O Freunde, perfect harmony!
O Freunde, Perfect harmony!
This is where we introduce selected Kurtz Ersa employees and their diverse hobbies. In this issue we are proud to present a very special group that works together as seamlessly as one of our castings – the Kurtz Ersa HAMMERCHOR, our choir founded in 1979 for our 200-year celebrations, which for the last two years has been expertly led by state-qualified music teacher and choir conductor Petra Röhrig of Röttbach.
The Hammerchor is in great demand whenever there is a special occasion at Kurtz Ersa – company celebrations, Christmas parties, birthdays, anniversaries or, as last October, as a support act for the blues concert we staged at the Forge Hammer museum. The choir’s organisation is in the capable hands of Margit Freudenberger, who has worked in Purchasing for Kurtz Maschinenfabrik since early 1980, and who has herself been an active member of the choir for at least fifteen years. When she receives a definite enquiry about a performance, she first agrees the date with choir conductor Petra Röhrig, who, in addition to the Hammerchor, also leads choirs for children and young people, as well as male voice and women’s choirs. Once the date has been confirmed, the 25 active members of the in-house Hammerchor are rounded up and rehearsals begin in the canteen at the Wiebelbach site.
The passion and enthusiasm of Petra Röhrig is clear to anyone who has ever seen the Hammerchor perform live – her belief that “If you want to set others alight, you need to burn with fire in your own belly”, based on a quote by church father Augustine, says it all. And all the choir members clearly experience the joy of singing, of bringing together individual voices as one. Petra Röhrig has played the piano since the age of six, and after finishing school she studied piano, music teaching and choir and orchestral conducting at the Würzburg Konservatorium; she is a state-qualified music teacher. She thus has a broad musical background on which she can draw, bringing creative inspiration to the ever-expanding Hammerchor repertoire.
Perfect antidote to working environment
Of course, the “Hammerschmied”, the old favourite about the thirsty hammer mill smith, is an essential part of every performance, but the programme also includes plenty of rock, pop and blues songs. The Hammerchor’s version of “Tage wie diese” (Days Like These), by German band Die Toten Hosen, is a firm favourite at all events and occasions. Petra Röhrig called on all her musical talent to arrange it perfectly for the choir, and with other pieces she also adds a third harmony part. The choir’s organiser, Margit Freudenberger, is delighted by the support the choir gets in every respect from Kurtz Ersa. The members all agree that the choir provides a perfect antidote to the stressful working environment – it should not be forgotten that rehearsals and performances take place in employees’ valuable free time.
But with hand on heart, all who have ever been a part of the choir, and experienced the power that is gained from many voices melting into one, know just how rewarding it is. So calling all, old, middle-aged or young – do you enjoy singing in the shower (or anywhere else) and want to try your hand at performing in public? Why not join the Hammerchor and get the singing bug!