Thomanerchor Leipzig

The beginning of the long and unique tradition of the Thomanerchor Leipzig dates back more than 800 years. In 1212 the German emperor Otto the Fourth ordered to establish a choir for the abbey of St. Thomas in Leipzig. The choir members, the so-called Thomaner, had from the outset the privilege and the obligation to sing at services such as baptisms, weddings, funerals as well as Council and University celebrations. They could rely on the St. Thomas School Leipzig for quality education, which could lead to university access.
At the beginning of the Reformation in Leipzig the St. Thomas School and its choir were placed under the patronage of the City in 1543. Thus, the choir is Leipzig‘s oldest cultural institution. Leipzig subsequently became an important center of music.
Many outstanding musicians have influenced the development of the choir as Thomaskantor and influenced the musical history of Protestant church music. They were not only important musicians and composers, but also important role models for the Thomaner. The 27-year lasting cantorship of Thomaskantor Johann Sebastian Bach made the most effective impression on Leipzig’s musical history and also on the Thomanerchor Leipzig.
Thomanerchor Leipzig is a musical Ambassador to the world and annually attracts many thousand guests from all over the world to Leipzig and to the famous St. Thomas Church Leipzig.