and the new piece is even more fun!

Präsentiert vom Chorverband Breisgau e.V.

MARTA HELMIN
She is a musical theater performer and has been singing with ONAIR since 2013. After piano lessons and winning awards at "Jugend musiziert," she completed her vocal and piano studies at the Hochschule für Musik Detmold. She has played leading roles in numerous musical productions such as "We Will Rock You!", "Mamma Mia," and "Mozart!". Marta is a mother of two children and works as a piano teacher, vocal coach and personal development coach.

Foto: Chris Gonz

The CD is dead, long live the YouTube clip! A crash cours and appetizer for your own choir video projects: What to look out for? What do you need to consider? How does it even work? Thanks to today's great technical possibilities, we can easily make a cool choir video. Carsten Gerlitz gives us tips on how to deal with concept, sound, camera and editing.

CARSTEN GERLITZ
He has been leading the Happy Disharmonists since 1985. He arranges for artists like Max Raabe, Reinhard Mey, Ute Lemper, Ernie & Bert, as well as radio orchestras and choirs, and he is a composer and lyricist for musicals. He has served as musical director for television, theater productions, and shows, conducted the Playa) (Pops Symphony at the Burning Man Festival, and collaborated with his children on "Conni" adventures. As a lecturer and author on pop choir topics, he is internationally renowned.

Foto: Marc Secara

Is everyone ready for a fun workshop to disco music? Merel rehearses short pieces of well-known disco songs with us in four voices and we learn how to use our voices correctly. And then: Let’s have a party!

MEREL MARTENS
She is a full-time choir conductor, arranger, and coach. She received her master's degree in "Vocal Leadership" with highest honors from the Royal Academy of Music (DK). The choirs and vocal groups she works with are award-winning, including MAZE ("best choir in the Netherlands") and Perpetuum Jazzile (SVN). Since November 2015, she has been introducing the "Vocal Leadership" method to the Netherlands and was awarded "Best Choir Conductor" in 2018.

Foto: Arno Bauman

With this method, a "lead sheet" (melody notated with chord symbols) can be quickly transformed in four parts. Singers won't need a score if the chords are simple and they know how to sing the song together. Essentially, it takes 30 minutes to get everyone singing the song with four parts a cappella, and one hour to polish the arrangement. After that, you can perform immediately.

RAY CHU
As a graduated computer science and choir conductor, he left his technical profession in 2000 to fully dedicate himself to his passion for choral music. As a co-founder of the Taiwan Choral Music Center, now renowned for international festivals and competitions, he significantly promoted contemporary a cappella music in Taiwan. Chu leads the Pop-Jazz Development Department at TCMC and is also sought after as an educator, choir conductor, tenor singer, and arranger.

Foto: Yun-Hung Chen

In this course we will focus on groove and pulse and in particular how to achieve excess and flow in rhythmic music using only voices. We will work mainly by ear, using short etudes as examples, but also with references to the music of PUST.

ELISABETH ANVIK
She is a musician, composer, arranger and singer in the vocal ensemble PUST. She regularly gives seminars and workshops for choirs and ensembles and is an associate professor of music at OsloMet, where she is involved in several research and development projects aimed at getting children and adults to sing more and develop more confidence in their own voices. These include the book "Raffe Riff – Songs in a Circle", the digital songbook "Trall" and the ongoing project "Vibrant Connections".

Foto: Stian Herdal

Beatboxing is the art of creating noises, sounds and music with your mouth. In this beginners' course, basic techniques are taught – and one or two secrets of the art of beatboxing are revealed! After a warm-up to loosen up the facial muscles, basic techniques are demonstrated, individual beats, noises and sound sequences are practiced – and The Razzzones give tips on how to further develop our individual skillsets.

Presented by Chorverband Schwarzwald-Baar-Heuberg e.V.

THE RAZZZONES
The four outstanding musicians imitate and innovate instruments and sounds with their mouths and voices: one of the most exciting bands and beatboxer formations of today. They interpret well-known songs and their own pieces virtuosically, offering a varied program full of charm, wit, and surprises. With sophisticated arrangements from various music genres, they captivate their audience – not least until the semi-finals of The Voice of Germany.

Foto: Sven Hagolani

This session is gonna be fun! We will sing through some easy arrangements of everyone’s favourite songs from the 90s. You are gonna be surprised how quickly you can put a piece of music together and make it sound good under the skilled guidance of Merel Martens. We are already looking forward to shameless fun singing a 90s Dance Medley, and Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nirvana). And, of course it wouldn’t be the 90s without the Spice Girls (Who do you think you are).

MEREL MARTENS
She is a full-time choir conductor, arranger, and coach. She received her master's degree in "Vocal Leadership" with highest honors from the Royal Academy of Music (DK). The choirs and vocal groups she works with are award-winning, including MAZE ("best choir in the Netherlands") and Perpetuum Jazzile (SVN). Since November 2015, she has been introducing the "Vocal Leadership" method to the Netherlands and was awarded "Best Choir Conductor" in 2018.

Foto: Arno Bauman

This workshop shows concrete steps how physical, emotional and peer-to-peer violence can be prevented with appropriate measures. It shows how we can work together for more child protection and awareness in our choral communities.

Presented by Deutschen Chorjugend

HENRIKE SCHAUERTE
She is a cultural scientist, breath, voice, and speech instructor. Within her various artistic-pedagogical as well as cultural management activities, the topics of participation, child protection, and child-friendly singing are at the center of her work. As a speaker for children's choir programs at the German Choral Youth Association (Deutsche Chorjugend), she is responsible for the projects "Choir – with Safety!" and „SingBus".

Foto: KEMKA

We discover the enchanting fusion of traditional Norwegian singing and modern grooves with PUST. Together we sing and combine old melodies with modern grooves and flow. PUST lets us unleash our creativity – and immerse ourselves in the magic of Norwegian music.

PUST
PUST (NOR) from Oslo brings together six of the most beautiful Nordic voices into a magical, powerful, and playful unity. Their compositions oscillate between Scandinavian folk and jazzy tones, between tradition and innovation. Their musical expression is at times fragile, at times expressive: an acoustic exploration of the soul and landscape of the European North. Most of their compositions and arrangements are created by the members themselves.

Foto: Joel Boka

We discover the fascinating dynamic between purist vocals and electronic effects – a unique exploration of artistic versatility! We'll dive into the world of EQ, distortion and flanger as Patrick Oliver guides us through the possibilities that open up between traditional, natural vocals and modern experimentation. For singers who want to push their sonic boundaries, this workshop is an absolute must.

PATRICK OLIVER
He is a trained jazz and pop singer, as well as an arranger, composer, and vocal coach. He was part of the vocal ensemble Bundesjazzorchester (BuJazzO) and served as a vocal soloist in various projects such as the "Symphonic Pop Orchestra." He was also a founding member of the a cappella groups "musix" and "Hartmuth und die Hitmaschine" (together with Lukas Teske of MAYBEBOP). In ONAIR, Patrick performs as a baritone, vocal percussionist, arranger, and composer.

Foto: Chris Gonz

Welcome to the world of barbershop masters! The world-famous Ringmasters from Stockholm are four terrific singers and entertainers who inspire with their bold chords, heavenly blending and virtuoso presentation. In this workshop, they will give a first-hand insight into the unique world of barbershop singing, characterized by overtones, precise tuning and harmonic richness. We will learn more about the magic of the famous "tag-singing" and be completely inspired by the barbershop world champions!

RINGMASTERS
The world champions of the international Barbershop competition in 2012, offer a wide repertoire ranging from Barbershop classics to modern hits by Simon & Garfunkel or the Beatles, as well as intricate Georgian male choir singing and traditional Swedish songs. With impressive chords, heavenly blending, and virtuosic presentation, the quartet provides musical harmony of the highest caliber.

Foto: Patrick Jönsson

Why are fewer children singing in choirs? Because there are too few choir leaders! In this workshop, experienced choir singers will get tips on how they can swap roles to make more of their enthusiasm for choral singing and enable children to sing in the choir. From child-friendly singing and criteria for song selection to leading easy polyphony – let's give it a try!

Presented by Deutschen Chorjugend

HENRIKE SCHAUERTE
She is a cultural scientist, breath, voice, and speech instructor. Within her various artistic-pedagogical as well as cultural management activities, the topics of participation, child protection, and child-friendly singing are at the center of her work. As a speaker for children's choir programs at the German Choral Youth Association (Deutsche Chorjugend), she is responsible for the projects "Choir – with Safety!" and „SingBus".

Foto: KEMKA

In this exclusive workshop, renowned a cappella band PUST from Norway will demonstrate their unique approach to creating vocal music. We explore the delicate balance between preserving cultural heritage and contemporary expression as PUST demonstrates their techniques for reinterpreting folk melodies. This workshop offers us a rare opportunity to learn from one of Europe's most unique a cappella ensembles.

PUST
PUST (NOR) from Oslo brings together six of the most beautiful Nordic voices into a magical, powerful, and playful unity. Their compositions oscillate between Scandinavian folk and jazzy tones, between tradition and innovation. Their musical expression is at times fragile, at times expressive: an acoustic exploration of the soul and landscape of the European North. Most of their compositions and arrangements are created by the members themselves.

Foto: Joel Boka

An integral part of an ONAIR show is explaining to the audience why there are often more than 4 voices to be heard – terms like "layered salad" or "lasagne" try to describe several superimposed acoustic layers. But there is much more to it than that and the programming of a song is just as complex as the arrangement. We get an insight into the ONAIR sessions and find out what happens on the way to the speakers – a lot has developed over the years. Florian Hinz will dig deep into the technical box with the whole band. Please fasten your seatbelt!

ONAIR
ONAIR (Berlin) stands for unique quality: Four creative personalities with strong solo voices create the unmistakable ensemble sound. Technically outstanding and musically demanding, they captivate audiences worldwide with their dedication to music for 10 years. After numerous awards and musical triumphs, the band will conclude their unique musical journey in 2024 with an emotional farewell tour to explore new creative paths and write new chapters in life.

Foto: Chris Gonz

This workshop is the perfect complement to the session "Arrangement ExploDer": We will accompany Accent on the rare opportunity to explore their scores in detail! We will learn how concept, rhythm, harmony and texture come together in the arranging process and how the "Accent sound" is applied in cover songs – regardless of the genre of the original song. Participants are welcome to send requests for specific arrangements in advance to info@accentvocal.com.

ACCENT
The six self-proclaimed "Jazz-Vocal-Nerds," met online and have been collaborating on songs and videos since 2011, which propelled them to YouTube stardom. They have released five albums, appeared at the London a cappella festival, performed in two sold-out Christmas shows at the London Royal Albert Hall, and toured extensively throughout Europe, North America, and Asia.

Foto: Karma Cheng

The Symphonium, made from Appenzell walnut, is like a magic wand: inspired by the legendary Echoplex, Martin O. spent years developing this unique looping device, which multiplies tones, beats and melodies in any number. With his voice and the Symphonium, he created his own art form that has repeatedly won awards. In his workshop, Martin O. will provide exclusive insights into his work and the fascinating world of loops and sounds: We will experience live demonstrations of his looping skills and experiment with the Symphonium ourselves.

MARTIN O.
The Swiss pre-Alpine vocal magician enchants his audience with charm, humor, and versatility through music. He scales the musical scale without a safety net, effortlessly transitioning between styles with captivating rhythm, and tells stories with subtle and witty nuances. With his genuine Swiss looping device, the Symphonium, he guarantees mountains of top-notch entertainment.

Foto: Roberto Conciatori

Through playful activities and the singing of "flow songs", singers will immerse themselves in the concept of the flow state, where creativity and performance merge seamlessly: We will discover the dynamic interplay between the colors of flow and the subtle nuances found in moments of focused presence. By practicing various techniques for maintaining concentration while singing, participants will discover how to harness the power of concentration to enhance their musical expression.

RABIH LAHOUD
He is a singer with Masaa and Markus Stockhausen's Eternal Voyage. As a sought-after vocal coach for vocal bands like MAYBEBOP and ONAIR, he has published the book "Voice in Flow." His composition "Joseph Lamento" premiered at the Cologne Philharmonic in 2011. Lahoud has also been involved in the Bremen Neighborhood Opera and has participated in festivals such as "This is not Lebanon" 2021 with the Ensemble Modern and Florian Weber.

Foto: Andy Spyra

Kim Nazarian will demonstrate specific vocal exercises based on "Come Home", composed and arranged by multi-talented Peter Eldridge and founding member of New York Voices. These exercises are aimed at building the voice to successfully master challenging pieces like this one. The goal is to achieve excellence through practice so that one could go directly from the practice room to the stage and into the recording studio. We will learn through a variety of exercises, techniques and the ambition to work on our skills – from one of the best in the business!

KIM NAZARIAN
She is a globally renowned, Grammy-nominated jazz artist who has been touring with the New York Voices for over 35 years alongside her engagements as a sought-after soloist. Recently awarded "Jazz Educator of the Year 2023," she is a dedicated teacher of vocal jazz, vocal technique, and ensemble singing, as well as a highly esteemed speaker and adjudicator at numerous singing festivals and competitions worldwide.

Foto: Ellen Schmauss

Welcome to Martin O.'s Workshop, a musical journey with the voice from the heart and gut: Together we will explore the structure and fascination of repetition (circles) and the infinite further development of sound – creatively, carried and enlightening. Most of this happens intuitively. And that's why it doesn't matter whether the participants already have experience or are completely new. This workshop offers space for a vocal experience and creative development. Attention: addictive potential!

MARTIN O.
The Swiss pre-Alpine vocal magician enchants his audience with charm, humor, and versatility through music. He scales the musical scale without a safety net, effortlessly transitioning between styles with captivating rhythm, and tells stories with subtle and witty nuances. With his genuine Swiss looping device, the Symphonium, he guarantees mountains of top-notch entertainment.

Foto: Roberto Conciatori

While the recording, editing and mixing of vocals used to take place only in professional studios, many vocal ensembles are now able to do this themselves, especially since the costs of the equipment required for this has fallen dramatically since the mid-1980s, when Anders Edenroth started out as a sound engineer. Nevertheless, many of the approaches of that time are still valid today. Anders Edenroth will tell his story and reveal his "secrets" after more than 40 years as a sound engineer and music producer.

ANDERS EDENROTH
He studied choral singing in Stockholm and founded The Real Group with his fellow students: He toured with them in over 40 countries for 37 years! Along the way, he became known as a keyboardist, producer, (television) composer and arranger – especially for his rhythmic effects and vocal percussion. Edenroth is internationally renowned as a lecturer for master classes and workshops.

Foto: Jann Lipka

Tips and ideas on rehearsal preparation, conducting and directing on the following questions: How do I prepare for the rehearsal? What is important for a pop choir? How do I quickly achieve a good, poppy sound? How do I make my choir look cool on stage? How do I stand in front of the choir? Lots of questions and useful tips, all presented in a humorous way.

Presented by Chorverband Breisgau e.V.

CARSTEN GERLITZ
He has been leading the Happy Disharmonists since 1985. He arranges for artists like Max Raabe, Reinhard Mey, Ute Lemper, Ernie & Bert, as well as radio orchestras and choirs, and he is a composer and lyricist for musicals. He has served as musical director for television, theater productions, and shows, conducted the Playa) (Pops Symphony at the Burning Man Festival, and collaborated with his children on "Conni" adventures. As a lecturer and author on pop choir topics, he is internationally renowned.

Foto: Marc Secara

Håvard Gravdal has a special fondness for Norwegian folk songs and the traditional way of conveying them vocally (kveding). In his daily musical work he draws a lot of inspiration from folk music, and most of his vocal arrangements are also influenced by this tradition. In this workshop we will get a little insight into the "kveding" and its peculiarities (tonality, harmonies, phrasing, ornaments, functions, etc.) and learn how to transfer an individual singing style to a collective expression.

HȦVARD GRAVDAL
Håvard Gravdal is a full-time ensemble singer with extensive experience in choirs and vocal groups of many genres. He is a permanent member of the Norwegian Soloists' Choir, one of the leading chamber choirs in Europe. In 2003 he founded the vocal sextet PUST, which is one of the leading a cappella groups in Scandinavia. He has arranged many of PUST's songs and also writes music for and coaches other vocal ensembles.

Foto: Stian Herdal

This workshop is specifically designed for choir conductors, directors, or singers who wish to learn how to intuitively lead an ensemble. It builds upon the concept of “Vocal Leadership“, focusing on how our physical energy influences music and how we can change the sound and energy of the group by altering our own. Unconsciously, we “are" the music we create, and much information comes from our body, our energy, our nonverbal communication. Let's become aware of our sound!

MEREL MARTENS
She is a full-time choir conductor, arranger, and coach. She received her master's degree in "Vocal Leadership" with highest honors from the Royal Academy of Music (DK). The choirs and vocal groups she works with are award-winning, including MAZE ("best choir in the Netherlands") and Perpetuum Jazzile (SVN). Since November 2015, she has been introducing the "Vocal Leadership" method to the Netherlands and was awarded "Best Choir Conductor" in 2018.

Foto: Arno Bauman

This group exercise is designed to improve listening skills and thus refine our musical communication. Using a simple melody as a tool, together we will gradually open the doors to deeper levels of musical interaction. Together we will explore basic parameters of music such as time, blend, dynamics and intonation. No prior preparation required.

ANDERS EDENROTH
He studied choral singing in Stockholm and founded The Real Group with his fellow students: He toured with them in over 40 countries for 37 years! Along the way, he became known as a keyboardist, producer, (television) composer and arranger – especially for his rhythmic effects and vocal percussion. Edenroth is internationally renowned as a lecturer for master classes and workshops.

Foto: Jann Lipka

This is about a multisensory approach to modal improvisation, where chromatic solmization (sol-fa) helps singers identify the notes they want to sing during improvisation. Part 2 is aimed at individuals with varying levels of experience in jazz harmony and/or solmization (Kodály Method/Solfeggio). We'll be introduced to key aspects of unlocking modal harmony for singers and explore more challenging harmonic contexts. It's recommended to attend Part 1 first, if possible.

CLARE WHEELER
She was a member of the Grammywinning group "The Swingles" for eleven years, performing worldwide. As a versatile singer, she masters a wide range of music genres including Early Music, Jazz, Gospel, contemporary Classical, and Pop. She has performed as a backing vocalist for Jacob Collier at the BBC Proms 2018 and contributed to a new setting of the Te Deum by John Featherstone. Since September 2019, she has held the position of Professor of Jazz Vocal at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, teaching improvisation, ear training, and Vocal Jazz.

Foto: Michelle Lindley

Welcome to this workshop where we will sing one of Tine Fris-Ronsfeld's new songs that she has arranged for singers. Together we will work on the details to get the rhythm, intonation, harmony and expression just right.

TINE FRIS-RONSFELD
She is a renowned singer, vocal coach, and choir conductor. As a founding member of Postyr and co-director of Vocal Line, she has achieved international success. With over 20 years of teaching experience and a degree from the Royal Academy of Music, she also serves as the chair of the Aarhus Vocal Festival and is a member of the CASA advisory board.

Foto: Tine Fris-Ronsfeld