United in music: Heinsberger Choir cordially invites singers!

United in music: Heinsberger Choir cordially invites singers!

In the midst of the Heinsberg district's lively music scene, the Tenholt-Granterath-Hetzerath choir community has established itself as an integral part of the local culture. The 38 members of the mixed church choir not only bring a festive atmosphere to community events with their singing, but also enrich village festivals and other events with their wide-ranging repertoire. Choir directorJürgen Pelzhas made it its mission to constantly explore new pieces of music and not only promotes the community musically - it also ensures a lively exchange through regular training and a variety of contacts in the music scene.

Interested singers, especially tenors, basses and alto voices, are cordially invited to come to the rehearsals in the Antoniushaus in Tenholt, which take place every Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. The choir plans to provide music for the Seefest service in Bellinghoven on July 6, 2025, which is a nice opportunity for new faces to integrate into the community.

A look into history

The roots of choral music in the region go back a long way. The St. Barbara choir community, founded in the summer of 1928 with originally 29 male members, has changed enormously over the years. Under the direction ofJohannes GreweldingThe choir was transformed into a mixed ensemble in 1934. Here the music of composers such as J.S. Bach is maintained, with the annual Christmas concert “Your Fields Christmas” being a highlight of the tradition.

Particularly noteworthy is the long-term management ofWolfgang Krumpen, who led the choir from 1973 to 2015 and initiated collaborations with various choirs and organized a wide range of performances. The choir community currently has around 40 members and remains closely connected to the Catholic parish church of St. Barbara.

Choir singing and well-being

A recent study from the University of Helsinki looks at the positive effects of choral singing on emotional and cognitive well-being, particularly in older people. The findings show that active singers have better cognitive flexibility and a higher sense of social belonging, which counteracts the social trend of an aging population. Choral singing requires complex information processing and can be used as an effective means of promoting an active lifestyle, which is particularly beneficial for those who take up singing later in life.

The combination of musical skills, social exchange and emotional support makes choir singing a valuable enrichment for the members. Whether socializing after rehearsals or going on excursions together: the choir community promotes cohesion and a sense of community beyond music.

There are numerous ways for those interested to get involved. If you would like to heed the saying “Nice trial singers are always welcome here”, you should not hesitate and contact Jürgen Pelz or Barbara Dünnwald. The contact details can be found on the choir community's website.

It remains exciting to see how the locally anchored choirs in Heinsberg will continue to develop and which new talents will join in the near future. At a time when community and cohesion are needed more than ever, singing could be a proven way to promote joy and quality of life.

• Jürgen Pelz: Telefon 0176-62993190, E-Mail juergen.pelz@erkelenz.de
• Barbara Dünnwald: Telefon 0162-7984166, E-Mail b.dwald@gmx.de

For further information about the Tenholt-Granterath-Hetzerath choir community, please also read Heinsberg Magazine, or find out more about the St. Barbara choir community at Ehrenfeld pastoral care area. The positive effects of choir singing have also been examined, you can find out more about this in Glarean Magazine read up.