2018 – The Year in Review
Dear concert guests, sponsors, and friends –
It is with great pride that all of us here at Collegium Musicum look back on a successful and musically exciting year 2018.
The orchestra got us off to a flying start: At the end of January, the ensemble performed two concerts under the direction of our music director Raimund Laufen. Among others, the audience heard Max Bruch's violin concerto played by early-career violinist Ye Bin Lim. One week later, the choir performed "A cappella choral music from the baroque and modern period" in the coronation hall of the Aachen town hall. The concert, which was not quite as "a cappella" as the title might suggest, since it featured organ and piano accompaniment, was completely sold out and much praised in the press. Read about it in German in the Aachener Zeitung here.
Over the course of the summer semester, the choir and orchestra were led by two talented young substitute conductors: Julio G. Vico and Maximilian Friedrich. The ensembles performed the "Messa da Requiem" by Giuseppe Verdi. Friedrich, who had already worked with Ahreum Friedrich as musical assistant of the choir, led the choir rehearsals while Vico rehearsed the orchestra and later conducted the two concerts at the end of the semester. The concerts were a complete success.
At the same time our Carbon Fibre Quartet picked up steam:
Four talented musicians from our Collegium Musicum Orchestra, equipped with carbon fiber composite instruments, represented Collegium Musicum at numerous festivities and occasions around RWTH Aachen University. The choir was not idle either. Several project ensembles came together and performed at award ceremonies or charitable events.
Furthermore, we have completely renewed our Collegium Musicum website and adapted it to the RWTH design. Here, you can find much information about our ensembles, our volunteers and our history.
Reading tip: History of Collegium Musicum
Outlook
In the year to come you can of course look forward to more music from us at Collegium Musicum.
The orchestra opens the new year musically with works by Tchaikowsky on January 24 and 26, 2019 in St. Dimitrios church. The choir is very pleased to perform again at the City Hall. On the first weekend of February Bach's Magnificat and Mäntyjärvis Shakespeare songs will be performed. But that's not all. In the summer of 2019, we will be performing Carl Orff's Carmina Burana. Of course, we would be very happy to welcome you in the audience at all of our concerts. If you'd like to join us, you can find more information regarding advance ticket sales here.
Best wishes to all of you for a happy and successful year 2019,
Your Collegium Musicum of RWTH Aachen University