Archive of the Friends of the MDR Children's Choir Association
75 years of the MDR Children's Choir
- Preserving tradition, cultivating songs, bringing joy -
The Friends' Association archive is currently accessible to members and supporters of this project. We will be presenting excerpts of documents here in the future. Please visit our exhibitions related to the concerts. These also include documents as well as images and audio recordings. Active choir members have access to the relevant materials via the choir portals.
1948 - 1950
The official date on which the MDR Children's Choir was founded is now June 21, 1948.
The first film reports appear in the 1950 issue of "Augenzeuge" (Eyewitness), No. 46. This weekly report for the cinema program covers the first session of the People's Chamber and then shifts to Leipzig. The footage shows the entrance to the Leipzig radio station, the control room in the station's recording hall, the youth choir in the hall with its conductor Hans-Sandig (NPT), and a performance at the Leipzig Reichsbahn repair works.
It is one of the first film documents known to the circle of friends.
Thus, the MDR Children's Choir will celebrate its 70th anniversary in 2018.
After the war, broadcasting resumed in 1945 as "Radio Leipzig." This was followed by the re-establishment of MDR (see also Mitteldeutsche Rundfunk AG, 1924), which began broadcasting as "Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk, Sender Leipzig." In 1948, Hans Sandig began working as music director at the station. This period also saw the founding of a children's choir and the establishment of a youth choir.
As a document shows, the "Leipzig Radio Youth Choir" performed with the "Leipzig Radio Soloists' Association" as early as October 1946. A large concert took place on October 24, 1946, in the White Hall at the Leipzig Zoological Garden. A direct connection to the founding of the Leipzig Radio Children's Choir in 1948 by Hans Sandig has not yet been established. This is a text field for a description of this service. Provide examples of your service and specify your target audience.
The first film reports appear in the 1950 issue of "Augenzeuge" (Eyewitness), No. 46. This weekly report for the cinema program covers the first session of the People's Chamber and then shifts to Leipzig. The footage shows the entrance to the Leipzig radio station, the control room in the station's recording hall, the youth choir in the hall with its conductor Hans-Sandig (NPT), and a performance at the Leipzig Reichsbahn repair works.
It is one of the first film documents known to the circle of friends.
Thus, the MDR Children's Choir will celebrate its 70th anniversary in 2018.
After the war, broadcasting resumed in 1945 as "Radio Leipzig." This was followed by the re-establishment of MDR (see also Mitteldeutsche Rundfunk AG, 1924), which began broadcasting as "Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk, Sender Leipzig." In 1948, Hans Sandig began working as music director at the station. This period also saw the founding of a children's choir and the establishment of a youth choir.
As a document shows, the "Leipzig Radio Youth Choir" performed with the "Leipzig Radio Soloists' Association" as early as October 1946. A large concert took place on October 24, 1946, in the White Hall at the Leipzig Zoological Garden. A direct connection to the founding of the Leipzig Radio Children's Choir in 1948 by Hans Sandig has not yet been established. This is a text field for a description of this service. Provide examples of your service and specify your target audience.
1951- 1960
Excerpt from the archive 1951 - 1960: Summer concert in Markkleeberg
1961-1970
Excerpt from the archive 1961 - 1970:
Historical documents, pictures & press reviews, folk songs in Russian;
Historical documents, pictures & press reviews, folk songs in Russian;
1971-1980
Excerpt from the archive 1961 - 1970:
Several television appearances by the Leipzig Radio Children's Choir from the 1970s have survived. These include:
1975 Small Works by Great Masters; 1975 Songs for the Festival; 1976 Good Evening, Here I Am;
1976 The Golden Note - Melodies requested by you - played by us
1978 Thuringian Farmers' Market from Oberhof; 1979 National Youth Festival;
1978 There's music in that;
1979 National Youth Festival - Gala; 1979 AHA;
1980 Parade of the Soldiers' Song
Several television appearances by the Leipzig Radio Children's Choir from the 1970s have survived. These include:
1975 Small Works by Great Masters; 1975 Songs for the Festival; 1976 Good Evening, Here I Am;
1976 The Golden Note - Melodies requested by you - played by us
1978 Thuringian Farmers' Market from Oberhof; 1979 National Youth Festival;
1978 There's music in that;
1979 National Youth Festival - Gala; 1979 AHA;
1980 Parade of the Soldiers' Song
1981- 1990
The Christmas concerts from 1987 and 1988 are available in the archives. They were conducted and performed according to the specifications of Prof. Dr. Hans Sandig, the choir's founder. As always, the program included songs inextricably linked to the choir's tradition, songs the audience still eagerly anticipates. Pieces such as "A Thousand Stars Are a Cathedral," "Christmas Nightingale," "Winter Has Come," and "Are the Lights Lit?" certainly belong to this category, as they sometimes tell a story very close to the audience's heart or evoke memories of their performances with the ensemble for former singers.
The Christmas concerts from 1987 and 1988 have been archived.
Audio sample:
Received television programs:
1981 AHA from the Leipzig Naschmarkt - Zoo Songs;
1982 Between Breakfast and Roast Goose
1983 Oberhof Farmers' Market
1983 There's music in there - House of the Cheerful Muse
1983 Schoppenzeit - A colorful medley of melodies with Unstrut wine and Roland Neudert;
1984 There's music in it (RKL - Andrea) - House of the Cheerful Muse;
1984 Hit after hit - House of Cheerful Muse
1984 Everything Sings - House of the Cheerful Muse; 1984 We Love to Live;
1984 Signal - House of the Cheerful Muse; 1985 AHA; 1987 Guess What!
1984 Between breakfast and roast goose;
1985 (1984) There's music in it - year in review;
1985 There's music in that; 1985 On foot;
1985 Between breakfast and roast goose;
1986 Beautiful melodies were in demand;
1986 Oberhof Farmers' Market; 1986 Today there will be something for the children (pretzel man);
1986 Songs for the Festival (Quedlinburg); 1986 Between Breakfast and Roast Goose
1987 Oberhof Farmers' Market
1988 Oberhof Farmers' Market
1988 40th anniversary of the MDR Children's Choir; 1988 Between Breakfast and Roast Goose
1989 You have to be lucky - House of the Cheerful Muse;
1989 Between Breakfast and Roast Goose
1990 Musicians are here (Cottbus); 1990 Guess what!
1990 musicians are there - Advent concert;
Received television programs:
1981 AHA from the Leipzig Naschmarkt - Zoo Songs;
1982 Between Breakfast and Roast Goose
1983 Oberhof Farmers' Market
1983 There's music in there - House of the Cheerful Muse
1983 Schoppenzeit - A colorful medley of melodies with Unstrut wine and Roland Neudert;
1984 There's music in it (RKL - Andrea) - House of the Cheerful Muse;
1984 Hit after hit - House of Cheerful Muse
1984 Everything Sings - House of the Cheerful Muse; 1984 We Love to Live;
1984 Signal - House of the Cheerful Muse; 1985 AHA; 1987 Guess What!
1984 Between breakfast and roast goose;
1985 (1984) There's music in it - year in review;
1985 There's music in that; 1985 On foot;
1985 Between breakfast and roast goose;
1986 Beautiful melodies were in demand;
1986 Oberhof Farmers' Market; 1986 Today there will be something for the children (pretzel man);
1986 Songs for the Festival (Quedlinburg); 1986 Between Breakfast and Roast Goose
1987 Oberhof Farmers' Market
1988 Oberhof Farmers' Market
1988 40th anniversary of the MDR Children's Choir; 1988 Between Breakfast and Roast Goose
1989 You have to be lucky - House of the Cheerful Muse;
1989 Between Breakfast and Roast Goose
1990 Musicians are here (Cottbus); 1990 Guess what!
1990 musicians are there - Advent concert;
1991 - 2000
After Hans Sandig's death, Gunter Berger led the choir through the period following the political and economic changes. From 1990 onwards, he taught the children in the choir. With great joy and in a warm atmosphere, the members experienced many musical successes. The choir successfully raised funds for UNICEF.
Excerpts from the current archive (photos: private / Friends' Association archive):
The MDR children's choir raises 10,025 DM for UNICEF (photo A. Kempner 1/96) see archive;
1997/1998 Summer Music Festival at Beichlingen Castle / Heidecksburg Castle
Excerpts from the current archive (photos: private / Friends' Association archive):
The MDR children's choir raises 10,025 DM for UNICEF (photo A. Kempner 1/96) see archive;
1997/1998 Summer Music Festival at Beichlingen Castle / Heidecksburg Castle
Image archive
2001 - 2010
2005 - Szezecinie - Castle of the Pomeranian Dukes; Australian Singers' Association;
Verona - Overall winner;
The choir won prizes, among others. at the Winning international choir competitions in Verona. Being able to visit the city of Verona in Italy seems to be a distinction in the world of choral singing. To receive top marks for expressiveness, precision, and overall artistic impression speaks for itself. Bringing home two trophies from an international choir competition will be a memorable experience for the alumni. Competing against 30 choirs from the USA and Europe, winning the "Ottimo" (the highest prize), along with special awards, and emerging as the overall winner, speaks volumes for the choir and the team around the conductor. It speaks to the quality and tradition in which the choir stands.
Verona - Overall winner;
The choir won prizes, among others. at the Winning international choir competitions in Verona. Being able to visit the city of Verona in Italy seems to be a distinction in the world of choral singing. To receive top marks for expressiveness, precision, and overall artistic impression speaks for itself. Bringing home two trophies from an international choir competition will be a memorable experience for the alumni. Competing against 30 choirs from the USA and Europe, winning the "Ottimo" (the highest prize), along with special awards, and emerging as the overall winner, speaks volumes for the choir and the team around the conductor. It speaks to the quality and tradition in which the choir stands.
Image archive
2011 - 2020
Ulrich Kaiser became the conductor of the MDR Children's Choir in 2012. The choir experienced a musical highlight with its Christmas concert and performance of the Christmas Oratorio in 2015. Through continuous, dedicated work, the members regularly tackle challenging works. Since 2012, the choir has been supported by the Friends of the MDR Children's Choir association, which complements the choir's work with its own projects.
Excerpts from the current archive (photos: private/archive of the Friends' Association):
2011 - Gewandhaus Concert; Are the lights lit?
Excerpts from the current archive (photos: private/archive of the Friends' Association):
2011 - Gewandhaus Concert; Are the lights lit?
2013 - June Concert with former singers / Concert choir in December
2014 - December 14, 2014, Leipzig, St. Peter's Church, Leipzig; Northern Lights Festival: Star
Television programs: The Golden Hen - Leipzig Trade Fair
2015 - Concert in Hettstedt
2015 - Concert in Hettstedt
Television programs 2016:
Dieter Birr and the MDR Children's Choir
The Golden Hen - Leipzig Trade Fair
August 26, 2017 Farewell concert of Ulrich Kaiser
Active members of the ensemble can find more pictures on the portal of their respective choir.
Access is granted via registration with the Friends Association.
The Friends of the MDR Children's Choir Association would like to express its sincere thanks to all participants in the archive working group as well as the many alumni who support us.
Our special thanks go to Christoph Sandig for his support. We thank the MDR Classical Music Department for the materials on recent history that were provided to us.
We continue to thank former choir members for submitting documents and images to support our archival work. These include, among others:
Christoph Sandig; Veronika Schuppe, née Friedrich; Annett Fischer-Stephan, Thomas Paulke, Doris Matthieu;
(List is continuously updated)
Dieter Birr and the MDR Children's Choir
The Golden Hen - Leipzig Trade Fair
August 26, 2017 Farewell concert of Ulrich Kaiser
Active members of the ensemble can find more pictures on the portal of their respective choir.
Access is granted via registration with the Friends Association.
The Friends of the MDR Children's Choir Association would like to express its sincere thanks to all participants in the archive working group as well as the many alumni who support us.
Our special thanks go to Christoph Sandig for his support. We thank the MDR Classical Music Department for the materials on recent history that were provided to us.
We continue to thank former choir members for submitting documents and images to support our archival work. These include, among others:
Christoph Sandig; Veronika Schuppe, née Friedrich; Annett Fischer-Stephan, Thomas Paulke, Doris Matthieu;
(List is continuously updated)
1921 - to the present day
In Progress
Do you have any documents from your time in the choir?
We are collecting documents such as sheet music, pictures, concert tickets, programs, recordings and want to preserve them for the choir.
Please contact us!
