In 2002 the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival Choir Academy was founded as an educational component to the Orchestral Academy at Schloss Salzau. This integral element of the festival was originally established by Leonard Bernstein. A central goal of Artistic Director Rolf Beck is, to delineate the beauty and advantages of choral music for participating singers within the academy who wish to establish a professional solo music career. Former choir academy members proudly support the insightful words of distinguished conductor Rolf Beck: »Through ensemble music singers learn proficient means in how to properly execute musical phrasing in various styles of repertoire. As well, they obtain and refine several important skills such as maintaining tuning whilst keeping an open ear to surrounding musicians within the group. This confluence of developing independent artistry and integrated singing within an ensemble is absolutely necessary for all aspiring singers to achieve; especially when they later appear on-stage in opera and other repertoire involving solistic singing with orchestras.« The unique advantage for selected singers to heighten their musical aptitude within the academy is vast and rich. Through the festival’s wide variety of concert programmes with influential conductors, every young singer benefits greatly from the knowledge and skills gained at the Choir Academy.

The Choir Academy is sponsored by the POSSEHL Stiftung, Lübeck, and the Klaus Murmann Familiy.