Courage and joie de vivre for 25 years: Uli-Singers celebrate anniversary

Created: 12/08/2022, 3:00 p.m

By: Tobias Gmach

The Söckinger gospel choir Uli-Singers led by Biggi Danninger is at home in the church.

But the group also performs at weddings, christenings and other private celebrations.

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The Uli-Singers have been spreading their message for 25 years now: the Söckinger Gospel Choir maintained courage and joie de vivre even during the pandemic.

In the anniversary year, however, the box office is empty, so the 60-strong group is looking for opportunities to perform.

Söcking - It all began with eight singers in the church choir of the Catholic parish of St. Ulrich in Söcking.

In September 1996 they approached their choirmaster Dr.

Norbert Franken: You would also like to sing more modern and up-tempo songs.

This is how the story of the origins of the Uli-Singers goes, the great gospel choir that has become an integral part of the Starnberg cultural scene.

It has now existed for 25 years.

Anyone who would like to hear the choir on the occasion of their anniversary can do so next Saturday, December 10th, from 6 p.m.

Appropriately enough, a thanksgiving service will take place in the St. Ulrich church in Söcking.

The name of the choir goes back to the patron saint of his home church, St. Ulrich.

The fact that the Uli-Singers have specialized in gospel is thanks to Biggi Danninger.

Since then, both the level of awareness and the number of members have increased steadily.

The music teacher has been directing the choir for a quarter of a century.

When asked about it, she gets enthusiastic: "For 25 years we have been able to share something infinitely beautiful with each other: the music that makes us all happy, comforts and liberates.

Singing and choral community are pure therapy for us.

And our listeners enjoy it and take our message home with them.” What is it?

“Gospel means gospel.

We want to exude courage and joie de vivre,” says Danninger.

Corona times: "We kept the flame blazing"

The singers have maintained this goal even during the pandemic.

"We kept the flame burning," says choir member Nancy de Graaf.

First they sang outside, which was acoustically difficult, then in small groups, and at some point they only sent audio files back and forth because they weren't allowed to meet anymore.

De Graaf praises the motivational talent of music teacher Danninger: "It is thanks to her that the singers learn English lyrics without complaint, follow them in a disciplined manner from pianos to crescendos to fortissimo and back, train endlessly in syncopation, and even face choreographic challenges." After many years as conductor, she surprises the choir with fresh, creative arrangement ideas and new teaching methods.

She also succeeds again and again in engaging well-known soloists.

For Saturday in Ortisei she was able to win the up-and-coming opera singer Josefine Weber.

Biggi Danninger, who teaches rhythm at the vocational school, takes care of the young musicians in addition to the Uli-Singers: the Uli-Mini-Singers children's choir.

The members of the main choir are between 17 and 75 years old.

With the men and the alto, the deep, female voice, the group with a total of 60 members could use reinforcement.

Empty choir register: Uli-Singers are looking for donations and performances

And financial support is also required, after the Corona years the choir box office is empty.

Logically, not only trade fairs in Söcking, but also Christmas markets, weddings and baptisms were canceled.

"Expenses for room rental and workshops have to be covered elsewhere," says de Graaf.

Therefore, the choir is happy about donations and is looking for further performance opportunities.

The repertoire includes traditional spirituals, newly arranged gospels at high tempo, contemplative and moving songs, demanding a cappella songs, some with swing, blues and jazz elements, as well as traditional church hymns.

Reaching the vocal pre-corona level is hard work, says de Graaf.

However, the choir laid the foundation for this back in May – at a workshop with a professional voice coach.