The choir was founded in 1920 as a men’s choir under the name “Sängerfreed”, a name it has proudly kept so far.
In 1945 it was affiliated as a mixed choir to the UGDA, at the instigation of Jos Kinzé, choirmaster at the time.
In 1953, the Municipality of Bettembourg conferred the title of Municipal Choir to our society to honour its merits and its efforts in spreading the choral singing, the culture and the name of Bettembourg in the Great Region.
The choral repertoire includes a wide range of secular works such as Carmina Burana by Carl Orff. The current success of the choir is, however, greatly due to our spiritual music concerts, such as Mozart’s Coronation Mass, Schubert’s Mass in G major, Vivaldi’s Gloria in D major, Gounod’s Solemn Mass in honor of St. Cecilia, Michael Haydn’s Missa in Honorem Sancti Dominici, Josef Rheinberger’s Star of Bethlehem (der Stern von Bethlehem), Michael Haydn’s Jubiläumsmesse and Carl Maria von Weber’s Jubelmesse. On these occasions, the choir is accompanied by the Ensemble Estro Armonico, a Luxembourg chamber orchestra.
In summer, the choir traditionally programs a lay concert, known as the “Schlassconcert”, and sings at the castle of Bettembourg, whereas in winter, the decanal church of Bettembourg hosts our yearly spiritual concert. On invitation and on special occasions, the choir performs special concerts in Bettembourg, at other places in Luxembourg and abroad.
Nancy Back-Kelsen has been our manager since 1996. Currently, the choir includes about 75 active members and although they are mostly Bettembourg-rooted, the choir also welcomes a growing number of members from neighbouring places.
Singing is not only good for your health – it also keeps your spirits bright!