History of the Choir

This traditional choir for children and young people was founded by Edith Möller and Erna Pielsticker in 1949, mostly with orphaned children to whom they gave a new home. In those days nobody could have foreseen what a great future lay in store for them, and for this enterprise.

From humble beginnings, the strong idealism and unselfish commitment of the two Founders brought the choir through to a high standard of musicianship and choral excellence.

The supreme highlight of the choir's history to date was in 1953.

In that year they were invited to the "International Eisteddfod" - a choir competition in Llangollen, Wales - where they won the first prize. Friedrich Wilhelm Möller (the director's brother) had composed a song especially for them. That song, "Mein Vater war ein Wandersmann", which was sung as an encore, was then and has remained to this day a great success. It appears simple and unaffected, and yet it has the capacity to show off the youthful voice to its best advantage. The choir was given thunderous applause and the BBC broadcast the song throughout the world that same night. From then on "Der fröhliche Wanderer" became the choir's signature tune on its numerous concert tours.

For almost 27 years now, the choir has taken opportunities to travel Germany, the whole of Europe, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, the Far East and the United States as an "ambassador of goodwill and international understanding", bridging cultural and language barriers with the universal idiom of music.

The untimely death of the unforgettable Edith Möller in 1975 was the drawing to a close of an era of sustained success for the choir. Even after her loss, it was found that her brilliant talent had provided the background and resilience against which several setbacks could not prevail, and the choir has continued to enjoy a formidable reputation throughout the intervening years and to the present time.

In 1976, the association Musikschule Schaumburger Märchensänger e.V. was founded at the initiative of Erna Pielsticker in order to safeguard the choir's existence, and to plan for its future.

It was realised that it would be very difficult to carry on the light of the "Edith Möller era" in the years that lay ahead. However, with solid and constant work the choir was able to continue doing extensive concert work in Germany, numerous European countries, the United States and Japan; to appear on many TV programmes, and to make numerous recordings.

The choir today

Today the Schaumburger Märchensänger concert choir has 45 member including people from 11 to 24 years and is known for the high standard of its musical work and its wide repertoire from Renaissance to contemporary. It also dedicates some of its time to folk music, both of Germany and of other lands.

Since September 2009, the concert choir has been directed by Sasha Davidovic.
Since February 2010, both the singing lessons and the children's choir have been directed by Jessica Blume.

The continued artistic success of the choral work is firmly based on the exceptional commitment of Gudrun Wuttke.
As the successor to the Founder Erna Pielsticker, she not only undertakes the administration work of the Märchensänger and the Musikschule, such as organisation, finance and management, but also provides invaluable assistance in all other matters concerning the choir.

 

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