Sing-Akademie zu Berlin’s main choir is an oratorio choir consisting of around eighty lay singers, students, and semi-professional singers. The ensemble rehearses twice a week and gives concerts three to four times a year in Berlin’s churches and concert halls. The choir, established in 1791, sees itself not merely as a concert choir, but also – in accordance with its long tradition – as a “Kunstverein for sacred music”, and institution supported by free citizens of Berlin, and a musical academy with its own educational programme. Since 2006, the choir has been a training and examination ensemble for the students at the Universität der Künste [university of the arts]

In addition to the well-known works of western oratory tradition, the choir’s repertory also consists of largely unknown compositions from the period between 1750 and 1850 (Telemann, C.P.E. Bach, Reichardt, Spohr, Marx) as well as contemporary works that are often especially commissioned for a concert by the choir (Birkenkötter, Bedford, Tchemberdji). A special concern is the combination of old and new music.

Since 2006, the artistic director of the choir has been Kai-Uwe Jirka, professor for choir conducting at Universität der Künste Berlin. His assistant is Christian Lindhorst.

Further information about singing in the main choir is available here.