Basel Boys Choir

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The KKB's logo

Formed in 1927, the Basel Boys Choir (Knabenkantorei Basel, KKB) celebrated 80 years of singing history in 2007. The choir, formerly the Choir of the Swiss Evangelical Reformed Church of Basel, now has no denominational ties, singing both without and with instrumental accompaniment (orchestra and solo instrument). Its repertoire of religious and secular music ranges from Renaissance to contemporary.

Recent years have seen performances of the following works: the Magnificat and St. Mark Passion by Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach; the St. Matthew Passion, St. John Passion and The Christmas Oratorio by Johann Sebastian Bach; Saint Nicholas by Benjamin Britten; The Messiah by George Frideric Handel; the Requiem and Coronation Mass by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart; and St. Paul and Elijah by Felix Mendelssohn.

The KKB organizes its own concert programs, sings in concert with other choirs and accepts invitations for guest performances in and outside Switzerland: Maastricht (The Netherlands), St. Petersburg (Russia), New York, Seton Hall, Philadelphia (U.S.A), Hungary, Germany, Finland and Estonia. In spring 1998 the choir flew for its 70th anniversary to a successful concert-tour to South Africa. In 1999 the boys traveled to the Czech Republic, one year later they gave concerts in Berlin, Potsdam and Poznań. In summer 2002 the choir gave unforgettable concerts during a long and very successful Jubilee-trip through Brazil.

The choir sings regularly in religious services and at secular events as well as in operas and special productions. CD-Recording, Radio and TV broadcasts in and outside Switzerland are also part and parcel of the choir's activities. The KKB is also the host choir of the EJCF.

Since 1983, the choir had been conducted by Beat Raaflaub. In 2007 Raaflaub resigned and was succeeded by Markus Teutschbein.