CHOIR OF NATIONS®

The First Choir in Solothurn

In 2006, the integration officer of the canton of Solothurn, Albert Weibel, took the initiative to found a choir with people of many languages. In Bernhard Furchner he found the specialist for this. Bernhard Furchner developed a concept that was submitted as an integration project to the canton of Solothurn and to the federal government for funding.

One Choir – Many Choirs

The success in Solothurn spread quickly. A Choir of Nations DVD was produced in 2008. Concerts in packed halls led to demand from other places in Switzerland. Bernhard Furchner now conducts other choirs in several cantons based on this concept. The energies of the participants and managers combine on many levels to create collective action. Each choir has its own individual profile, but also a shared goal with the other choirs: to enjoy the cultural diversity in everyday life and in choral concerts as a unifying and enriching experience.

Quality Assurance and Network

Quality assurance for all choirs is guaranteed by a usage agreement / licence and a standardised service level agreement for the choirs, management groups and paid performers (professional musicians and soloists). The annual repertoire is the same for everyone, so that the choirs can support each other in their performances, thus enabling a nationwide exchange. The strength, richness and vitality of the programme can thus be experienced at every licensed location and in every new Choir of Nations. To support this in the long term, the existing choirs - with the exception of Solothurn, which prioritised its own goals from 2012 - joined together to form the umbrella organisation Choir of Nations Switzerland.

Support and Stability

Mutual teaching / learning and support are a live principle in the Choir of Nations. Other key performance features include internal and external training (internet use, application of the corporate design, problem solving) as well as the proportion and integration of immigrants in the mixed choir. Voice training courses, rehearsal days, coaching for intercultural choir leadership and much more promote and stabilise the Choir of Nations' programme.