- in memoriam -

Former President of Germany

Walter Scheel was born on July 8, 1919 in Solingen.

Scheel, who joined the political party FDP already in 1946, was a member of the North-Rhine state parliament from 1950-1953. From 1953 to 1974 he was a member of the Bundestag over which he presided from 1967-1969 as a vice president. From 1958-1961 Scheel was also operating in the European Parlament.

Walter Scheel took his first governmental office in 1961 as a minister for economic cooperation. In 1968 the FDP party congress elected Scheel as the party’s chairman. In this position he worked on giving the liberals a new profile which led to an opening towards the SPD and laid the foundation for the future governing coalition.

Under Willy Brandt Scheel was announced foreign minister and Vice Chancellor from 1969-1974. Scheel visited Israel in 1971 as the first German foreign minister. One year later he started the diplomatic relationship with China. 

In May 1974 Scheel was elected 4th Federal President. He handed his functions regarding party and government over to Hans Dietrich Genscher and officiated as the Head of State until 1979.After his mandate Scheel remained politically active and engaged in numerous honorary appointments and boards.

Walter Scheel received the Karl Award by the city of Aachen in 1977. The city honoured his "credits regarding the responsible cooperation of Germany within the European Community and his tireless striving to consolidate and develop this cooperation among the European nations". Walter Scheel passed away in 2016.

Further information about Walter Scheel is available at www.bundespraesident.de 

- Holder of the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany -

It all started in 1990 when Günter Titsch, born in 1946 and a passionate choir singer, founded the association INTERKULTUR. Living in “Germany’s singing city” Pohlheim near Gießen he was convinced: “Singing in a choir creates peace through the means of enthusiasm! Offer choral singers an enthralling competition on an international level and their music will build a bridge between their nations that will cross all borders!”

His job as a consultant regarding business, IT and tax issues got him in contact with people all across Europe. These contacts built up the network of the newly established association that made its business by creating novel choral events on an international level.

The first international choral competition in Budapest in 1988 became a successful starting point. Right from the beginning Titsch was convinced of the power of his idea that choral singing was able to establish bridges between all parts of the world and to unite people from all continents together as one big family by the means of music. The connective element of enthusiasm for choral singing would be able to eliminate prejudices, enable friendships across borders and create a lively and peaceful get-together exceeding music and without any limits regarding nationalities, ideologies and religions.

Günter Titsch and his internationally experienced team developed the INTERKULTUR choir events into the largest and most successful choral event series worldwide. The most ground-breaking success however was the idea to create major events following the ancient archetype of the Olympic Games in a new way. These “Choir Olympics”, which became further on well-known as the „World Choir Games“, have become the world’s largest choir competition. This event is being held biannually and features all categories of singing and captivates thousands enthusiastic singers, choral experts and music lovers. Starting 2000 in Austria (Linz), further countries such as Korea (Busan), Germany (Bremen), Austria (Graz), China (Xiamen and Shaoxing), USA (Cincinnati), Latvia (Riga) and Sochi (Russia) became further stopovers until 2016. In 2018 the 10th edition of the World Choir Games premiered on the African continent, in Tshwane, in the Province of Gauteng (South Africa). In 2020 the event, will come back to Europe: From July 5–15, 2020 the region of Flanders in Belgium will welcome choirs from all over the world. For the first time the World Choir Games will take place in two host cities then, in Antwerp and Ghent. 

The World Choir Games 2014 held in the Latvian capital of Riga attracted 460 choirs from 74 nations and 27.000 participants and thus represent the largest Games in the history of this successful event series so far. In 2016, in times of global political challenges the 9th World Choir Games were an important platform of intercultural exchange, a unifying power between all peoples and a symbol of peace for all countries on earth. INTERKULTUR organized the World Choir Games 2016 in close cooperation with the ministry of culture of the Russian Federation, the region of Krasnodar and the city of Sochi.

With his passion for music and his unfailing commitment Günter Titsch developed INTERKULTUR within 30 years into the world’s leading organization regarding international choral events. Its competitions and festivals nowadays set worldwide standards concerning the artistic level and professional organization of such events. Until now about 9.800 choirs with roughly 425.000 singers from 106 nations participated in the competitions. This was made possible due to the comprehensive support of international choral music by cities, provinces, ministries and provincial governments as well as numerous international sponsors. To date, INTERKULTUR has organized more than 220 choral events worldwide.

Günter Titsch received numerous awards and distinctions for his long-lasting engagement which not limited to the field of music only, being e.g. member of the board of trustees of the German Sports Aid Foundation. Representing INTERKULTUR he was awarded the European Culture Award (KULTURPREIS EUROPA) in 2006. Ten years later, on the occasion of the 9th World Choir Games 2016 in Sochi, Russia he received the Medal of Honor by the Kulturforum Europa e.V. to reward INTERKULTUR’s significantly extended international work of recent years.

In July 2009 his outstanding cultural commitment for the People’s Republic of China on an international level earned him a special distinction: As one of the first Europeans Günter Titsch was awarded the HONORARY CITIZENSHIP by the South Chinese port town Xiamen (4,6 m citizens). This award is considered a very prestigious one in China and implies for Günter Titsch a notable honor especially regarding the support of German-Chinese relationships.

In subsequent years Günter Titsch was able to intensify the good relationship with China, where he has been enjoying an excellent reputation. In November 2016 he was accorded the honor of speaking at the “China International Friendship Cities Conference” in Chongqin to more than 700 Chinese and international representatives from 144 cities and 56 countries. In his speech he explained how international choral events are able to build a city’s reputation in open atmosphere and hospitality. In November 2018 he was invited to the conference once more and spoke again to participants from 60 countries. His ideas of economic promotion and cultural tourism were well received by the highly interested conference participants. 

Apart from numerous awards and honorary memberships by organizations, international choral associations and governmental institutions, Günter Titsch received in April 2012 the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany by the Joachim Gauck, the then-President of the Federal Republic of Germany for his credits as a “voluntary ambassador of culture”. In December 2012 this distinction was awarded to him by the premier of Hesse, Volker Bouffier, during a ceremony at the state chancellery in Wiesbaden.

It’s not least due to Günter Titsch’s personal commitment that in Riga (Latvia) a new milestone in the history of choral music was set on July 22, 2017: The premiere of the TV-Show “Eurovision Choir of the Year”. This Europe-wide competition for choirs was initiated by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) in cooperation with INTERKULTUR – inspired by the popular Eurovision Song Contest and the World Choir Games. The show captures the growing trend of choral singing and combines Europe’s most popular singing competition and the largest international choir competition in the world. On August 3, 2019 the show will continue in Gothenburg, Sweden and marks the opening of the European Choir Games 2019.

Ralf Eisenbeiß was born in 1952 in Zeulenroda. After his secondary school examination he studied pedagogy, German philology and musical education. He received his PhD in 1979 at the Pedagogical University of Zwickau. From 1978 to 1981, he studied choir and orchestra conducting at the Franz Liszt Conservatory in Weimar.

Ralf Eisenbeiß was working as the director of the choral department at the Pedagogical University in Zwickau and appointed professor for choir conducting and choral singing in 1987. He was conductor of the renowned Pedagogical University Zwickau Choir. With his choir he performed a wide repertoire of compositions for a cappella choirs and with orchestra, too. Under his direction the choir won numerous prizes at national and international choir competitions.

Ralf Eisenbeiß was lecturer at the central seminar for choral conductors in Berlin and organized numerous workshops himself. He often appears as guest conductor at home and abroad. Since almost 30 years he works as artistic director of INTERKULTUR. Ralf Eisenbeiß is founder of the Int. Robert Schumann Choir Competition in Zwickau and one of the founders of the World Choir Games. Since 1992 he was responsible for more than 150 international competitions of INTERKULTUR in Germany, Italy, Korea, Indonesia, China, Austria, Spain, USA and other countries. Ralf Eisenbeiß is very often invited as a juror in national and other international choir competitions all over the world.

The music of Morten Lauridsen, recipient of the National Medal of Arts, occupies a permanent place in the standard vocal repertoire of the Twenty-First Century.  His seven vocal cycles, instrumental works and his series of a cappella sacred motets (including O Magnum Mysterium) are regularly performed throughout the world by distinguished artists and ensembles and have been recorded on over two hundred CDs. His five Grammy nominations include two recordings named "Lux Aeterna" performed by top-class ensembles.

A native of the Pacific Northwest, Lauridsen first worked as a fire-fighter and staff member of the Forest Service near Mount St. Helens before coming to Los Angeles in order to study composition with Ingolf Dahl, Halsey Stevens, Robert Linn and Harold Owen. He chaired the Department of Composition at the USC Thornton School of Music from 1990-2002 and founded the School’s Advanced Studies Program in Film Scoring.

His choral works "O Magnum Mysterium", "Dirait-on", "O Nata Lux" and "Sure On This Shining Night" are the all-time bestsellers. His life as a composer was documented in an award-winning film by Michael Stillwater, "Shining Night: A Portrait of Composer Morten Lauridsen," released in 2012.

In 2006, Morten Lauridsen was named an "American Choral Master" by the National Endowment for the Arts. In 2007 he was awarded the National Medal of Arts, the highest artistic award in the United States, by the President in a White House ceremony “for his composition of radiant choral works combining musical beauty, power, and spiritual depth.” He now divides his time between Los Angeles and his summer cabin on a remote island off the northwest coast of Washington State.

More information on Mr. Lauridsen at www.mortenlauridsen.net

Professor Zheng Xiaoying, first ever female orchestra conductor in China. She was the former artistic director and chief conductor of Xiamen philharmonic orchestra, chief conductor of China National Opera House, dean of China Central Conservatory of Music conducting department and music director of ‘philharmonic female’ orchestra. She was also the artistic director of the 4th and 6th World Choir Games in the year of 2006 and 2010 respectively.

Zheng Xiaoying graduated from China Central Conservatory of Music, attended further education in National Moscow Conservatory of Music in Soviet Union for opera and symphony orchestra conducting. She was honored by the National Culture Department a first prize as excellent conductor, as well as French Literature Art Medal of Honor, China-Russia Friendship Medal twice and etc. As a conductor, she participated often in national important events. She is not only one of the most experienced conducting professors in China, but also an enthusiastic music social activist.

Zheng Xiaoying was recently honored Special Contribution Award for Chinese opera career, Lifetime Achievement Award by Chinese Musicians Association, the title of ‘Chinese Culture Figure’ in 2012 and ‘Lifetime Honorary Conductor’ by China National Opera House in 2014.

Born in London in 1945 he received his first musical education as a chorister at Highgate School. His compositional career has embraced both large and small-scale choral works, orchestral and instrumental pieces, a piano concerto, two children’s operas, music for television, and specialist writing for such groups as the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble and the King’s Singers.

John Rutter co-edited four volumes in the Carols for Choirs series with Sir David Willcocks, and, more recently, has edited the first two volumes in the new Oxford Choral Classics series, Opera Choruses (1995) and European Sacred Music (1996).

He has guest-conducted or lectured at many concert halls, universities, churches, music festivals, and conferences in Europe, Africa, North and Central America and Australasia.

Following his early passion for the world of choral music, Maestro Hakwon Yoon graduated from Yonsei University, College of Music in composition, completed Graduate School at the University of Massachusetts, and acquired an honorary doctorate degree from the Midwest University and Shepherd University. Dr. Yoon started his career as a conductor in 1970 when he led the World Vision Children’s Choir. While conducting choirs such as the Daewoo choir, the Seoul Ladies’ Singers and the Incheon City Chorale, he aimed to close the gap between Korean and global choral music by spreading Korean choral music throughout the whole world. At the same time, he aimed to popularize choral music in South Korea, which was formerly considered as an exclusive activity of a certain social class.

Maestro Yoon’s numerous choral activities include amongst other his engagement as the Chairman of the Board for Korean Federation for Choral Music, President of the KCMA, permanent conductor of the Daewoo Choir, Director of the IFCM and Dean of the College of Music at the Chung-Ang University. Currently, he dedicates his time to choral music e.g. as an Honorary Professor at the Chung Ang University, Art Director of Seoul Ladies’ Singers, Director of Korean Choral Conductor’s Academy, and as the newly elected Honorary Artistic President of INTERKULTUR.

- in memoriam -

Mikis Theodorakis, the famous Greek composer and song writer, was born in 1925. He wrote more than 1000 songs which combine Greek folk tradition with modern poetry. He also created a number of orchestral works including seven symphonies. Apart from his songs he is well-known for his great choral works, for instance Canto General (1982) (text by Pablo Neruda) and the oratorio "Axion Esti" (1960) (text by Nobel Prize winner Odysseas Elytis). His soundtrack for Zorba the Greek (1964) made him famous all over the world.

Mikis Theodorakis passed away on September 2, 2021 at the age of 96.

- in memoriam -

Christian Ljunggren was born in 1942. He studied music at the Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm as well as musicology and theology at the University of Uppsala. For many years he worked at the Music Department of the Swedish National Broadcasting Company, and was responsible for the presentation and programming regarding music.

He was the conductor of the Adolf Fredrik Madrigal Choir since their foundation (1965 and 1974). He was the first President of the Swedish Choral Directors Association (1986 – 1998) and President of KÖRSAM, the joint committee of the Swedish choral organisations (1997 – 2004). From 1997-1999  he worked for the of IFCM, the International Federation for Choral Music, as the Secretary General from 1997-1999 and as a liaison officer (until 2005).

He was one of the Artistic Directors of INTERKULTUR and the Artistic Director of the World Choir Games. Due to his engagement as a clinician for seminars and workshops around the world and having built up the INTERKULTUR series of seminars in China the Swede gained growing recognition since 2003.

Christian Ljunggren has written numerous articles in Swedish and international magazines and was also a keen arranger of choral music.

- in memoriam -

As a choral conductor and later a grammar school teacher Paul Wehrle made significant contributions to the development of the choral and musical scene in his home town Karlsruhe and later throughout Germany.

At the Helmholtz-Gymnasium in Karlsruhe he established the musical discipline and in 1979 he conducted the first Abitur examination in this subject. Wehrle also had conducted the school’s chamber choir since the end of World War II and achieved great success and high appreciation at both national and international level.

Working for music in general and choral music in particular Wehrle acted in institutions that since decades have been instrumental in shaping the international music scene. He was Secretary General of the “European Choral Association” (Europa Cantat) from 1963 to 1976 and he laid the foundations for the “International Federation for Choral Music” (IFCM) whose first President he became in 1982. Also the World Symposium on Choral Music is based on Paul Wehrle’s idea.

Paul Wehrle was a tireless visionary and motivator who was able to arrange a national choral competition in the German Music Council and to establish solo singing at “Jugend musiziert” (German music competition). Paul Wehrle received multiple awards for his wide commitment: 1983 he was awarded the Medal of Merit of the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, in 2007 the Golden Staufer Medal and in 1989 he received the Federal Cross of Merit First Class.

For INTERKULTUR Paul Wehrle was one of the pioneers for the World Choir Games and since the year 2000 his valuable support and advice had played a part in establishing the “Olympics of the Choirs”. The idea of the World Choir Council, an advisory board consisting of representatives from more than 90 nations by now, comes from Wehrle as well.

To the last Paul Wehrle was available as a tireless contact person and idea contributor for INTERKULTUR and enthusiastically observed our progression.

- in memoriam -

Eric Ericson has been called the nestor of Swedish choral music, and had a huge international influence both as a conductor and a teacher. In 1945 he formed his “Kammarkören” (present name Eric Ericson Chamber Choir) which, pursuing ambitious artistic aims, became a model for future chamber choirs. He was surrounded by a generation of Swedish composers like Sven-Erik Bäck, Ingvar Lidholm and Lars Edlund, who wrote pieces for this ensemble and later on for the Swedish Radio Choir. With the Swedish Radio Choir and the male choir OD (Orphei Drängar) he gained an enormous international reputation. His record collection “Europäische Chormusik” (1971) has had a big influence on conductors around the world. Eric Ericson passed away in 2013.

- in memoriam -

Prof. Yang Hongnian is a Chinese famous conductor and educator. His conducting style is enthusiastic, delicate and with extremely rich expression. He attracts all the admiration and appraise from music lovers and experts home and broad for not only his unique conducting style but also outstanding skill and considerable culture in training choirs. He is known as the ‘master who truly understands the profound knowledge and secrets of choral art’.

Since the mid-1980s, the Children and Young Women’s Chorus of the China National Symphony Orchestra Prof. Yang Hongnian founded has performed all over the world, and is considered the three best children’s choirs in the world. Prof. Yang Hongnian is also the artistic director and permanent conductor of the choir. As a conductor, Prof. Yang has won global recognition through numerous performances on national and international stages. He frequently sits on judging committees for various choral music competitions. He was given the honorary title ‘Chinese Culture Figure’ in 2014.

Prof. Yang Hongnian passed away on 26 July 2020 at the age of 86.