Johannes D. Schendel was born in Kaufbeuren in 1975 and attended the music high school in Marktoberdorf. He began his vocal training at the age of 16 with Gabriele Hahn in Kaufbeuren and, from 1996, studied singing at the HfMDK in Frankfurt am Main with Prof. Michael Schopper and, from June 1999, also in the chamber music class of Professor Rainer Hoffmann and the song class of Charles Spencer. In April 2000, he was awarded a scholarship by the German National Academic Foundation and in 2001, together with Hilko Dumno, he was accepted into the national selection “Concerts of Young Artists” as a scholarship holder of the German Music Competition. Johannes Schendel graduated with honors in concert singing and was subsequently appointed to teach singing as a major subject at the HfMDK Frankfurt. Since 2007, Schendel has been a permanent member of the RIAS Chamber Choir, where he frequently performs as a soloist. As an experienced concert singer, he has performed on the most important concert stages in Europe, the USA, and Asia, has worked with radio stations in Germany and abroad, and has sung under renowned conductors such as Sigiswald Kuijken, Sylvain Cambreling, and René Jacobs.

What fascinates you about singing?

Music is the most direct art form, capable of evoking the most intense emotions. Singing, in turn, is the most expressive way of performing music. Talent, diligence, and absolute dedication are required to make a living as a professional singer. Self-discipline, self-assessment, and the ability to work in a team then lead to those wonderful moments when you are making music in concert and deeply moving yourself and others.