Full Moon - Die Wernigeröder Gospelnacht
The Wernigerode Gospel Night
Choirs: Hearts Wide Open (Wernigerode), Rainbow Singers (Gernrode), Gospel Choir of the Gymnasium "Am Thie" (Blankenburg), "The Musical Ones" (Halberstadt)
Together with Hearts Wide Open, the host choir of the Evangelical Church District of Halberstadt, Wernigerode Tourismus GmbH is hosting the FULL MOON Gospel Night for the second time at the Liebfrauen Concert Hall. Gospel choirs from Wernigerode and the region will present heartfelt and captivating spirituals and gospel songs from Africa, Europe, and America on the stage of the concert hall during the full moon night in February, such as Good News, Siyahambra, Oh Freedom, You Are Holy, and many more. Participating are Hearts Wide Open (Wernigerode/Halberstadt), the Rainbow Singers (Gernrode), the Gospel Choir of the Gymnasium "Am Thie" (Blankenburg), and for the first time "The Musical Ones" (Halberstadt).
"Hearts Wide Open" is a regional gospel choir supported by the Evangelical Church District of Halberstadt. The choir, which since 2024 has united the former Drübeck Monastery Gospel Choir and the Wernigerode Gospel Project into a new choir, is led by district cantor Olaf Engel. Olaf Engel is a trained church musician (A) and has been working along with his wife Anne Engel in the New Evangelical Congregation in Wernigerode since 2014. He is also active as a district cantor throughout the region. Since 2016, he has been leading the annual gospel project in Wernigerode, which has been very popular from the outset.
The Rainbow Singers were founded in 2000 by Andrea Rittweger in Gernrode. In addition to regular concerts and performances at community festivals, weddings, baptisms, and charity events, two concert tours to Hungary - the homeland of the choir director - have been previous highlights of the choir. Andrea Rittweger studied church music in Halle and is a church musician in the Unterharz association of the Anhalt Evangelical Church. She had her first intensive contacts with gospel music during a stay in an American congregation. The enthusiasm for this music she experienced there was brought back to Gernrode and is passed on to the choir singers.
The Gospel Choir of the Gymnasium "Am Thie" from Blankenburg was founded in 1984 by Ortrud Baldovski and has been led by her daughter Evelyn Baldovski in the second generation since its 30th anniversary in November 2024. Students from grades 8 to 12 learn the wonders of music, the uniqueness of communal singing, and the holistic effect on body and soul in full during the learning of traditional spirituals outside of class.
The choir "The Musical Ones" emerged in 2024 from the musical projects in the eastern region of the Halberstadt church district and has since become a regularly rehearsing, lively ensemble of around 25 music-loving individuals who share a joy for singing together. What started as a one-time stage adventure has developed into a solid community, characterized by openness, energy, and a love for music. The repertoire of the Musical Ones is as colorful as their voices: powerful gospels, vibrant musical songs, pop hits, and of course, also classic hymns. The choir is led by church musician and pastor Christian Plötner.
Admission: 6:30 PM