Girls joining the Rank in Windsbach's Boys' Choir

The world of choral music in Germany is set for an exciting change, as several prestigious boys' choirs are making way for their female counterparts.

In a significant development, the Vienna Girls' Choir was established in 2004 as a counterpart to the renowned Vienna Boys' Choir. This year, another milestone is approaching as the Windsbach Girls' Choir prepares for its debut performance.

Founded on the campus of the Windsbach Boys' Choir, which has been operating for nearly 80 years, the girls' choir will have its own residence, the "Villa Green". Many of its members will live in a boarding school and attend schools in Windsbach or the surrounding area.

The first performance of the Windsbach Girls' Choir is scheduled for November 28th at the Advent matins in the Lorenzkirche in Nuremberg. Choir director Claudia Jennings will involve the girls in the selection of pieces for their repertoire, although the exact pieces have yet to be revealed.

Unlike the boys' choir, which focuses mainly on sacred music, the girls' choir will also include secular music in its repertoire. However, the specific secular music to be performed has not been disclosed yet.

Meanwhile, the Regensburg Cathedral Boys' Choir established its own girls' choir in 2022, and the Augsburg Cathedral Choir is also set to open up to girls, with two choirs for girls and young women expected to be established from autumn 2026.

The Windsbach Boys' Choir currently boasts approximately 130 children and young people in its ranks, and the girls' choir is expected to add to this vibrant community of young singing talents.

Before the exact pieces in the Windsbach Girls' Choir's repertoire are revealed, choir director Claudia Jennings needs to get to know the voices of the girls in the choir. Initially, they will sing in the "Young Voices", a mixed preparatory choir.

This wave of new girls' choirs promises to enrich the choral landscape in Germany, bringing fresh voices and perspectives to the traditional boys' choir repertoire. The Windsbach Girls' Choir, for one, is set to make its debut on the same evening as the world-famous Christkindlesmarkt is opened, ensuring a memorable start to their musical journey.