Culture enthusiasts can get to know a very special choir in Leipzig during the Christmas season. The "Sing&Sign" ensemble combines singing, signing and performance to make the performances as inclusive as possible for members and visitors. The almost 30 participants include hearing, deaf and hard of hearing people, as well as people with other disabilities.
The project was initiated by Susanne Haupt. The 51-year-old soprano studied singing in Leipzig and later earned her living in the music and education sector.
In 2015, she came up with the idea for the inclusive project: when the Christmas Oratorio was frequently performed in the Bach city of Leipzig at the time, she noticed that people with disabilities were often excluded, both here and in classical music in general. To change this, she started meeting with deaf people and talking to them about music. The choir project really got going in 2019, says the project manager.
More understanding for deaf culture through a change of perspective
Haupt says that it was not her intention to simply "dress up the music with signs". By combining singing, German sign language, sign language and elements of so-called deaf performance, she wants to make the choir's performances inclusive for the participants and the audience. This makes the ensemble unique in Germany and Europe, says Haupt.
But the choir's events are also recommended for hearing people. Music can be perceived differently in this context, more holistically. At the same time, people learn something about deaf culture through the change of perspective, explains the project manager.
The "Sing&Sign" sign language choir has already performed the St. John Passion this year. The ensemble is currently rehearsing once a week to give an inclusive performance of the Christmas Oratorio at various locations in Leipzig at the beginning of December.
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