German Choirs Keep Tradition Alive

Standard-Radio Post file photo Fredericksburg’s local German choirs meet at several events during the year to preserve their culture and language. The two local choirs are the Arion Men’s Choir and the Hermann Sons Mixed Choir.

German Choirs Keep Alive Old World Musical Traditions

Keeping German tradition and heritage alive are two local choirs — the Arion Men’s Choir and the Hermann Sons Mixed Choir.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the choirs met weekly for fellowship and singing. They are just recently beginning to rehearse again. Membership is voluntary and adults who enjoy singing are invited to join in and participate at any time.

Arion Männerchor (Arion Men’s Choir), founded in 1908, and the Hermannsöhne Gemischter Chor (Hermann Sons Mixed Choir), active since 1934, are both directed by Amy Voorhees and accompanied by Annabel Wilkinson.

Both choirs have weekly rehearsals and performances throughout the year.

Rehearsals will be held at St. Joseph’s Halle every Thursday evening.

New members are always welcome and knowledge of the German language is helpful, but not required, nor is the ability to sight-read music.

The choirs’ repertoire ranges from sacred music to classical masterworks to folk songs.

They jointly present a free-admission public concert in the spring, usually the first Sunday in May (Maifest), and another in the fall, the first Sunday in November, a Herbstfest (Harvestfest).

Both of these events are usually held at St. Joseph’s Halle or the St. Mary’s Holy Family Center.

In addition, they represent Fredericksburg in a yearly Sängerfest (singers’ festival) along with German choirs from San Antonio, New Braunfels and Corpus Christi.

Both choirs also appear regularly at Oktoberfest, and give performances from time to time during the year at nursing and retirement homes.

At this time, concerts are being scheduled for the coming months, information will be in the coming issues of the Fredericksburg Standard- Radio Post.

More information is available by calling Heinrich Boenig at 830-669-2104 or Carol Woitalla at 830-997-9671.