Institute of Gregorian chant
at the Folkwang University of the Arts
Courses on Gregorian chant have been among the special courses on offer at the Folkwang University of the Arts for 40 years. A full professorship in Gregorian chant and Liturgy was established in 1981. The first person to hold the position was the well-known choral expert Prof. Godehard Joppich.
Among its other activities, the Institute of Gregorian chant at the Folkwang University of the Arts is committed to planning and organising International summer courses on Gregorian chant, for which around 60 participants come to Essen every year from all over Europe.
In addition to this, the Institute has taken on the management of the Gregorian EUREGIO.
Another central activity of the new Institute is planning and holding events in which the Folkwang University of the Arts is involved as part of the “Ruhr 2010 – European Capital of Culture” program. The Hochshule’s Schola, the “VOX WERDENSIS” ensemble, is designing several concerts with music from the Werden monastery (“Musica enchiriadis”) and the Essen cathedral (“Essener Osterspiel” – Essen Passion Play). These concerts will take place in cooperation with the Essen Cathedral Treasury, the Folkwang Hochschule, the Wolfsburg Catholic Academy / Diocese of Essen and the Essen Philharmonie.