Kirchheimer Vokal-Consort is a renowned classical music ensemble that has been captivating audiences with its exceptional performances for over three decades. The ensemble was founded in 1989 by the German conductor and harpsichordist, Andreas Stadler, who remains its artistic director to this day. Stadler, who was born in 1959 in Munich, Germany, studied musicology, German literature, and philosophy at the University of Munich. He also received training in conducting and harpsichord playing at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria. After completing his studies, Stadler worked as a conductor and harpsichordist with various orchestras and ensembles in Germany and Austria. In 1989, Stadler founded Kirchheimer Vokal-Consort with the aim of exploring and performing the rich repertoire of vocal music from the Renaissance and Baroque periods. The ensemble's name is derived from the town of Kirchheim unter Teck, where Stadler was living at the time of its founding. The ensemble's core members are all highly skilled and experienced musicians who specialize in early music performance. They include sopranos Ulrike Hofbauer and Susanne Rydén, altos Franz Vitzthum and David Erler, tenors Georg Poplutz and Jan Kobow, and basses Klaus Mertens and Stephan MacLeod. The ensemble is often joined by instrumentalists such as violinists, cellists, and harpsichordists, depending on the repertoire being performed. Kirchheimer Vokal-Consort has performed extensively throughout Europe and North America, earning critical acclaim for its polished and expressive performances. The ensemble has appeared at major music festivals such as the Salzburg Festival, the Bachfest Leipzig, and the Utrecht Early Music Festival. It has also collaborated with leading orchestras and ensembles such as the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra, the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, and the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin. One of the highlights of Kirchheimer Vokal-Consort's career was its performance of Bach's St. Matthew Passion at the Salzburg Festival in 2000. The ensemble's interpretation of this monumental work was praised for its clarity, sensitivity, and emotional depth. The performance was recorded and released on CD, earning widespread critical acclaim and several awards. Another notable performance by Kirchheimer Vokal-Consort was its rendition of Monteverdi's Vespers of 1610 at the Utrecht Early Music Festival in 2010. The ensemble's performance was hailed as a revelation, with critics praising its vibrant and colorful interpretation of this seminal work. The performance was also recorded and released on CD, garnering numerous awards and accolades. Kirchheimer Vokal-Consort has also been recognized for its commitment to promoting new and lesser-known works from the early music repertoire. The ensemble has premiered several works by contemporary composers such as Arvo Pärt, Wolfgang Rihm, and Sofia Gubaidulina. It has also revived neglected works by composers such as Johann Christoph Bach, Johann Rosenmüller, and Heinrich Schütz. In addition to its concert performances, Kirchheimer Vokal-Consort has also recorded extensively, with over 30 CDs to its name. Its recordings have received numerous awards and accolades, including the Diapason d'Or, the Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik, and the Gramophone Award.

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