New artistic director starting June 2025
The Bachchor is pleased to announce the appointment of Thomas Gropper as its new artistic director. In June 2025, he will take over the musical direction of the choir as successor to Christian Kabitz, who by then will have been its conductor for 39 years.
The decision-making process for the new director was a joint venture between the choir, its chosen search committee and professional musicians. After a call for applications and an elaborate selection process in which numerous qualified candidates took part, the choir finally chose Thomas Gropper. This choice reflects the trust and anticipation that the choir has in working with him in the future.
“We’re delighted to have recruited Thomas Gropper for the Bachchor,” says Johanna Schwarz, chair of the choir’s board of directors. “With his wealth of experience as a choir conductor and especially as a vocal instructor, not only will he breathe some fresh air into the program, he’ll surely enrich our choir vocally. We’re looking forward to inspiring rehearsals and to presenting Heidelberg audiences high-quality musical offerings from a diverse repertoire!”
“You don’t understand what you don’t share with others.” This quote from Cassandra by Christa Wolf often comes to Gropper’s mind when he rehearses or performs with choirs, but also when he’s in front of an audience in one of his other occupations – as soloist or as a teacher of voice or vocal pedagogy. “Especially in these times of individualization and separation, in particular after the experiences of the global pandemic with its social distancing and isolation,” Gropper continues, “singing together in a choir, shared activities and shared concert experiences are greatly beneficial. After a period focused on solo singing and working as a choral voice coach, over the past few years I’ve increasingly come to cherish my role as a choir conductor. The great works into which we pour our efforts, rehearsing and presenting them in concerts; their spiritual, intellectual and emotional content; the joy of making a sound together and developing something new; the feeling that a group can be much more than just the sum of its parts — all that is what moves and inspires me, what motivates and fulfills me.
It fills me with wonder and pride that, starting mid-2025, the Bachchor Heidelberg has chosen me to continue its great tradition and uphold its artistic standards, as well as to carry on the legacy of the highly esteemed Christian Kabitz. I’m really looking forward to everything that lies ahead of us on this journey.”
The Bachchor would like to thank everyone involved in the selection process. We’re looking forward to achieving new musical heights together with Thomas Gropper. The Bachchor’s first concert under its new director is scheduled to take place at the Peterskirche in October 2025.
.