Erich Watermann

Erich Watermann (born September 28, 1927 in Minden ; † February 28, 2010 there ) was a German conductor , choir director and social worker. He founded the Minden Children's Choir and was its director for many years.

education and profession

Watermann grew up as one of three children in Minden. At the age of seventeen, he was seriously wounded in World War II and was taken prisoner by the British . There he was asked by British officers whether he could take care of youth work in his hometown of Minden. He agreed and the first youth camps took place at the Möhnesee in the Soest district. There he developed the first educational concepts in which the singing of young people was in the foreground. In 1947 he founded his first choir , which at that time was still called the Weserland Children's Choir . In 1950, at the suggestion of the city of Minden, he renamed it the Minden Children's Choir. At the same time, Watermann began training as a legal assistant and, after graduating from high school, studied social work . Then worked as a social worker in Minden and as a music teacher at the Herder-Gymnasium in Minden.

Minden Children's Choir

The choir grew under the direction of Watermann and made numerous appearances in Western Europe as well as in the Soviet Union , the USA and Canada between the 1950s and 1970s . Sound carriers were recorded and the choir gained international renown. Watermann was looking for a successor for a long time, but he couldn't find one. So he dissolved the choir in 2000. At that time, a successor choir was founded in the Minden Music School, which, under the direction of Pit Witt , wants to continue the tradition of the children's choir.

Award

Watermann received the Federal Cross of Merit for his social commitment .

Web links

• Mindener Tageblatt of March 3, 2010: Founder of the Minden Children's Choir died after a serious illness. Retrieved January 27, 2011