Young Voices Brandenburg

The Young Voices Brandenburg are a jazz and popular music choir of over 20 voices, composed of 18 to 26-year-old male and female singers. The musical ensemble is specifically auditioned from the State of Brandenburg, Germany on a two-year rotation. They have toured the United States, China, and South Africa as well as having recorded numerous highly acclaimed CDs. The group has been featured with prominent media periodicals/broadcasts such as Der Tagesspiegel, Cue TV and RBB.[1][2][3][4][5]

The ensemble has been conducted by acclaimed jazz and pop singer/educator Marc Secara since its beginnings in 2000 until the year 2019. The ensemble was initiated in 2000; their first CD release was that same year.[6][7] The Young Voices Brandenburg has been a highly successful educational and musical organization sponsored by Verband der Musik- und Kunstschulen Brandenburg, Deutscher Musikrat, Deutsches Musikinformationszentrum. Their record label (Junge Töne) is also sponsored by this state agency and also supports an honors youth symphony orchestra and jazz ensemble from Brandenburg, Germany.[3] The Young Voices Brandenburg is a unique project, no other German state offers younger singers this type of choral ensemble.

Young Voices Brandenburg style and music is influenced by groups dating back through the 1920s in Germany and United States such as the Comedian Harmonists and Gospel choirs of Thomas Dorsey. More contemporary pop and jazz harmony oriented groups they draw from are the Hi-Lo's, Swingle Singers, Singers Unlimited, Manhattan Transfer, Take 6 and the New York Voices. The repertoire for the group has been commissioned from noted composers/arrangers in Europe and the United States to include Nicolai Thärichen, Darmon Meader, Juan Garcia, Jack Cooper, Friedemann Matzeit, Tanja Pannier and Matthias Knoche.[6]