Success in Ireland

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Chamber choir wins 3rd prize at the Cork International Choral Festival

The Chamber Choir of the Hamburg University of Music and Drama (HfMT) won third prize at this year's Cork International Choral Festival. With 46 students and under the direction of choirmaster Prof. Cornelius Trantow, the ensemble took part in the annual competition in Ireland from April 24 to May 4.

The competition program included works by Max Reger ("Der Mensch lebt und bestehet nur aus einer kleinen Zeit"), Tina Bec ("Deliver Me") and Heinrich Schütz ("Vasto Mar"). The chamber choir also received the special "Heinrich Schütz Perpetual Trophy" award for its interpretation of the Schütz piece.
For choirmaster Cornelius Trantow, however, there is much more to a trip like this than just placing. On the one hand, competitions offer the opportunity to grow beyond one's own quality limits, but he also emphasizes the special character of the festival, in which exchange and encounters play a central role. The special togetherness of the festival was also evident in the evening: Hamburg students sang, played music and danced Irish folk dances together with singers from the local choir. Such international, human and artistic encounters are particularly important in current times, Trantow emphasizes.

This trip was made possible by the support of the ZEIT STIFTUNG BUCERIUS.

Anyone who would like to experience the chamber choir live will have the opportunity to attend a completely new scenic-dramaturgical project in collaboration with directing students in the foyer on 10.07.2026.

Founded in the winter semester 2013/14, the HfMT chamber choir consists of qualified students from the university. In addition to working on a cappella literature from all eras, the choir serves as a training ensemble and works intensively on the students' vocal training and stylistics. The ensemble has won national and international awards and most recently celebrated success in all categories in Gorizia, Italy, in 2024 and was also awarded special prizes.