Ensemble

Dr. Emanuel Signer, from Winterthur, studied musicology and English literature at the University of Zurich. In 2019 he received his PhD in Music from the University of Cambridge and Queens’ College, Cambridge, with a thesis on Italian music printing in late 16th and early 17th century Italy. Further studies took him to the Zurich University of the Arts (CAS Organ) and to the teaching diploma for Matura schools at the University of Zurich.

In addition to his freelance work as a musicologist and teacher, Emanuel has been a lecturer for orchestra and chamber music at the Bärenreiter publishing house in Kassel (D) since 2019.

Severin Hosang is currently enrolled in the MAS Fundraising Management programme at Zurich University of Applied Sciences. A graduate of the University of Zurich, he has completed degrees in Political Sciences and Modern History. As part of the team of the Musikkollegium Winterthur he is responsible for fundraising, sponsoring, and partnerships. He is co-manager of the Zurich Chamber Singers. His recent career path includes employment as assistant to the management office of the Musikkollegium Winterthur, as Junior Public Affairs Specialist at AXA Switzerland, and as executive director of the Winterthur (municipality) branch of the FDP.The Liberals political party.

As a young recorder player Severin was awarded first prizes of numerous music competitions. He attended master classes with Maurice Steger, Michala Petri, and Conrad Steinmann. As a singer he was trained at the choral programme at Konservatorium Winterthur with Christoph Bachmann and Peter Mächler.

David Gurtner, born 1987 in Winterthur, studied percussion and timpani at the Zurich University of the Arts with Klaus Schwärzler, Rainer Seegers and Raphael Christen as well as voice with David Thorner. In 2015 he completed his Master of Arts in Music Performance with distinction, and in 2019 his Master of Arts in Music Pedagogy, also with distinction. He was a member of the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester and now performs regularly as a freelance percussionist with the Basel Symphony Orchestra, the Musikkollegium Winterthur, the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich, CHAARTS Chamber Artists and various other ensembles. Tours have taken him throughout Europe as well as to China, South Korea and Taiwan, and various CD recordings document his work.

He is a member and co-director of the vocal ensemble The Zurich Chamber Singers, a member of the percussion ensemble DeciBells in Basel, as well as a member of the executive board of the Kulturzentrum Gaswerk in Winterthur. Since 2019, he has also been working for the Canton of Zurich as a sound and noise specialist for musical events.

Classical music has been important to Andrea Erny, born 1993 in Winterthur, ever since her childhood years. For thirteen years she received cello tuition with Alfred Felder at the Konservatorium Winterthur, where she also attended the choral training programme. Andrea is continuing her training as a singer with Simona Moràn.

Andrea graduated from the University of Zurich with degrees in history and Italian language and literature. Her passion for Italian culture took her to Florence in 2015, where she spent a year studying the country and its culture. Since completing her studies, she continues speaking Italian regularly with family and friends. While still nurturing her interests in music and Italian culture, Andrea’s professional life is now entirely dedicated to historical sciences as part of her employment at the University of Bern.

“The Zurich Chamber Singers make an important contribution to the professional choral scene with their refined sound culture. In their work it becomes clear which boundaries professional choral singing can break and I wish the ensemble and its director Christian Erny much success and deserved support!”

“I count myself fortunate for having encountered the Zurich Chamber Singers in my musical path. How wonderful to meet a group of young, energetic and dynamic voices, yet with the seriousness and preparation of a well-seasoned ensemble. I am looking forward to many future collaborations, and to witnessing the ensemble’s surely astonishing development during the years to come!”

“Since I have been following the Zurich Chamber Singers under the direction of Christian Erny, I have been fascinated and taken in by the energy and expressiveness of these young voices. The choir then fully convinced me with its new album O nata lux. The subtle and well-balanced sound, the musical power and sensitive programming never fail to grab me, so that the CD continues to resound with me long after Christmas. I wish the promising ensemble and its conductor all the success they deserve and am pleased to support this project with my name.”

“The Zurich Chamber Singers have already earned a place (with the predicate “please discover”) among professional choirs. I would like to hear this vocal ensemble with Monteverdi, Bach but also Honegger or Pärt, because this is exactly where its uniqueness shows: the versatility in sound, articulation, colour and expression. Wonderful. I will follow and support the Zurich Chamber Singers on their way with great interest.”