Michael Nonnenmann studied music education with a focus on conducting at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik Mannheim-Heidelberg and Protestant theology at Heidelberg University. He is one of the directors at Christophorus-Gymnasium and has been leading the Christophorus-Kantorei since 1993. In addition to that, he works as a juror and expert for choir competitions, festivals and further education programs. He developed a model choir class which became the basis for a successful choir teaching within the state school system. Furthermore, he developed a concept for coaching choir leaders: Choir members get the opportunity to pass the aptitude test for church music and be recommended to regional amateur choirs. Michael Nonnenmann is a scholarship holder of Deutscher Musikrat and was awarded the communal Kulturpreis in the town of Altensteig. It has been under his leadership that the choir has won multiple prizes.
Eberhard Schuler-Meybier was brought up early to the art of singing by the Christophorus-Kantorei. Interested in obtaining an education covering a wide spectrum of subjects, he first studied music education with a focus on singing and musicology in Karlsruhe and then completed his studies with majors in voice performance and voice teaching. He has had numerous engegaments as a singer and voice teacher, e.g. with the Tölzer Knabenchor, Kammerchor Stuttgart, Südwestrundfunk, Radio DRS. After a busy schedule of concerts at home and abroad, he is now working as a vocal coach at the Christophorus-Kantorei Altensteig.
For Eberhard Schuler-Meybier voice training helps children and young people to discover the natural power of their voice, to overcome fears and to compensate vocal weaknesses. Functional individual vocal training and coaching help boys and girls to go through the time when the voice is breaking as a process of vocal development without abandoning singing. Another focus is on the provision of basic choral techniques. This integrative concept is particularly useful in a youth choir and therefore our individual voice training with the choir differs from individual singing lessons.
Jeannette Bühler was a member of the Christophorus Kantorei and discovered the joy of singing there. First she studied singing at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik in Trossingen with Prof. Monika Moldenhauer and graduated as a concert soprano. Numerous master classes with Edith Mathis and Klesie Kelly expanded her vocal studies. Meanwhile Jeannette Bühler has become a concert soprano in international demand. Among others she worked together with Helmuth Rilling (Internationale Bach-Akademie), the Bayerische Philharmonie in Munich and the Bach-Akademie Zürich and appears regularly at international festivals.
For Jeannette Bühler it is important to develop joy and love of music in young people by singing. The aim is to enable them to use their voices without pressure and effort when singing or speaking, so that singing is a pure pleasure „without side effects“, such as hoarseness or fatigue. This is specifically achieved through exercises in posture, breathing and vocalization. Therefore, working on one’s own voice has a positive influence on personal development and promotes self-confidence.
Susanne Schuler Meybier received her organ training with Prof. Rolf Schweizer in Pforzheim. After that she studied musicology and music education with a focus on piano, which was followed by further diploma studies in song accompaniment with Prof. Rudolph Dennemarck at the Academy of Music in Karlsruhe. She also received a teaching assignment for coaching there and has been a sought-after accompanist in numerous recitals. In Altensteig, she has accompanied the Christophorus-Kantorei as a concert organist and has been teaching piano and flute at the music school.
