2026

Originating from a choir project performing G. F. Händel's Messiah, the choir was founded in 1986 as "Ramstein Community Choir", receiving its current name 2 years later. We celebrated our 40th anniversary with a selection of pieces we performed in the past years, giving our audience a "Best of RPIC" concert. We were delighted to welcome two former choir directors, Stephanie Benton and Dr. Patrick Casey, as guest directors. In its June 2nd edition, the Rheinpfalz newspaper reviewed the concert in the almost fully packed Otterberg Abbey Church in the article "Atmospheric Soundscapes".

Here's the program order (please see the program brochure for details):

• Tshotsholoza - Todd Matshikiza (1959), Arr. Jeffery L. Ames (2011)

• Ave Maria - Franz Biebl (1959/1985)

• Zigeunerleben - Robert Schumann, Text: Emanuel Geibel (1840)

• Ederlezi -  - Traditional Bosnian Romani Folk Song, Arr. Imre Ploeg (2020)

• Ubi Caritas - Ola Gjeilo (1999)

• Dies Irae (aus Requiem) - Michael John Trotta (2020)

• Sure on This Shining Night (aus Nocturnes) - Morten Lauridsen (2005), Text: James Agee (1934)
  Guest Conductor: Dr. Patrick Casey

• Earth Song - Frank Ticheli (2007)
  Guest Conductor: Dr. Patrick Casey

• The Parting Glass - Irish Trad., Arr.: Stephen Ross, Benjamin Lunstad (2019)

• In Time of Silver Rain - Audrey Snyder (1995), Text: Langston Hughes (1947)

• Tambur - Volkslied "Ungaresca", Jacob Paix (1583), Text: Karoly Vargha (1949), Arr.: Lajos Bárdos (1951)

• A Salty Dog - Gary Brooker/Keith Reed (1969), Arr.: Hans Kauf (2024)

• Fair Phyllis I Saw - John Farmer (1599)

• A Little Ludwig - Arr.: Jim Clements (2020)

• Sleep - Eric Whitacre, Text: Charles Anthony Silvestri (2000)

• Cloudburst - Eric Whitacre, Text: Octavio Paz (1993)

• Crabbuckit - Kevin Brereton, Arr.: Melody Hine (2004)

• Will the Circle Be Unbroken - Charles H. Gabriel (1908), Text: B. Rose, C. Winter & M. Taylor (1988), Arr.: J. David Moore (2011)

Encore:

• It's All Right - Curtis Mayfield (1963), Arr.: Robert T. Gibson (2021)

The Rhineland-Palatinate International Choir celebrated its 40th anniversary, St. Michael’s Catholic Church its 90th, and Kaiserslautern Erzhütten its 300th. To mark these three anniversaries, the choir presented a musical retrospective of the past decades, bringing together highlights from the ensemble’s wide-ranging repertoire - pieces that have particularly moved both the choir and listeners in recent years.

Here's the program order (please see the program brochure for details):

• Tshotsholoza - Todd Matshikiza (1959), Arr. Jeffery L. Ames (2011)

• Ave Maria - Franz Biebl (1959/1985)

• Zigeunerleben - Robert Schumann, Text: Emanuel Geibel (1840)

• Ubi Caritas - Ola Gjeilo (1999)

• Dies Irae (aus Requiem) - Michael John Trotta (2020)

• Sure on This Shining Night (aus Nocturnes) - Morten Lauridsen (2005), Text: James Agee (1934)
  Guest Conductor: Dr. Patrick Casey

• Earth Song - Frank Ticheli (2007)
  Guest Conductor: Dr. Patrick Casey

• The Parting Glass - Irish Trad., Arr.: Stephen Ross, Benjamin Lunstad (2019)

• In Time of Silver Rain - Audrey Snyder (1995), Text: Langston Hughes (1947)

• Tambur - Volkslied "Ungaresca", Jacob Paix (1583), Text: Karoly Vargha (1949), Arr.: Lajos Bárdos (1951)

• A Salty Dog - Gary Brooker/Keith Reed (1969), Arr.: Hans Kauf (2024)

• Fair Phyllis I Saw - John Farmer (1599)

• A Little Ludwig - Arr.: Jim Clements (2020)

• Sleep - Eric Whitacre, Text: Charles Anthony Silvestri (2000)

• Cloudburst - Eric Whitacre, Text: Octavio Paz (1993)

• Crabbuckit - Kevin Brereton, Arr.: Melody Hine (2004)

• Will the Circle Be Unbroken - Charles H. Gabriel (1908), Text: B. Rose, C. Winter & M. Taylor (1988), Arr.: J. David Moore (2011)

Encore:

• It's All Right - Curtis Mayfield (1963), Arr.: Robert T. Gibson (2021)