Press

To mark the "Year of the Voice," Tina von Löhneysen from the Tagesthemen news program visited a rehearsal of the Jugendchor (Youth Choir). In an interview, the young singers told her what they believe singing has to do with society and democracy. The segment is available to watch in the ARD media library.

In October, rbb visited a choir rehearsal of the Hellersdorf Vokalhelden with choir director Victor Sepúlveda Rodgriguez and piano accompanist Artschi Loyan at the KOMPASS - Haus im Stadtteil des FiPP e. V. You can hear and see what makes the Vokalhelden so special in the live report by Uri Zahari.

"The highlight of the evening, however, was the Vokalhelden Children's Choir. Founded by the Berliner Philharmoniker over ten years ago, this ensemble carried the performance. It was not only musically flawless but also full of beautiful sound, featuring several impressively executed solo parts. And: they were on stage the entire time, singing from memory and brimming with joy. It has been a long time since we've heard and experienced a children's choir at such a magnificent level." Andreas Göbel on Radio3, June 7, 2024. Photo: Bettina Stöss

"The confidence in a future fulfilling both humanly and musically was conveyed, sounding just like the projected image, above all by the 'Vokalhelden' Youth Choir, rehearsed by Johannes David Wolff. Precise, passionate, and highly committed; if one wants to read and hear Hearne's piece not only as an anti-violence appeal but also as an attempt at hope, it had particularly good advocates in these young singers." Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, February 14, 2024

Judith Kamphues - Concert Singer & Choir Director. A graduate concert and opera singer and vocal coach, she is a sought-after specialist in vocal training. Fascinated by each individual human voice, she collaborates with doctors and scientists on research into the changes in boys' voices during puberty.

The festivities begin at the Westhafen, celebrating its 100th anniversary. A jetty in the middle of the harbor provides a stage for the children's choir, the "Vokalhelden" (Vocal Heroes). From a song about lemon ice cream to a Turkish song and even a Beatles tune, the young singers have a wide repertoire. The surrounding audience, many of them the same age as the singing children, are swept away by the rhythms. (Berliner Morgenpost, September 3, 2023)

"The music that Kirill Petrenko conjures with the Karajan Academy students and guests is simply beautiful. The very first notes of gentle bell music are captivating, the melodic crescendos and climaxes, which can also emerge from the reduced orchestral arrangement, are magnificent, and the soaring quality sung by the Vokalhelden is enchanting." Berliner Zeitung, February 3, 2020

"It's not every day that the Philharmonie is so lively. Around 2,000 children from all over Berlin quickly spread across all the seating sections to sing together with choirs from three districts at the "Vokalhelden" school class concert in early March." Corina Kolbe, Opera & Dance, Issue 2/2017