Regensburg cathedral sparrows get a female addition: break of tradition after more than 1000 years?

Created: 01/03/2022, 02:09 PM

From: Tanja Kipke

In the coming school year 2022/23, the Domspatzen grammar school in Regensburg will also be accepting girls.

The first time in over 1000 years - a revolution.

Regensburg - In 975, Bishop Wolfgang founded his own cathedral school, which, in addition to general education, placed particular emphasis on musical training.

The Regensburg * Domspatzen have achieved worldwide fame since the 1930s.

For over 1000 years only boys and young men have been allowed to sing for the world-famous boys' choir.

The institution now wants to change that.

As early as the summer, the school principals announced their decision to also accept girls for “high-quality musical training” in the school year 2022/23.

The tradition should not be broken with it, as it is said in a communication from the cathedral sparrows.

The pure boys' and men's choir will remain in its previous form.

Revolution at the Regensburg Cathedral Sparrows: Girls can apply for the coming school year

The Board of Trustees of the Regensburger Domspatzen has now decided unanimously. He went on to follow the vote of the foundation's board of directors. "As a girls' and women's choir, the girls will be a new additional musical pillar of Regensburg cathedral music." There is therefore no break in tradition, explains cathedral music director Christian Heiss to the

. “We complement them. Breaking would mean: We abolish the boys 'choir or we mix the girls into the boys' choir. We don't do both. " 

There are many reasons for the decision.

More and more often, good singers ultimately did not go to the Domspatzen grammar school because they preferred to go to a mixed school.

Musical siblings have often had to be rejected in the past because only boys have been admitted, according to the institution's announcement.

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Video: Regensburger Domspatzen get a girls' choir

Applications until spring - the girls' audition is already ongoing

The application phase for the school year 2022/23 will run until spring.

According to

, 15 girls and their parents have already asked the Regensburger Domspatzen.

Among them are possibly the first girls of the new girls' choir - after more than 1000 years.

Everyone who applies, no matter if boy or girl, first has to prove his talent at the audition.

If you succeed, nothing stands in the way of a musical career at the Domspatzen grammar school.