Concerts
all concertsNew light to twenty-first century vocal jazz.
ACDA, Choral Journal, 2020 (Seattle, USA)
Vocal pioneers. Progressive. Innovative. Even revolutionary. Anything but arbitrary.
Jazzthetic, 2020
What's amazing about this collective is that it has invented a completely new, not to say: refined sound.
Neue Musikzeitung, 2020
The concert was a firework of rhythm.
Obihiro International Press, 1999 (Japan)
News
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!