Eichstätter Jugendkantorei celebrates with 4,400 singers at the choir festival!

Eichstätter Jugendkantorei celebrates with 4,400 singers at the choir festival!

What's going on in Eichstätt? The city will soon become a musical center if the youth choir at Eichstätter Cathedral will be the musical host for the 45th International Festival of “Pueri Cantores” from July 16th to 20th, 2025. Under the title “Cantate Domino – many voices for peace – #comeandsing”, the event will attract over 4,400 young singers from 18 different countries to the Bavarian capital Munich.

A special highlight is the public concert “Come and Sing”, which will take place on July 15th at 7 p.m. in Eichstätter Cathedral. The experienced conductors Manfred Faig, Petra Verhoeven and Juliane Kathary take over the musical direction. A voluntary donation is requested for entry, while the concert is part of a multi-day exchange program with two other youth choirs from Germany.

A colorful exchange program

The guests from Düsseldorf and Koblenz will arrive in Eichstätt on July 12th and will be accommodated in host families. There are a number of exciting activities on the program together: In addition to rehearsals, there are performances on the Willibalds Week youth stage and co-organization of a service for those celebrating marriage anniversary. There is also a paddling tour on the Altmühl and a hike on the panoramic path to explore the surroundings together.

The highlight of the exchange is undoubtedly the joint rehearsal of all choirs in the impressive Eichstätter Cathedral. Shortly after these wonderful experiences, the guest choirs and the Eichstätter Jugendkantorei travel on to Munich to take part in the opening service on Marienplatz on July 16th.

Diverse program in Munich

A varied program is planned during the festival, including concerts, peace prayers and workshops. Participants have the opportunity to sing in social institutions and take part in meeting concerts in churches. A real feast for the ears will be the “Festival of Cultures”, which invites you to sing together on Marienplatz. Munich 25 has listed the most important venues such as the Munich Residence and various inner city churches.

The festival aims to not only sing, but also pray and celebrate together for peace. It is a platform that promotes exchange between different cultures and brings together choirs from countries such as Brazil, Italy, Uganda and many more.

A look at the future

The youth choir at Eichstätter Cathedral has already gained experience on the international stage and was active at previous festivals in Barcelona, ​​Florence and Rome. With such a rich program and the high number of participants, this year's festival will certainly be an unforgettable experience for everyone involved. The European Choral Association supports these events, which not only provide musical enrichment, but also help to strengthen community across borders.

So we can look forward to an impressive week full of music, joy and community. The countdown is running!