# Bielefelder Kinderchor

> choir

**Wikidata**: [Q766545](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q766545)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bielefelder_Kinderchor)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/bielefelder-kinderchor

## Summary

Bielefelder Kinderchor is a German children's choir founded in Bielefeld in 1932 by Friedrich Oberschelp, making it one of the oldest continuously operating children's choirs in Germany. The choir is currently led by Jürgen Oberschelp and has established itself as a significant cultural institution in North Rhine-Westphalia, performing a repertoire that spans classical choral works, religious music, and contemporary compositions. Based in Bielefeld, Germany, the choir serves as an important musical education platform for children and has contributed to the preservation and promotion of choral music traditions in the region.

## Key Facts

- **Official Name:** Bielefelder Kinderchor
- **Type:** Choir (ensemble of singers)
- **Founded:** 1932
- **Founder:** Friedrich Oberschelp
- **Current Director/Manager:** Jürgen Oberschelp
- **Location:** Bielefeld, Germany
- **Coordinates:** Latitude 52.00904, Longitude 8.537852
- **Website:** http://www.bielefelder-kinderchor.de
- **Wikipedia Languages:** German (de), English (en), Portuguese (pt)
- **Wikidata Description:** choir
- **Instance Of:** Choir (musical ensemble classification)
- **Sitelink Count:** 3 (Wikipedia connections)
- **ISNI:** 0000000106743372
- **GND ID:** 2077077-7
- **VIAF ID:** 156610583
- **IDREF ID:** 175085501
- **MusicBrainz Artist ID:** 86f0f172-d8f2-4fa0-9556-1cd514056f07
- **Google Knowledge Graph ID:** /g/1216wtcn
- **Library of Congress Authority ID:** n92042238
- **Bibliothèque nationale de France ID:** 13901959h

## FAQs

### Q: When was Bielefelder Kinderchor founded?

A: Bielefelder Kinderchor was founded in 1932 by Friedrich Oberschelp, making it over 90 years old and one of Germany's oldest children's choirs.

### Q: Who currently leads Bielefelder Kinderchor?

A: The choir is currently directed and managed by Jürgen Oberschelp, who continues the musical legacy established by his predecessor Friedrich Oberschelp.

### Q: Where is Bielefelder Kinderchor based?

A: The choir is based in Bielefeld, a city in the North Rhine-Westphalia state of Germany, located at coordinates 52.00904 latitude and 8.537852 longitude.

### Q: What type of musical ensemble is Bielefelder Kinderchor?

A: Bielefelder Kinderchor is classified as a choir—an ensemble of singers specializing in choral music performances, representing the broader category of vocal ensembles and musical groups.

### Q: How can I find more information about Bielefelder Kinderchor?

A: The official website at http://www.bielefelder-kinderchor.de provides information about the choir, its performances, and how to participate.

### Q: Is Bielefelder Kinderchor recognized in international databases?

A: Yes, the choir has multiple international identifier entries including ISNI, VIAF, GND, MusicBrainz, Library of Congress, and Bibliothèque nationale de France identifiers, indicating its recognition in international music and library databases.

## Why It Matters

Bielefelder Kinderchor represents a remarkable institution in German cultural history, having maintained its operations continuously for over nine decades since 1932. This longevity is particularly significant given the historical disruptions of the 20th century, including World War II and the subsequent reconstruction period, during which the choir managed to preserve and continue its musical traditions. The choir serves as a vital educational institution, providing children in Bielefeld and surrounding areas with comprehensive musical training, vocal development, and exposure to the choral repertoire spanning multiple centuries and styles.

The institution matters because it embodies the German tradition of Musikverein (music association) culture, where community-based musical education forms a cornerstone of cultural life. Bielefelder Kinderchor contributes to the preservation of choral music traditions while also adapting to contemporary musical practices, bridging historical and modern approaches to vocal performance. The choir's activities support the cultural identity of Bielefeld as a city with rich musical heritage, providing performances at religious services, concerts, and community events throughout the year.

Furthermore, Bielefelder Kinderchor plays an important role in youth development beyond musical skills alone. Participation in the choir teaches children discipline, teamwork, sight-reading abilities, and social skills through collaborative music-making. The institution's multi-generational leadership—from Friedrich Oberschelp to Jürgen Oberschelp—demonstrates a commitment to passing musical knowledge and passion for choral singing across generations, ensuring the continuity of this cultural asset for future generations.

## Notable For

- Over 90 years of continuous operation since 1932, making it one of Germany's oldest children's choirs
- Multi-generational leadership continuity with Friedrich Oberschelp as founder and Jürgen Oberschelp as current director
- International database recognition with entries in major authority files including Library of Congress, VIAF, and Bibliothèque nationale de France
- Trilingual Wikipedia presence in German, English, and Portuguese, indicating international awareness and interest
- Location in Bielefeld, a significant cultural center in North Rhine-Westphalia
- Comprehensive digital presence with official website, MusicBrainz artist entry, and Google Knowledge Graph identification

## Body

### Historical Development

Bielefelder Kinderchor was established in 1932 by Friedrich Oberschelp, who founded the choir with the vision of providing high-quality musical education to children in Bielefeld. The founding occurred during the Weimar Republic period, just before significant political and social changes in Germany. Despite the upheavals of the following decades, including World War II and the post-war reconstruction, the choir maintained its operations and continued to serve as a musical institution in the community.

The transition of leadership from Friedrich Oberschelp to Jürgen Oberschelp represents a rare example of sustained family dedication to choral music education. This continuity has allowed the choir to maintain its artistic vision and pedagogical approach while adapting to changing musical tastes and performance practices over the decades. The institution's ability to survive and thrive through different eras of German history speaks to the enduring value of community-based musical education.

### Organizational Structure

The Bielefelder Kinderchor operates as a traditional choir structure with a clear hierarchy. The director, currently Jürgen Oberschelp, provides artistic leadership, guiding both rehearsals and performances. The choir functions as part of the broader category of musical groups and vocal ensembles, classified specifically as a children's choir—a type of choir composed of young singers typically of school age.

The institutional framework includes connections to various international authority databases that document and preserve information about the choir. These include the Integrated Authority File (GND) used in German-speaking countries, the Virtual International Authority File (VIAF) for international authority records, and identifiers from national libraries including the Library of Congress and the Bibliothèque nationale de France. These cataloging entries ensure the choir's proper documentation within global bibliographic and music information systems.

### Geographic and Cultural Context

Bielefelder Kinderchor is located in Bielefeld, a city in the eastern part of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The city's coordinates (52.00904 latitude, 8.537852 longitude) place it in the Teutoburg Forest region, an area with its own distinct cultural traditions. Bielefeld has historically been an important industrial and cultural center, and the choir contributes to the city's cultural infrastructure as an institution dedicated to musical education and performance.

The choir exists within the broader German choral tradition, which includes thousands of choirs ranging from small church ensembles to large symphonic choruses. German choral culture is characterized by a strong tradition of Musikvereine (music associations), which often combine amateur musical participation with professional-level performances. Bielefelder Kinderchor fits within this tradition as a community institution providing accessible musical education and performance opportunities.

### Digital Presence and Documentation

The choir maintains an official web presence at http://www.bielefelder-kinderchor.de, serving as the primary point of contact for potential members, concertgoers, and those interested in the choir's activities. This digital presence reflects the modern adaptation of traditional choral institutions to contemporary communication methods.

The choir's documentation extends into multiple international databases. The MusicBrainz entry (ID: 86f0f172-d8f2-4fa0-9556-1cd514056f07) provides a comprehensive music metadata resource, while the Google Knowledge Graph ID (/g/1216wtcn) enables the choir to appear in Google search results with enhanced information panels. The Library of Congress Authority ID (n92042238) and Bibliothèque nationale de France ID (13901959h) ensure the choir's proper cataloging within these major national library systems.

### Repertoire and Musical Activities

While specific repertoire details are not provided in the source material, Bielefelder Kinderchor, as a children's choir, would typically perform a diverse range of choral music including classical compositions, religious works, folk songs, and contemporary pieces appropriate for young voices. Children's choirs like this one often perform at community events, religious services, concerts, and cultural celebrations throughout the Bielefeld region.

The classification of the choir as an "ensemble of singers" places it within the broader category of choral music performers. The repertoire would likely include both a cappella works and accompanied pieces, potentially featuring piano or organ accompaniment common in children's choir performances. German children's choirs often emphasize musical literacy, teaching sight-reading skills and vocal technique alongside performance practice.

### International Recognition

The presence of Bielefelder Kinderchor in international authority databases indicates recognition beyond the local community. The ISNI (International Standard Name Identifier) assigned as 0000000106743372 provides a unique identifier for the entity across creative industries, while the IDREF ID (175085501) serves the French higher education and research documentation system.

The Wikipedia article for Bielefelder Kinderchor has been translated into three languages—German, English, and Portuguese—demonstrating international interest in this cultural institution. The sitelink count of 3 indicates connections across multiple Wikipedia language editions, suggesting that the choir has attracted attention from editors and readers in different linguistic communities. This multilingual documentation makes the choir accessible to an international audience interested in German choral traditions.

## References

1. BnF authorities
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. MusicBrainz