2012 International Choral Ensemble

Michael Klaue
Email: Michael.Klaue@web.de

Ahrensburg, 11/19/2011

To all the members of the Blue Lake International Choir 2012

Hi, everybody,

my name is Michael Klaue and only a few days ago I was asked to be the director of
the Blue Lake International Choir 2012. I did not hesitate long to accept. Since 1973 I
have been connected with Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. I feel highly honoured and
would like to give back a little of what I received from it.

May I introduce myself to you: I was born in Hamburg/Germany in 1955 (so I am a
real „Hamburger“...) and visited the United States of America in 1973 for the first time
in my life through the International Program of Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. In 1974 I
was camp counsellor, in 1975 international counsellor - under the direction of Fritz
and Gretchen Stansell and with the camper Bill McFarlin!

After my studies at the university of Hamburg I got a job as a music teacher in
Ahrensburg and since 1985 many Blue Lake groups have stayed there for a few days
in the summer. In return my choirs and orchestras toured the U.S.A. with the help of
Blue Lake. You can find all this on the website of BLFAC.

Our repertoire for the 2012 tour I did not chose. However, I feel that it will represent
high quality American choral literature as well as some German highlights by
Beethoven and Brahms. Your European audience will love it! And then there is the
Verdi Requiem! In Europe it is quite well known - beautiful music with a text that will
make us think about our lives and what is really important for us!

May I invite you to study the text? You can find some useful information about the
pronunciation and the meaning of the Latin words under: http://www.fergusblack.com/tips_and_links/choral_notes/verdi_requiem.html . For those of you who understand something about Latin: We will use the Italian-Latin pronunciation. I will teach you in April 2012 - do not worry! In December Blue Lake will send you the Robert Shaw/ Atlanta Symphony Orchestra recording. Just listen to it as often as possible! Also here is a link for practicing your part: http://www.cyberbass.com/Major_Works/Verdi_G/verdi.htm . Please, check it out! It can be a wonderful help - if you are not able to play the piano yourselves...

I am sure we will have an exciting summer together in the US and in Europe! Take
care, have a not too cold winter, do not catch a cold and feel free to contact me if you
have any questions!

See you in April 2012!

All the best to you all,

Michael Klaue

Michael Klaue, Musical Director

Michael Klaue is currently conductor of the Jugend-Sinfonieorchester Ahrensburg (Ahrensburg Youth Symphony Orchestra) in Ahrensburg, Germany, and since 2002, has served on the conducting faculty of the Hochschule für Musik Hamburg (Music State Conservatory of Hamburg.) He is dedicated to creating intercultural understanding and worldwide peace through music, and had instituted youth exchange projects with numerous orchestras and choirs from throughout Europe, Japan, and the United States.

Upon graduation from the Hochschule für Musik Hamburg in 1984, he began his career in music education at the Stormarnschule Ahrensburg. Shortly thereafter, he founded the Jugendkammerchor Ahrensburg” (Ahrensburg Youth Chamber Choir), which won several prizes in the all German State Choir Competition and other international choir competitions.

In 1986, he was appointed to found and conduct the Landesjugendchor Schleswig-Holstein (State Youth Choir of Schleswig-Holstein), and has conducted other regional choirs in northern Germany. Klaue‘s repertoire reaches from world famous a cappella literature to the well known oratorios by Bach, Handel, Mozart, Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Dvorák, and Orff with full symphony orchestra and symphonic concert choir.

Michael began his relationship with Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp as a camper in 1973, and in subsequent years, served as a summer camp and international tour counselor.  A long time member of the Blue Lake European Advisory Council, he has hosted numerous Blue Lake International groups in Germany and has brought the Ahrensburg Youth Symphony Orchestra to the United States on numerous occasions under the auspices of the Blue Lake International Exchange Program.