Portsmouth choir to perform for German chancellor on tour
Portsmouth's Cantando FVC Choir will play three concerts across Germany
A female voice choir from Portsmouth are embarking on a tour of Germany to accompany a 60-piece windband orchestra, and will perform for the German chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Cantando FVC Choir is a Portsmouth-based female voice choir founded by Becs Robertson in 2012, and on August 20th , 41 of its members will depart for a four day tour of Germany, playing concerts in Siegburg, Wissen and Kaiserslautern.
Becs Robertson established the choir in 2014, starting with only six members, after the birth of her first child.
“I am a music teacher, and I wanted to have something a bit different to do and to get me out the house and try to meet other women,” she said.
“Everybody is from all walks of life, some have children, some are retired, it's really lovely,” said Becs.
She said: “It will be a really amazing experience and really great for us to be able to do well and represent Portsmouth.”
The choir will accompany conductor and composer Sven Hellinghausen and a 60-piece German orchestra, playing concerts at concert halls, cathedrals and churches.
The choir have sung with the orchestra before in 2024, playing a concert at The Gaiety on South Parade Pier, when the German players decided they wanted to perform in Portsmouth and reached out to Becs.
One performance is set to be attended by Friedrich Merz, the German chancellor.
“We’re going to sing a total mix, some Tina Turner, some Bruno Mars,” said Becs. “We are all really looking forward to it.”