Music is a language without borders; it can transcend distances and enable new friendships.
Singing together, we learn to listen to each other and to have our voices come together in harmony. For these reasons we want to start an international choir where different countries and cultures can meet and exchange experiences.
For this project we are looking for singers from age 18 and up; all vocal ranges and nationalities are welcome.
Our first performance as a special guest at the German-Chinese Youth Days
Our new rehearsal space
Our repertoire consists of songs from all over the world. From Brazil to Germany to China, from classical music to jazz to international folk music, we sing songs in their original language.
Madrigale by Claudio Monteverdi
Modern Madrigals by Berlin composer Manuel Rösler
"Five Poems of Ancient China and Japan" by Charles Griffes
"Half Moon Shines in the Sky" (Chinese traditional)
"Cielito Lindo" (Mexican traditional)
"Što mi e milo" (Macedonian traditional)
Ipharadisi (Zulu spiritual from South Africa)
"Der Mond ist aufgegangen" by Johann Abraham Peter Schulz
Fiake e.V.'s years of experience allow for participation in international events and competition, as well as concerts outside of Germany. Besides that the Fiake e.V. will financially support tours and choir retreats.
Fiake e.V.'s current chair Dr. Mei Huang was born in China, did her undergraduate studies at the famous Peking University and finished her Master's degree under guidance from Li Zehou, a master of aesthetics. In 1997 she received a doctorate in art education from the Goethe University Frankfurt. Dr. Huang has lived in Germany for over 20 years, she works as a curator and has curated several large exhibitions about the topic "Dialogue between China and Germany." In late 2013, Dr. Huang autobiographical novel "Eheliches Rederecht" was published in China.
Benjamin Pontius, born November 27, 1984 in Berlin, first studied music education at Würzburg University of Music. In 2008 he began his studies in conducting with general music director Georg Christoph Sandmann at the University of Music Carl Maria von Weber Dresden, which he finished in 2013 with a diploma.
He gained first experiences during his studies in Würzburg by conducting several amateur choirs and ensembles. Working with professional orchestras, such as the Elblandphilharmonie Riesa, the Erzgebirgische Philharmonie Aue, the orchestra of the Landesbühnen Saxony Radebeul, and the orchestra of the State Operetta Dresden he could expand his experience through countless concerts. From 2008 to 2012 he was the musical director of Freundeskreisorchesters of the Landesbühnen Saxony Radebeul. In 2010 he worked as the artistic director at the premiere of the contemporary oratory „Horror otii“ by Christoph Weiss. In 2012 he was a harpsichordist in the Chamber Philharmonic Dresden. As répétiteur he worked among others in 2010 at the Theatre Plauen-Zwickau, the Singakademie Chemnitz and the Children’s Choir of the Berlin State Opera Unter den Linden. In 2013 and 2015 he was also the musical director of the Operetta Festival Ludesch, Austria.
Since 2013 Benjamin Pontius has been living in Berlin and working as a freelance conductor and choir director, composer and arranger. Currently, he is the choir director for the Chamber Choir Wedding, the Berliner Chorfreunde and the Students' Choir of the AMV Berlin.
Engagement, ability to read sheet music; previous choir experience would be beneficial.
Despite the financial support by the Fiake e.V. we have to collect a small membership fee of 10 Euro per month for students and 13 Euro per month for employees, which is collected quarterly.
When: Monday 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Where: Akademie für Künste ASK Berlin, Potsdamer Str. 199, 10783 Berlin
Please be on time so we can start at 7:30 pm sharp.
Then please send us an email with a short self-introduction (vocal range, musical experience, nationality, language abilities etc.) to: fiake@fiake.org
Contact person: Xuan Wang (Ms.)
