Moving singing: choir meeting of the church choirs in Jüchsen!

Moving singing: choir meeting of the church choirs in Jüchsen!

Next week there will be a very special event in the Meiningen church district: On June 22nd, 2025 there will be a big choir meeting under the motto “My hope and my joy”. In the Church of St. Peter and Paul in Jüchsen, over 20 choirs from different communities will come together to sing together and celebrate music. Reported in southern Thuringia that the day begins at 10:30 a.m. with a festive service, which will be musically provided by the Dortmund-Wellinghofen Chamber Music Circle under the direction of Cantor Ingomar Kury.

Superintendent Beate Marwede gives the ceremonial sermon, while the trombone choir “Mittendrin” under the direction of Alexander Benndorf provides the right festive sounds. Cantor Ulf Prieß's organ playing will also captivate those attending the service. After the moving service, guests can look forward to singing together in the open air and lunch in the cultural center. From 2 p.m. the large choral concert entitled “Thank the Lord” will take place, which includes sacred and secular choral music, from classical works to modern arrangements and ecumenical contributions.

Diversity of choral music

Bizarrely, this event not only demonstrates the joy of singing together, but also reflects a larger trend in the field of church music. According to a report by miz.org Over 90% of amateur musicians in the Catholic Church are active in the vocal field. In 2023, church choirs had around 207,000 members. But not everything is going according to plan: the number of amateur musicians in the Catholic Church has shown a downward trend over the last two decades and even the number of ensembles has fallen, especially among choirs and choral scholae.

The choir meeting in Jüchsen is also a welcome opportunity to emphasize the importance of choirs as living communities. Pastor Florian Freiberg emphasizes that this form of musical gathering not only enriches church music, but also strengthens togetherness in the community. Admission to all events is free, and the collection benefits the Jüchsen parish and church music in the church district.

A look beyond the borders

The choir meeting in Thuringia is not just a regional highlight. Similar events take place throughout Austria, such as the choir meeting in Salzburger Land, which takes place from June 12th to 15th, 2025. Choirs of all kinds are invited to take part in a colorful program with performances, culinary delights and various leisure activities. Interested choirs can look forward to experiences such as gondola rides and performances in a fantastic mountain setting. Reported on the event offering chortreffen.at.

On June 22nd in Jüchsen it will become clear that the church choirs play an important role even in difficult times and connect people with each other through music. A visit to the choir meeting should turn out to be a great experience for all music lovers and community members!