Schola Cantorum Basiliensis

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The Schola Cantorum Basiliensis as a place to study

Concept
The Schola Cantorum Basiliensis - ‘Hochschule’ for Early Music (SCB) - is a unique forum for professional training in the field of Early Music. Furthermore, it is a center for research in historical music practise, and at the same time responsible for organizing a variety of public concerts. The instructors as well as the students come from many different countries of the world, guaranteeing a lively, stimulating, multilingual and multinational climate.

History
The SCB was founded in 1933 by Paul Sacher (1906-1999) as a private institute for teaching and research (‘Lehr und Forschungsinstitut’) in the field of Early Music. Two of the original instructors had a shaping influence on the development of the SCB - the cellist and gambist August Wenzinger (1905-1996) and the violinist and music pedagogue Ina Lohr (1903-1983). In 1954 the SCB, the ‘Musikschule der Stadt Basel’ (musical training for amateurs) and the ‘Konservatorium’ (professional school ) were united to become the ‘Musik-Akademie der Stadt Basel’. Paul Sacher remained Director until 1969. In 1999 the SCB received the title ‘Hochschule für Alte Musik’, and in 2008 it was integrated into the group of professional institutions of higher learning known as University of Applied Sciences and Arts FHNW (Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz FHNW).

One distinctive feature of the SCB is the division of responsibility in two areas:

The ‘Musikschule der SCB’ (‘general school’) is dedicated to the training of amateurs from Basel and environs, adults as well as children, according to the principles of ‘Hausmusik’ (music-making in the home), which was an important element of the school in it earliest phase.

The ‘Hochschule für Alte Musik’ (Professional school for Early Music) trains professional musicians in voice and historical instruments. This aspect was incorporated at the Schola’s beginnings by August Wenzinger, who for decades directed the internationally-active ‘Konzertgruppe der SCB’.