Birgitte Næslund Madsen took over as conductor of Aarhus Girls’ Choir in 2021.
Birgitte has a master’s degree in musicology, english and french and until 2021 she worked as lecturer at Egaa Gymnasium. Here she taught music and english and took a big part in building the school’s comprehensive musical environment from the school’s start in 2005.
In 2006 she started Hjortshøj Girls’ Choir (with Lene Juul Langballe), in 2008 EVE, in 2012 Junior EVE and latest in 2015 she started Youth Choir Aarhus U (with Carsten Seyer-Hansen). Today she is the conductor of the girls’ choir EVE, Landskoret, Aarhus Music School’s Juniorkor, The Royal Academy of Music’s Girls’ Choir and Aarhus Girls’ Choir.
From 2016-2021 Birgitte Næslund Madsen was affiliated with Danish National Opera’s talent program “Talent U” and has handled different tasks such as helping with the development of the shows Carmen(2018) and Dracula(2020) at the Danish National Opera.
With EVE Birgitte has achieved impressive ranks in international choir competitions (European Choir Games and Grand Prix of Nations in 2017 and 2019), a place in the finale of Denmark’s Got Talent in 2018 and has participated in big concert events with recognized musicians such as The Real Group and tv·2.
Birgitte Næslund Madsen musical profile is characterized by a respect and interest for both classical, rythmic and folk music and this is reflected in her choirs’ repetoires. She also finds the dramatic and choreographic aspect particularly interesting and works to integrate this into her choirs.
Birgitte Næslund Madsen also has a history of semi-professional choral singing. Until 2015, where she chose to stop this part of her work in favor of being a choir conductor, she was part of the award winning vocal group Concert Clemens which is one of the best in Denmark.
In 2021 Birgitte Næslund Madsen was hired as conductor by Aarhus Music School where she now conducts Aarhus Music School’s Juniorkor, The Royal Academy of Music’s Girls’ Choir and Aarhus Girls’ Choir
Our former conductor
Helle Høyer Vedel graduated as music teacher in 1981 and music director in 1984 from Det Jyske Musikkonservatorium (The Royal Academy of Music, Aarhus).
Since 1979, Helle Høyer Vedel has been the conductor of several choirs in Aarhus and the surrounding region. In 1981 she was employed as choirmaster at Aarhus Musikskole (Aarhus Music School) and she has especially focussed on childrens’ and youth choir work. For a number of years Helle worked with both the youngest choir singers at the music school and the youth choir. Since 1999, however, she has concentrated her effort on singers between the ages of 12 and 24 and she now conducts Aarhus Musikskole’s Juniorkor (Aarhus Music School’s Childrens’ Choir), Aarhus Pigekor (Aarhus Girls’ Choir) and since January 2016 the vocal ensemble Korvida (choir for young women).
At the same time Helle Høyer Vedel has been an appreciated lecturer in children’s choirs conductingat Det Jyske Musikkonservatorium and she has conducted Det Jyske Musikkonservatoriums Pigekor (The Girls’ choir at the Royal Academy of Music, Aarhus) since 1986.
Over the years, while she has worked with the young singers, Helle Høyer Vedel has also conducted several mixed choirs: Højbjerg Mixed Choir (1981-1988), Bel Canto (1985-1990), Klosterkirkens Kor i Horsens (Horsens Abbey Chourch Choir) (1990-1992), Hummerkoret (1988-2004), and Jysk Akademisk Kor (2006-2008).
Helle Høyer Vedel has been an instructor at many choir events and conductor courses and at several occasions she has conducted concerts with her own choirs or training choirs together with Aarhus Symfoniorkester (Aarhus Symphonic Orchestra) and Aarhus Jazz Orchestra.
For several years, Helle Høyer Vedel has been the chairman for the DAKU music committee (Danish amateur choir union). DAKU has, among other things, arranged education for conductors, appointed the “Danish Choir Composer of the Year”, hosted choir competitions etc.
From 2009 to 2013, Helle Høyer Vedel was appointed a member of the Board of Representatives of the Danish Arts Council.
Helle Høyer Vedel’s discography:
With Hummerkoret (1997)
”Kærlighedssonetter af Michael Bojesen” – Danica records
With Det Jyske Musikkonservatoriums Pigekor (1999)
”Vi kommer med sommer” – kan rekvireres på Det Jyske Musikkonservatorium
With Aarhus Musikskoles Pige- og Drengekor 2 (2000)
”Bag alle stjerner” – Busk og Lund Forlag
With Århus Musikskoles Pige- og Drengekor 2, Det Jyske Musikkonservatoriums Pigekor og Konservatoriets Pigekor (2001)
”Let the sunshine in” – Corona Music
With Det Jyske Musikkonservatoriums Pigekor (2006)
”Du skal plante et træ” – Classico
With Aarhus Pigekor (2008)
”Jorden rundt med Århus Pigekor” -CDklassisk
With Aarhus Pigekor (2011)
”Perler og krystaller” – CDklassisk
With Aarhus Pigekor (2015)
”Musical MOveMENTS” – Hänssler Classic