HEAVY MEDAL CHORUS
Musical Director
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Since the age of 11, the Cologne native has been singing in various choirs and a cappella ensembles. He was a founding member and co-conductor of the "First Cologne Barbershop Choir" and a few years later one of the founding fathers of BinG! With his then quartet "Viertakt" he won the first German championship title in barbershop singing in 1993. Since 2010 Norbert Hammes leads the women's choir "Barbershop Blend" from Geldern. Currently he sings bass in the mixed quartet O-TON. The idea to unite medal winners of the German Barbershop Quartet Championships in one choir came to him in 2011 and so Heavy Medal had its first performance under his direction in 2012! When he is not making music, he runs his business as a master hearing care professional.
Matthias studied classical guitar at the Cologne Academy of Music between 1990 and 1995. Already at the beginning of this time, barbershop singing completed his musical activities, and he quickly became a member of the First Cologne Barbershop Choir. In 1997, its founder Kurt Gerhardt passed the baton to him. At first he conducted the choir together with a partner and since 2010 until today he is the sole musical director. In 2004 and 2006 he won the Gold Medal with the quartet "Inflagranti" and thus received his ticket to the "Heavy Medal Chorus". In the meantime, he conducts the choir alongside Norbert Hammes and is vocal leader in the Bari.
Executive Board
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Thomas lives in Schleswig-Holstein and is one of the northernmost members of Heavy Medal. Since 1986 he sings as lead in the quartet "TAKE FOUR" and is a founding member of the German barbershop association "BinG!". In the choir, of which he has been a member since the beginning, he is responsible for the digital archive and the maintenance of the internet presence.
Kerstin sings, presents and organizes in a wide variety of ensembles and events. Currently she sings with "The B Side" and "Hashtag". After studying music and singing, she now works as a singer, singing teacher, choir/orchestra director at various schools and privately. In 2018 she started her studies at the Complete Vocal Institute in Copenhagen to become a certified teacher/ singer.
Many barbershoppers know Ingrid as a longtime member of the Munich women's choir "Harmunichs" as well as various quartet formations. Here she sang in the most different voice ranges. Via the quartet "Mission Possible" her barbershop path led to Heavy Medal in 2014. By profession Ingrid is familiar with the world of accounts and numbers, so it was obvious that she takes care of the finances at Heavy Medal.
Andreas Marquenie is Heavy Medal founding member and namesake of the choir. He has been infected with the barbershop virus since 1988. He sang in the "First Cologne Barbershop Choir", in the quartets "Viertakt", "Inflagranti", "Tonikum", "Quintessenz" and "Septempfang". He is a real "heavyweight", having won medals with almost all ensembles. In addition to his involvement in the Music Team, he is a vocal leader in the bass.
Music Team
Yvonne discovered her love for music in early childhood. She grew up in a family of musicians, sang and learned to play various instruments. She always felt inspired by jazz in particular. In the early 90's she met the women's choir "Ladies First" and came to barbershop singing. In 2000, the women's quartet "Splash" was formed there, in which Yvonne sang baritone with great passion. "Splash" was the first women's quartet to win the gold medal at the BinG! music festival in 2002. This medal was the ticket to Heavy Medal. Here Yvonne is also involved as a vocal leader for the tenor.
Martina ist Stimmführerin im Lead.
Music and dance has always been a big part of Mira's life. She spent her early childhood with her family on the East Coast of the USA, where her family was "infected" by the barbershop. Mira danced classical ballet, played the saxophone and sang in the children's and youth choir before following her mother into the ranks of the "Harmunichs," a women's barbershop choir in Munich, Germany, when she was 15. Here she was involved in the music and choreography team before moving to New York in 2018 to become the director of "Sirens of Gotham." The success of her quartet "Kickstart" gave her access to Heavy Medal in 2014 where, despite long distance (technology makes it possible!), she is still part of the creative team today.
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