Bertrand Gröger, founder and artistic director of Jazzchor Freiburg for over 35 years, will be leaving the choir next year.
His successor has already been chosen: Julian Knörzer, former choir singer, beatboxer, and choir director of the Senior Jazz Chor, will take over as choir director in September 2025 and as artistic director in June 2026. In Julian we are very fortunate to have found such a competent successor, who is very aware of the responsibility that comes with this legacy.
The Jazzchor Freiburg will therefore continue on its path and remain true to its musical style – even if it is currently difficult to imagine a Jazzchor without Bertrand.
Bertrand will continue to support the choir as an advisor for several years and will also enrich and shape the repertoire of the Choir with his unique arrangements.
This decision was anything but easy for Bertrand. Since 1990, he has invested a great deal of heart and soul, unparalleled commitment, and countless hours of work in the Jazzchor. But now it is time to make more room for his own projects, for which there was hardly any time due to his heavy workload. We can already look forward to his own CD “Heimliche Lieder”, which will be released by Jazzhaus Records in Autumn of 2025. He will pass on his immense knowledge of jazz music and choir work in workshops, for which he is now available for booking. And will write new arrangements that “no choir has ever sung before” (quote from Bertrand on the concert program INFUSION).
On Sunday, June 7, 2026, with a farewell concert we will celebrate with Bertrand Gröger and the Jazzchor Freiburg in the Konzerthaus Freiburg.
Before that, from March-May 2026, there will be a series of concerts at venues that are particularly dear to Bertrand's heart. The dates and locations will be announced soon on the Jazz Choir website. So there will be many opportunities to say goodbye to Bertrand. Many of us will certainly remain closely connected to him even after his time as artistic director. But even now, we owe him our deepest gratitude and respect for all he has done for the Jazzchor Freiburg.
Listen to Jazzchor Freiburgs new song "Gracious" – which will appear on the upcoming album "Sacred" (2025).
Words and music: Bobby McFerrin
Arrangement: Tine Fris-Ronsfeld
Solo: Neele Pfleiderer
Beatbox: Julian Knörzer
Jazzchor Freiburg mourns the death of Pauline Hünnemeyer, who tragically died in a mountain accident on June 8, 2024.
For the first time in the history of our choir, each choir in the jazz choir family had its own concert evening!
It has been an absolutely heartwarming moment for everybody, and we are very much looking forward to next year.
For over 20 years, Sparkasse Freiburg-Nördlicher Breisgau has accompanied the Jazzchor Freiburg on its journey through the world of music.
This year, the choir is once again being supported with a generous donation.
"Music connects people," emphasized Daniel Zeiler, Chairman of the Board of Sparkasse Freiburg-Nördlicher Breisgau, as he handed over a symbolic cheque for 5,000 euros to our founder and director Bertrand Gröger.
"Our collaboration is particularly important to us, as it makes worldwide performances, CD recordings and lively concert activities possible," emphasized Marc Winsheimer, Head of Social Commitment at Sparkasse.
The Jazzchor Freiburg is grateful for this successful cooperation!
Jazzchor Freiburg presents its new music video "Pools" by Steps Ahead. It tells the origin story of the famous painting "Pools with 2 jazzchor Figures", which recently sold for a record sum. This video was made possible by the many generous crowdfunders who donated last June. A big thank you to all supporters!
The legendary New York Voices come to Freiburg to share the stage with Jazzchor Freiburg. Two times 30 years of top-class vocal jazz: The "Voices" are considered to be the leading jazz vocal quartet that has traveled almost all over the world and worked with artists such as the Count Basie Orchestra and Paquito d’Riviera. This ensemble has always been an inspiration for the award-winning Jazzchor Freiburg, which has so far given concerts in 15 countries in Europe and Asia with its “unique” programs. In addition, projects with Bobby McFerrin, Torun Eriksen and the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra kept opening new musical doors for the choir. For the anniversary, the Freiburgers - with Junior and Senior Jazzchor - and New Yorkers can be heard on the same evening, individually and together.
You can get Tickets:
https://www.reservix.de/tickets-jazzchor-freiburg-new-york-voices-...e1551001.
On the initiative of #inFreiburgzuhause and Jazzhaus Freiburg, the Jazzchor will give its very first streaming concert on March 14th, 2021. It is also the choir's first concert
since the lockdown in November.
The choir is performing with its current program Infusion, which will be enriched with a few surprises. Please switch on! The concert is free - a donation is welcome.
Jazzchor Freiburg presents its new video of Björks Hit „Jóga“ in a special arrangement of Lukas DeRungs. The video was shot under the direction of David Brooke and the cameraman Matthias Klingner in Jazzhaus Freiburg. Torun Eriksen can be seen as a soloist.
Jazzchor Freiburg responds to the call of Munich Philhamonic, the BR Symphony Orchestra and the Bavarian State Opera on Monday, November 2nd, 2020 - the day on which the entire culture industry in Germany was shut down a second time in 2020. This video clip under the hashtag #SangUndKlanglos has been recorded to draw attention to the fact that without art, music and culture it will be completely quiet in Germany.
Jazzchor Freiburg performs "Mironczarnia" by the Polish composer Jakub Neske. It is the musical version of the poem by Miron Bialoszewski, in which the protagonist describes his difficulties in finding the right words for his poem.
The recording was made during a concert on September 19, 2018 in Zurich-Wallisellen.
Jazz Corner is the largest web portal of jazz music, originated in New York. They´ve now listened to Jazzchor Freiburg´s CD Infusion and came to the following conclusion:
"Their most recent studio album, Infusion, is really all about combining great melodies with sophisticated arrangements, bringing a different twist to the music. [The opener "Joga"] sets the mood for the entire record, and it represents the group's blend of lightheartedness and sophistication, making for a unique vibe."
Read the entire article here.
After Jazzchor Freiburg has toured in South Korea in 2018 and 2019 the choir brought a small musical souvenir back to Germany. The song Arirang is considered as one of the most popular folksongs in Korea.
And Jazzchor Freiburg brought it into the German television show "Kaffee oder Tee" broadcasted on 05. July 2019 by SWR.
ON TOUR: Jazzchor Freiburg and its conductor Bertrand Gröger performing in Korea. Read the entire article in German:
Jazzchor Freiburg: "Infusion"
Director: Betrand Gröger
Piano: Simone Bollini
Bass: Roberto Koch
Drums: Michael Heidepriem
Starting in October 2018 Jazzchor Freiburg presents its new repertoire "Infusion". Is that some hot drink or some sort of flu shot? Neither - but the music is quite healthy, that's for sure: Jazz from the 1970s until today, starting with the era known as Fusion. It starts off with Joe Zawinul, Pat Metheny, Keith Jarrett up to contemporary artists such as E.S.T. and Olivia Trummer. But assuredly: no choir in the world has ever performed this! For the mostly instrumental music had to be provided with lyrics and arranged with great creativity. Perfectly tailored for Jazzchor Freiburg. Doesn't get any newer than that! Jazzchor Freiburg's "Infusion" goes directly under your skin...
Here you can download our songs for "Eurovision Choir of the Year" in RIga:
As the newest offshoot of the Eurovision event series, the title of “Eurovision Choir of the Year” will be conferred this year for the first time. And in the running to represent Germany: Jazzchor Freiburg.
Jazzhaus Freiburg and Jazzchor Freiburg are proud to announce that the "Jazzchor Festival Freiburg" is to return in early 2017 with stellar concerts and informative workshops: the second week in February will be all about vocal music.
On Monday 10th October, Lord Mayor Dieter Salomon and Sparkasse Chairman Marcel Thimm received certificates for honorary membership of the Förderverein of Jazzchor Freiburg.
More news
More news are available on the choirs news page in German