Fred Sjoberg born 1953 is an educated singer och choral conductor (M.M.) at the Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm and erebro. He has studied for among prof Solvieg Grippe, prof Eric Ericson and prof Helmuth Rilling.
He works in a very broad music field which contents a great variety in music styles. Jazz, a cappella, major classic works, pop, contemporary etc.
He works often as a conductor or tenor soloist in the most well known from J S Bach S:t Johns Passion to spectaculor choir gala concerts at the Globe Arena in Stockholm
Important year of his musical career:
1978- 1985 he was singing 1st tenor in Swedish Radio Chamberchoir conducted by Eric Ericson
1981-1994 he was serving as choir consultant in the County of arebro. The County includes about 10.000 singers in about 400 choirs. Concerts, education, masterclasses, projects of all kind was the done during this period
1990 he was in the executive committe for the 2nd World Symphosium on Choral Music in Stockholm arranged by IFCM (International Federation on Choral Music)
1991 he was conductor for the World Youth Choir arranged by IFCM. He toured in Hungary, Tjeckien, Germany, Belgium and Holland. Reinvited to conduct this choir in 2005.
1993 he was engaged as the first conductor of the World Chamber Choir arranged by IFCM touring in France, Belgium, Germany, Tjeckien. Also a CD was produced CANTEMUS I with a cappella music from all over the world
Fred and his Chamberchoir has been invited to the Oregon Bach Festival 1993 and 2000 as "artists in residence".
With his chamberchoir he has toured lot and has participated in some choral competitons. USA 1988, Italy, 1989 Tolosa, Spain 1994, Rostock, Germany 1995 (Bach Jubile), Tour, France 1996 to mention some
1995 he was invited guestconductor to the Shubertiada in Barcelona The same year he was running a masterclass for conductors in Venezuela The same year conductor of an honour choir at the ACDA (American Choral Conductors Association) in Florida
1994 - 1997 Artistic Director for the Scandinavian Bach Academy a barockfestival with masterclasses, concerts etc.
1997 guestconductor and lecturer at Europa Cantat in Linz
1998, 2000, 2002 and 2004 conductor and jurymember in Canada on an international Choir Festival
1999 invited lecturer at the 5th World Symphosium on Choral Music in Rotterdam The same year conductor and jurymember at the international Childrens Choir festival in Des Moines, USA
1999 conductor for the European Youth Choir arranged by Europa Cantat and is since then the first conductor in the world who has conducted the World Youth Choir, the World Chamber Choir and the European Youth Choir.
2000 he was invited again to Europa Cantat in Nevers, France to conduct African Sanctus The same year he was together with his chamberchoir in USA and Canada as artists in residence on two different festivals and did world permiere on contemporary choral music besides Beethovens 9th Symphony, Brahms Alto Raphsodie, Mendelssohns Elijah together with the Seul National Symphony Orchestra
He has done several recordings for national TV (hosted his own Choir show), radio and CD. He is right now working on an anthology of 4 CD:s with sacred and secular music from Swedish composers from 1850 until today
Since 1997 he is the Music Director and conductor of a large project called Notes for Millions which includes concerts all over Sweden with a highlight at the Globe Arena in Stockholm, national competitions for choirs and conductors, TV- programs etc. Last year 8.000 singers took part in the event.
2000-2004 he was the Music Director at the Swedish Choral Centre at the Swedish Concert Institute (Concerts Sweden). In 2003 for the first time this Choral Centre produced and arranged Eric Ericson Award.
2005 conductor of the World Youth Choir which took place in Isreael.
Since 2005 Artistic Director of Lund International Choral Festival. Close
He works in a very broad music field which contents a great variety in music styles. Jazz, a cappella, major classic works, pop, contemporary etc.
He works often as a conductor or tenor soloist in the most well known from J S Bach S:t Johns Passion to spectaculor choir gala concerts at the Globe Arena in Stockholm
Important year of his musical career:
1978- 1985 he was singing 1st tenor in Swedish Radio Chamberchoir conducted by Eric Ericson
1981-1994 he was serving as choir consultant in the County of arebro. The County includes about 10.000 singers in about 400 choirs. Concerts, education, masterclasses, projects of all kind was the done during this period
1990 he was in the executive committe for the 2nd World Symphosium on Choral Music in Stockholm arranged by IFCM (International Federation on Choral Music)
1991 he was conductor for the World Youth Choir arranged by IFCM. He toured in Hungary, Tjeckien, Germany, Belgium and Holland. Reinvited to conduct this choir in 2005.
1993 he was engaged as the first conductor of the World Chamber Choir arranged by IFCM touring in France, Belgium, Germany, Tjeckien. Also a CD was produced CANTEMUS I with a cappella music from all over the world
Fred and his Chamberchoir has been invited to the Oregon Bach Festival 1993 and 2000 as "artists in residence".
With his chamberchoir he has toured lot and has participated in some choral competitons. USA 1988, Italy, 1989 Tolosa, Spain 1994, Rostock, Germany 1995 (Bach Jubile), Tour, France 1996 to mention some
1995 he was invited guestconductor to the Shubertiada in Barcelona The same year he was running a masterclass for conductors in Venezuela The same year conductor of an honour choir at the ACDA (American Choral Conductors Association) in Florida
1994 - 1997 Artistic Director for the Scandinavian Bach Academy a barockfestival with masterclasses, concerts etc.
1997 guestconductor and lecturer at Europa Cantat in Linz
1998, 2000, 2002 and 2004 conductor and jurymember in Canada on an international Choir Festival
1999 invited lecturer at the 5th World Symphosium on Choral Music in Rotterdam The same year conductor and jurymember at the international Childrens Choir festival in Des Moines, USA
1999 conductor for the European Youth Choir arranged by Europa Cantat and is since then the first conductor in the world who has conducted the World Youth Choir, the World Chamber Choir and the European Youth Choir.
2000 he was invited again to Europa Cantat in Nevers, France to conduct African Sanctus The same year he was together with his chamberchoir in USA and Canada as artists in residence on two different festivals and did world permiere on contemporary choral music besides Beethovens 9th Symphony, Brahms Alto Raphsodie, Mendelssohns Elijah together with the Seul National Symphony Orchestra
He has done several recordings for national TV (hosted his own Choir show), radio and CD. He is right now working on an anthology of 4 CD:s with sacred and secular music from Swedish composers from 1850 until today
Since 1997 he is the Music Director and conductor of a large project called Notes for Millions which includes concerts all over Sweden with a highlight at the Globe Arena in Stockholm, national competitions for choirs and conductors, TV- programs etc. Last year 8.000 singers took part in the event.
2000-2004 he was the Music Director at the Swedish Choral Centre at the Swedish Concert Institute (Concerts Sweden). In 2003 for the first time this Choral Centre produced and arranged Eric Ericson Award.
2005 conductor of the World Youth Choir which took place in Isreael.
Since 2005 Artistic Director of Lund International Choral Festival. Close
Born in Bahia Blanca, Argentina, 1951.
He has created and conducted several choirs, namely the Chamber Choir of Quilmes City and the Choir of the Colen Theater Superior College for the Arts, among others. Today he conducts the
GCC-Grupo de Canto Coral, the Trilce Choir (supported by the City of Buenos Aires Books and Reading Foundation), the Choir of the Catholic Argentine University -where he teaches Choral Conducting-, the Banco de la Nacien Argentina Choir, Coro del ’99 and the Francisco Guerrero Madrigal Ensemble.
With the GCC group he has made six recordings: "Choral music of the 17th and 20th century", "Argentine Choral Music", "Chiquitos: Music from the Jesuit Missions in Chiquitos" (winner of the 1996 CAMU -Argentine Music Council- Award), "Convidando estש la noche": an homage to the music of Spanish South American Cathedrals (1998 CAMU Award), the London version of the "German Requiem" by Johannes Brahms, and "Flor del Pais" –Homeland’s flower- with Argentine popular choral music.
He performed concerts in most important theaters of Argentina and he also conducted in Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Spain, Sweden Switzerland and Uruguay. In 1993 he was invited with GCC group by the International Federation of Choral Music at its III Symposium in Vancouver, Canada. Recently he was invited by Musica Sacra International Festival (Marktoberdorf, Germany) where he performed colonial Latin American choral music.
In 1998, he received an honorary award for lifetime achievement by the Congressional Chamber of Representatives of Argentina. He also received the Konex Diploma of Merit in Choral Conducting for his work during the 1990s. Under his conducting the GCC-Grupo de Canto Coral was honored with the "Best Execution of an Avant-garde Work" at the First International Competition of Chamber Choirs in Marktberdorf, Germany in 1989 and the GCC attained first place in the "Choirs A Cappella" category at the 1990 Coca-Cola Art and Science Awards of Argentina. More recently, the GCC won the Argentine Music Critics Association award for "Best Vocal Chamber Group" in 1999 and was again nominated for the same award in 2001.
He also is a guest director, lecturer and jury member in Argentina and abroad. Close
With the GCC group he has made six recordings: "Choral music of the 17th and 20th century", "Argentine Choral Music", "Chiquitos: Music from the Jesuit Missions in Chiquitos" (winner of the 1996 CAMU -Argentine Music Council- Award), "Convidando estש la noche": an homage to the music of Spanish South American Cathedrals (1998 CAMU Award), the London version of the "German Requiem" by Johannes Brahms, and "Flor del Pais" –Homeland’s flower- with Argentine popular choral music.
He performed concerts in most important theaters of Argentina and he also conducted in Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Spain, Sweden Switzerland and Uruguay. In 1993 he was invited with GCC group by the International Federation of Choral Music at its III Symposium in Vancouver, Canada. Recently he was invited by Musica Sacra International Festival (Marktoberdorf, Germany) where he performed colonial Latin American choral music.
In 1998, he received an honorary award for lifetime achievement by the Congressional Chamber of Representatives of Argentina. He also received the Konex Diploma of Merit in Choral Conducting for his work during the 1990s. Under his conducting the GCC-Grupo de Canto Coral was honored with the "Best Execution of an Avant-garde Work" at the First International Competition of Chamber Choirs in Marktberdorf, Germany in 1989 and the GCC attained first place in the "Choirs A Cappella" category at the 1990 Coca-Cola Art and Science Awards of Argentina. More recently, the GCC won the Argentine Music Critics Association award for "Best Vocal Chamber Group" in 1999 and was again nominated for the same award in 2001.
He also is a guest director, lecturer and jury member in Argentina and abroad. Close
The founder of the Moran Choir, and its conductor and musical director, is a graduate of the College of Music in Tel Aviv and of the Conductors' Training Program at Tel Aviv University's Rubin Academy of Music. A special scholarship enabled her to pursue further studies in choir conducting under Professor Dan Olof Stenlund of the Copenhagen Conservatory and the Higher College of Music in Malmo, Sweden. Ms. Faran has given advanced master classes in conducting in Israel, as well as at the International Symposiums in Lubliana Slovenia, Hong-Kong, China and Seoul - South Korea.
She is invited to perform with the best of israeli orchestras among them the israeli philharmony orchestra.
She was awarded the prize for the Outstanding Conductor at the first International Choir Competition, held in Netanya, Israel, in 1996.
In the last three years Naomi has initiated and founded the Israeli Vocal Center in Beit-Itshak which holds workshops and master classes for young singers all year through and is supported by the ministry of culture. One of the main goals that the Vocal Center has targeted is activity for and with the community, this goal has been achived by establishing a choir for children with special needs and a choir for youth and children at risk through which naomi is applying her believe that "singing has an imense power and should be a part of every child's or person's life".
"conducting means finding the balance between full awareness and the natural flow, singing is simply being you." She believes that song is the most natural and the deepest human expression, one that can create a bridge between people, cultures and nations. "I believe that we must assimilate the culture of song within us so that we can be better and more sensitive people and contribute more to our environment". Close
She is invited to perform with the best of israeli orchestras among them the israeli philharmony orchestra.
She was awarded the prize for the Outstanding Conductor at the first International Choir Competition, held in Netanya, Israel, in 1996.
In the last three years Naomi has initiated and founded the Israeli Vocal Center in Beit-Itshak which holds workshops and master classes for young singers all year through and is supported by the ministry of culture. One of the main goals that the Vocal Center has targeted is activity for and with the community, this goal has been achived by establishing a choir for children with special needs and a choir for youth and children at risk through which naomi is applying her believe that "singing has an imense power and should be a part of every child's or person's life".
"conducting means finding the balance between full awareness and the natural flow, singing is simply being you." She believes that song is the most natural and the deepest human expression, one that can create a bridge between people, cultures and nations. "I believe that we must assimilate the culture of song within us so that we can be better and more sensitive people and contribute more to our environment". Close
By the time Walter Whitman, Jr. was 17 years old; he had lived in Athens, and visited Ireland, Rome and Amsterdam and had traveled throughout other countries in Europe. Although his family is from Chicago, Walter was born in San Antonio, Texas and attended high school in Anchorage, Alaska for 3 1/2 years.
The wealth of experience Walter gained through his extensive traveling and lifestyle was due to growing up as an "Air Force Brat" -- the son of a Master Sgt. in the military. When his father retired from the Air Force, the family returned to Chicago where Walter completed his last semester and was graduated from Calumet High School.
Walter's musical experience is as extensive as his traveling. He has been singing and performing for "as long as I can remember" building on the important foundation he received in the church. He studied classical piano at the Chicago Music Conservatory and has taken courses at DePaul University.
Walter has recorded and/or performed with some of the world's great artists including Rev. James Cleveland, Tremaine Hawkins, Neil Diamond, Diana Ross, Mavis Staples, Kirk Franklin, Sandi Patti, Stevie Wonder, Darryl Hall, Gladys Knight and many others. He has been musical director of such award-winning plays such as "Godspell," "Don't Bother Me I Can't Cope" and "In De Beginning." He has also produced such mammoth productions as the Soul Children of Chicago version of the famed Broadway musical, "The Wiz" and his own special creation, which he wrote, "From Generation to Generation."
Walter spends the majority of his time as the President and Musical Director of the Soul Children of Chicago, Inc., a choral group he founded in 1981. Participation in the group provides young people with the opportunity of studying the history and techniques of a vast range of music modes such as classical, gospel, Negro Spirituals, hymns and anthems. The citywide youth choir averages 70+ members between the ages of 7 to 17 years, with a waiting list of over three hundred youth. Recognized as an award-winning cultural group, this select choir of talented young voices is fast becoming "Goodwill Ambassadors" for Chicago and role models for young people everywhere. Close
The wealth of experience Walter gained through his extensive traveling and lifestyle was due to growing up as an "Air Force Brat" -- the son of a Master Sgt. in the military. When his father retired from the Air Force, the family returned to Chicago where Walter completed his last semester and was graduated from Calumet High School.
Walter's musical experience is as extensive as his traveling. He has been singing and performing for "as long as I can remember" building on the important foundation he received in the church. He studied classical piano at the Chicago Music Conservatory and has taken courses at DePaul University.
Walter has recorded and/or performed with some of the world's great artists including Rev. James Cleveland, Tremaine Hawkins, Neil Diamond, Diana Ross, Mavis Staples, Kirk Franklin, Sandi Patti, Stevie Wonder, Darryl Hall, Gladys Knight and many others. He has been musical director of such award-winning plays such as "Godspell," "Don't Bother Me I Can't Cope" and "In De Beginning." He has also produced such mammoth productions as the Soul Children of Chicago version of the famed Broadway musical, "The Wiz" and his own special creation, which he wrote, "From Generation to Generation."
Walter spends the majority of his time as the President and Musical Director of the Soul Children of Chicago, Inc., a choral group he founded in 1981. Participation in the group provides young people with the opportunity of studying the history and techniques of a vast range of music modes such as classical, gospel, Negro Spirituals, hymns and anthems. The citywide youth choir averages 70+ members between the ages of 7 to 17 years, with a waiting list of over three hundred youth. Recognized as an award-winning cultural group, this select choir of talented young voices is fast becoming "Goodwill Ambassadors" for Chicago and role models for young people everywhere. Close
Conductor Andrew Parrott is perhaps best known for over 50 pioneering recordings (principally for EMI) of pre-classical repertory ¬ from Machaut to Handel ¬ with the London-based Taverner Consort, Choir and Players, which he founded in 1973. Choral and vocal music lies at the heart of Parrott’s interests, but his broad musical range also encompasses work with orchestras (both period and modern instruments) and with opera companies, in a huge range of repertoire. Besides co-editing the 700-page New Oxford Book of Carols (1992), he has published several major articles on Monteverdi, Purcell and Bach and a book, The Essential Bach Choir (2000; German translation 2003). A further long-awaited book is inching towards completion.
In 2002 Andrew Parrott was appointed Musical Director of the period-instrument New York Collegium, with whom he continues to present ground-breaking programmes of baroque music ¬ from Giovanni Gabrieli to Rameau. Their first recording together, of Biber’s Missa Christi resurgentis, was released in 2005. Until recently Parrott also held the post of Music Director and Principal Conductor of the London Mozart Players, where he explored the classical repertoire in particular. Programs frequently featured dramatic music with narration by distinguished actors, which led to the commissioning of Jonathan Dove’s The Crocodiamond, a children’s work for orchestra and narrator, premiered in November 2003 with actor Simon Callow.
Contemporary music has always played an important part in Andrew Parrott’s musical life and for several years he was an assistant to Sir Michael Tippett. He conducted the world premiere of Judith Weir’s A Night at the Chinese Opera (which he later recorded with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra) and has made CDs of new music by other British composers (including John Tavener), by Vladimir Godar (with the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra) and by Arvo Pert. A recent Taverner Choir recording, Requiem: Songs in Memory by the British composer Nick Bicet, is due for release in 2007.
For Toronto’s Opera Atelier he has conducted productions of Lully’s Armide, Gluck’s Iphigenie en Tauride and Orphee, and of Mozart’s Figaro, Magic Flute and Don Giovanni, all with Tafelmusik. Predictably enough, Mozart also figured prominently in Parrott’s guest conducting in 2006, which included a series of anniversary concerts with the Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra. Elsewhere in Sweden he is embarking on a complete recording of Beethoven’s piano concertos with the Dutch pianist Ronald Brautigam. With his Taverner forces he will be directing Monteverdi’s 1610 Vespers in Bavaria. Close
In 2002 Andrew Parrott was appointed Musical Director of the period-instrument New York Collegium, with whom he continues to present ground-breaking programmes of baroque music ¬ from Giovanni Gabrieli to Rameau. Their first recording together, of Biber’s Missa Christi resurgentis, was released in 2005. Until recently Parrott also held the post of Music Director and Principal Conductor of the London Mozart Players, where he explored the classical repertoire in particular. Programs frequently featured dramatic music with narration by distinguished actors, which led to the commissioning of Jonathan Dove’s The Crocodiamond, a children’s work for orchestra and narrator, premiered in November 2003 with actor Simon Callow.
Contemporary music has always played an important part in Andrew Parrott’s musical life and for several years he was an assistant to Sir Michael Tippett. He conducted the world premiere of Judith Weir’s A Night at the Chinese Opera (which he later recorded with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra) and has made CDs of new music by other British composers (including John Tavener), by Vladimir Godar (with the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra) and by Arvo Pert. A recent Taverner Choir recording, Requiem: Songs in Memory by the British composer Nick Bicet, is due for release in 2007.
For Toronto’s Opera Atelier he has conducted productions of Lully’s Armide, Gluck’s Iphigenie en Tauride and Orphee, and of Mozart’s Figaro, Magic Flute and Don Giovanni, all with Tafelmusik. Predictably enough, Mozart also figured prominently in Parrott’s guest conducting in 2006, which included a series of anniversary concerts with the Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra. Elsewhere in Sweden he is embarking on a complete recording of Beethoven’s piano concertos with the Dutch pianist Ronald Brautigam. With his Taverner forces he will be directing Monteverdi’s 1610 Vespers in Bavaria. Close
Michael Gohl, Switzerland
International Youth Choir
Individual singers
Age 18 – 35
Interested in participating
The International Choir
Workshop & Concert
Conducted by
Michael Gohl
Please contact: michael.gohl@bluewin.ch
Michael Gohl studied music at the conservatories of Geneva and Zurich where he graduated in clarinet. While embarking on his career as a clarinettist, he also began to study choir and orchestra conducting at the Musikhochschule Zurich (with Andre Charlet) and later with great masters such as Helmuth Rilling and Antal Dorati.
He conducts the Laudate Chor Zurich which is renowned in Switzerland for its performances of classical oratories on stage. Furthermore, he is the conductor of the Jugendchor Zurich at the Conservatory of Zurich which was founded in 2005. He is in demand as a guest conductor and is frequently invited to international festivals and to act as an adjudicator at competitions. Since 1998 he is regularly invited to conduct the International Choir and the open singings at the Zimriya in Jerusalem as well as being the principal conductor of the Pa'amon festival for childrens choirs in Jordan Valley. He has served as guest conductor for such orchestras as Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra, the Munchner Rundfunkorchester, the Stuttgart Philharmonic Orchestra and most of the Swiss symphony orchestras.
Michael Gohl is the director of the music school of Zollikon-Zurich and he lectures at the Musikhochschule Zurich.
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