Juventus Vocalis ~ Germany

Founded in 1987 by Artistic Director, Judith Janzen, Juventus Vocalis celebrates its 22nd season of musical excellence, performing with an artistry that inspires audiences and critics alike. Juventus Vocalis exists to enrich the lives of the singers, their families and the community.

The children are challenged to attain choral excellence, develop commitment, confidence and self‐discipline, experience the beauty of folk and to their audiences. Musicianship and friendship are attained through this rich choral experience of a lifetime. The choir is acknowledged for its high quality of training and excellence in performance.

Juventus Vocalis is a community choir of over 120 children aged 4 through 19, drawing its members from the Rhineland‐Palatinate community Dannstadt‐Schauernheim and surrounding area of Ludwigshafen. Juventus Vocalis singers are members of the Music Conservatory Rhineland‐Palatinate. There are four levels to the Juventus Vocalis choir program, building increasingly complex musical skills in melody, rhythm, harmony, and improvisation.

Juventus Vocalis trains its members in healthy singing technique through individual vocal coaching, choral performance, presentation and staging techniques. The Concert Choir is the main performance and touring ensemble with children age 10 to 19. In weekly rehearsals, the singers are challenged to new heights of musical sophistication through the study of high quality repertoire from unison to four part harmony. The choir’s vast repertoire embraces diverse cultures and traditions in many languages and covers an
extensive range of musical genres – from sacred Renaissance works to challenging contemporary pieces, also celebrating the composers of its own country. Performance opportunities within the community and tours – national and abroad – are an important enrichment to the training these advanced singers receive. Choral workshops and Choir Camps add fun, personal growth and friendships to the intensive choral training.

Over the course of its history, Juventus Vocalis has toured to the Czech Republic (1996), Canada (1997), Great Britain (1999), USA (2000) and Canada (east coast 2004 ). The touring ensemble has participated in festivals and competitions nationally and iternationally.

To date, the choir has recorded 6 CDs. Performances with the Rhineland‐ Palatinate State Philharmonic Orchestra as well as television and radio broadcasting, are part of the choir’s annual programming.
Celebrating 15 years of choral excellence and marking a great milestone, Juventus Vocalis fulfilled the dream of establishing an International Children’s and Youth Choral Festival in 2002 – “Touch the Future”!

Due to many years of success, Juventus Vocalis has a great deal of support in the home community as well as financial support within the provincial and national political Arts funding. Striving to be excellent ambassadors of music and friendship. Juventus Vocalis began a “Friendship Concert Series” 1993 and has had the pleasure of hosting choirs from around the world. The choir’s list of accomplishments celebrates the
shared love of learning and passion for music!

Since 1997, Juventus Vocalis has built a large Repertoire and the skills of Choir Theater performance. Due to this ability they were invited to sing for Queen Rania (Jordanien) and Queen Sylvia (Sweden) in Baden‐Baden as their work for the “World Childhood Foundation” was honoured. 2005 the choir was awarded the title of “Cultural ambassador” for the World Soccer Championships taking place in Germany 2006. 2006 Juventus Vocalis won 2. Prize at the National Choir Competition, and were also awarded for the best interpretation of a German Folksong. 2008 the choir won at International Choir Competition Bremen the 2. Prize in the category Musical and all so in the category modern arrangement of a German Folksong.

Judith Janzen, Artistic Director

Judith Janzen, Co‐Founder and Artistic Director of the Children’s and Youth Choir Juventus Vocalis is no stranger to the choral community. Since 1987 she has nurtured young singers through her acclaimed work with children’s choirs and on‐going vocalists.

Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, she began her vocal and piano training at age 7. Pursuing her childhood passion of becoming a singer, she continued advanced studies in singing at the University of Music in Detmold, Germany, with a scholarship from the Canada Arts Council. Here she completed her Concert Exam “summa cum laude” with Theo Lindenbaum. Masterclasses with H. Rilling, H.M. Linde, N. Rogers, E. Cavelti, and
extended studies in Milano, Italy with F. Cavalli all served to enhance her expertise.

Her studies were followed by many years of recitals and concerts as well as guest engagements in the field of Opera, including Mozart’s Magic Flute (Queen of the night), Beethoven’s Fidelio (Leonore), Weber’s Freischütz (Agathe), and Nicolai’s The Merry wives of Windsor (Fr. Fluth). Ms. Janzen is able to combine her own extensive musical experience with a remarkable ability to train and motivate others, based on a genuine
affection and respect for each singer. A deep conviction that ordinary children can achieve extraordinary heights, guides her singers in the pursuit of excellence, resulting not only in the nurture of musical development, but also unprecedented personal growth, which instills confidence, poise, and determination. The rapt attention earned from her charges is reflected in their singing. The vision she shares has guided her
singers, individual vocal students as well as the choristers, to national recognition for excellence, having won numerous awards at the local, provincial and national/ international level.

Judith Janzen is a board member of the German National Association of Singing Teachers (BDG). In addition to her private vocal studio “Bühne frei” and teaching position at the conservatory level, Ms. Janzen holds a vocal teaching position at the University for Music and Theater in Saarbrücken since 2002. Her dedication to church music is evidenced by a life‐time of service to the church. From 1999 ‐ 2009 Ms. Janzen directed the Cathedral Singing School in Speyer. In great demand to share her expertise with all levels and ages, and known for her captivating warmth and enthusiasm, invitations to appear as adjudicator, lecturer and clinician have taken Ms. Janzen across the European Continent. Her dream to establish an International Children’s Choir Festival was fulfilled in 2002 with ʺTouch the Future”.