Abschlusskonzert | 24. Internationale A-cappella-Woche Hannover

In the organizer's words:

With: calens vocalensemble | Maybebop | Of Cabbages and Kings | New York Voices

It has long been a tradition at the Hanover International A Cappella Week, and even if it is clear that it is repeated every year, it is never the same: the big closing concert brings together once again the diversity of the vocal music scene that the ten days of the festival have already presented. As always, charmingly presented by Arndt Schmöle.

calens vocalensemble (GER)
Founded in spring 2022, the calens vocalensemble dedicates itself to the entire spectrum of classical vocal music with dedication, precision and deep expressiveness - from Renaissance works to Baroque and Romantic pieces to contemporary music and its own arrangements. The calens vocalensemble consists of eight experienced singers who are regularly active in renowned choirs such as the figure humaine Kammerchor, the Kammerchor Stuttgart and the Bundesjugendchor. In 2024, calens won first place and the audience prize at the 14th Leipzig International A Cappella Competition and received the special prize from the SommerMusikAkademie Schloss Hundisburg for the best unamplified ensemble. Today's contribution is intended as an appetizer for their own concert at the International A cappella Week Hanover 2027.

Maybebop (GER)
Nonchalant, humorous and inspiring - that's Maybebop, the Lower Saxony a cappella royalty consisting of Oliver Gies, Jan Bürger, Lukas Teske and Christoph Hiller. They combine pop lightness, jazzy finesse and crystal-clear intonation - a sound that delights both young singers and established vocal fans. At the same time, they give well-known rock hits as well as folk songs a completely new vocal guise. Maybebop has won several awards and is now regarded as one of the defining protagonists of the German a cappella scene.

Of Cabbages And Kings (GER / AUT / UK)
After a decade of intensive collaboration and three groundbreaking albums, the vocal quartet Of Cabbages And Kings has established itself as one of the most innovative ensembles at the interface of jazz, creative music and contemporary vocal music in Germany. The four singers combine the highest level of soloistic individuality with a multi-layered, characteristic ensemble sound. Of Cabbages And Kings know how to invite the audience not only as silent observers, but also as part of their sonic center and to enter into an active dialogue.

New York Voices
The New York Voices are regarded as one of the world's best vocal jazz ensembles. Their repertoire spans a stylistic arc from pop to R&B to bossa nova - a chameleon quartet that is constantly discovering new timbres. After 38 years in which Kim Nazarian (soprano), Lauren Kinhan (alto), Peter Eldridge (baritone) and Darmon Meader (tenor) have recorded music, toured and spent their musical lives together, they will close this chapter at the end of 2026 and bid farewell with a final, unforgettable performance with a very special line-up.

The concert will take place as part of the 24th International A Cappella Week Hanover (April 25 to May 3, 2026). More information at: www.acappellawoche.com

Since 2001, the Hanover International A cappella Week has been inspiring the lively choral scene in and around the city for almost a quarter of a century. Founded by Sandra van de Loo and Roger Cericius, the festival quickly developed from a one-off event to an annual highlight, only taking a break in 2020/21 due to the pandemic. Every year, established greats of the a cappella world meet up with up-and-coming newcomers and present themselves and their skills in concerts that could not be more diverse. Exciting workshops and master classes during the festival also give rise to new musical collaborations that enrich the regional cultural landscape in the long term. To date, over 200 concerts with several thousand international artists have been presented, delighting around 100,000 visitors from all over the world. As one of the two leading vocal festivals in Germany (alongside Leipzig), the Hanover International A Cappella Week is regarded internationally as a beacon of the scene.