Role

:

Ensemble

Period

:

Classical

Genre

:

Choral

 

Berner Vokalensemble is a classical music ensemble based in Bern, Switzerland. The ensemble was founded in 1972 by a group of music enthusiasts who shared a passion for choral music. The founding members included Hansruedi Kämpfen, who served as the ensemble's conductor for over 30 years, and Ursula Kämpfen, who was the ensemble's pianist and accompanist. The ensemble's main focus is on performing a cappella choral music from the Renaissance to the present day. The ensemble has a reputation for its high level of musicianship and its ability to perform challenging and complex works with precision and clarity. Over the years, the ensemble has had a number of members come and go, but the core group has remained relatively stable. The current members of the ensemble include 16 singers, ranging in age from their 20s to their 60s. The ensemble is led by conductor and artistic director Kaspar Zehnder, who took over from Hansruedi Kämpfen in 2005. One of the highlights of the ensemble's history was its performance at the 1999 World Symposium on Choral Music in Rotterdam, Netherlands. The ensemble was one of only a handful of choirs from around the world to be invited to perform at the prestigious event. The ensemble's performance was well-received by both the audience and the critics, and it helped to raise the ensemble's profile on the international stage. Another notable performance by the ensemble was its collaboration with the Bern Symphony Orchestra in 2010. The ensemble performed Mozart's Requiem with the orchestra, under the direction of conductor Mario Venzago. The performance was a critical and commercial success, and it helped to cement the ensemble's reputation as one of the leading choral ensembles in Switzerland. In addition to its performances, the ensemble has also won a number of awards and accolades over the years. In 1997, the ensemble won first prize in the Swiss Choir Competition, and in 2001, it won the Grand Prix at the International Choral Competition in Tolosa, Spain. The ensemble has also released several recordings, including a CD of works by Swiss composer Frank Martin, which was released in 2012. Despite its many achievements, the ensemble remains committed to its core mission of performing choral music at the highest level. The ensemble continues to rehearse and perform regularly, and it is always looking for new and challenging works to add to its repertoire. With its talented singers and dedicated leadership, the Berner Vokalensemble is sure to remain a fixture in the Swiss choral music scene for many years to come.

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