Choir group South

Chairman	Alfred Labonte Westerwaldstr. 7, 56412 Horbach Tel: 06439/57107, email: alfredlabonte
2. Chairman	Ulrich Lohse email: ulrichlohse
Treasurer	Vera vineyard Ringstr. 11a, 56204 Hillscheid Tel. 02624/943667, email: veraweingarten
Secretary	Ulrich Neuroth Tel. 02620/602, email. ulrichneuroth
assessor	Anja Roth Tel. 02620/602, email. anjaroth

202608 – Gospel and Volxsong workshop of Chorgruppe Süd

Workshop Gospel and Volxsong (with Nanni Byl and Axel Pfeiffer) on 29.08.2026 at the Landesmusikgymnasium Montabaur

202603 - Newcomer Seminar of the Chorgruppe Süd

Newcomer seminar of the Chorgruppe Süd in CV WW enjoys great demand and supports the rapid integration into the choral rehearsals

The interest in choral singing is unbroken: Also this year, the newcomer seminar of the choir region in the southern Westerwald recorded a high demand. Numerous singers took the opportunity to acquire basic knowledge of music theory as well as singing and vocal technique. Thus, the event builds on the great popularity of previous years.

Low-threshold offerings are considered an important key to attracting new members to choirs. Although knowledge of musical scores is not a prerequisite in many choirs, they make it much easier for beginners in particular to access choral literature. The same applies to the vocal technique: Often the previous experience is limited to school hours or singing in the shower. Concepts such as chest and head voice, falsetto, breathing technique/support and posture are initially unfamiliar to many newcomers, but form the basis for healthy and sonorous singing.

The proven concept of common ‘basic training’ for newcomers combines theory and practice. The aim is to integrate new choir members into existing ensembles as quickly and sustainably as possible. This format has established itself in the region and now also serves as a model for other choir associations.

Mario Siry had taken over the field of music theory, the implementation of the music recorded in the notes, with exercises in the studio choir. Mario Siry is a successful choirmaster in our region. With his many years of experience in amateur music, he understood how to convey content in a vivid and practical way. The positive response of the participants confirmed his approach: “Excellent for my needs as a real newcomer”, one participant summed up. “I benefited greatly from this and went to the next choral rehearsal with many new insights.”

Singing technique is also an important topic for the ‘newcomers’ in the choir. In order to improve the basic knowledge of singing and tuning, the training was carried out by small group voice training, so that the individual advice of the seminar participants can be realized.

Vocalist Juliane Berg from Koblenz and Johannes Kalpers, experienced tenor and choirmaster, took over the practical training.

Ms. Berg has decades of experience as a voice trainer and lecturer, both in choral and individual voice formation. She has been working as a singing teacher for over 30 years and has already been well received at the previous seminars.

Johannes Kalpers, who studied singer, has not only made a career with his voice, but has always been and is also associated with choral music and has a great experience with lay singers as a vocal coach.

Parallel to the studio choir, the two music teachers taught the seminar participants the important knowledge and gave tips for singing, supported by practical exercises for proper breathing and singing technique.

The seminar took place in the Landesmusikgymnasium Rheinland-Pfalz, whose premises offered optimal conditions. The chairman of the Chorgruppe Süd, Alfred Labonte, thanked the school management for the good cooperation. At the same time, it regretted that not all interested parties could be taken into account due to limited capacities.

The organizers were very satisfied with the course of the event. We would like to thank both the committed participants and the lecturers for the well-founded and practical knowledge transfer. In view of the high demand, the Executive Board plans to continue to offer the newcomer seminar annually in the future.

Chorgruppe Süd - Feedback singing on 15.06.2025 in Gackenbach

102025 - Choir group South - Ceremony 2025

Friday 17.10.2025 – Start at 6 p.m. in the Gasthaus "Zum Grünen Baum" in Horbach

Association Name First name Anniversary
Mixed choir ‘Freundschaft’ Elgendorf e.V.
   Preußer Iris 25 Years of Singing, Lohr Richard 50 Years of Singing
Singers’ association ‘Harmonie-Liederkranz’ Eschelbach
   Albrecht Heinz 25 years of singing
MGV 1881 Lyra Kadenbach e.V.
   Strub Peter 40 Years of Singing, Wick Kurt 60 Years of Singing
GC Edelweiss Hillscheid
   Zerbach Manfred 50 Years of Singing, Schneider Gerd 70 Years of Singing
MGV Mozart 1880 e.V. Eitelborn
   Stein Lothar 70 Years of Singing, Sabel Manfred 70 Years of Singing,
Silver Builder Arthur 60 Years of Singing
GC Frohsinn Hübingen e.V.
   Knopp Heinz-Günter 75 years of Singen, Noll Thomas 40 years of management,
   Dennebaum Edgar 25 years board member, Knopp Laura 5 years singing,
   Daubach Alfred 60 years of singing
Open choir of the MGV 1875 e.V. Nauort
   Freisberg Gerd-Willi 60 years of singing
GV ‘Eintracht Musica Viva’ e.V. Welschneudorf
   Kilian Rainer 50 years singing, Kilian Achim 50 years singing,
   Ax Martina 25 years singing, Best Marianne 25 years singing,
   Busch Gabriele 25 years singing, Gawlitta Angela 25 years singing,
   Klatt Mechthild 25 years singing, Liedloff Lilo 25 years singing,
   Reinhard Gisela 25 years singing, Schäfer Elvira 25 years singing,
   Stauch Renate 25 years singing, Sturm Margit 25 years singing,
   Schönbein Monika 25 years singing
Choir of the Kannenbäckerstadt Höhr-Grenzhausen e.V.
   Ketterer Ursula 25 years of singing