Københavns Drengekor

Danish Boys Choir

Københavns Drengekor (English: Copenhagen Royal Chapel Choir or Copenhagen Boys' Choir) is a Danish boys' choir based in Copenhagen. The choir consists of 60 to 80 classically trained boys and is also referred to as Københavns Drenge- Og Mandskor when extended with 40 affiliated male singers. Founded in 1924 by the family behind Wilhelm Hansen Musikforlag with the aim to perform choral music written for boys' and men's voices from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. The first choirmaster was Mogens Wöldike. In 1929 the city of Copenhagen built a choir school for the choir, the present Sankt Annæ Gymnasium, assuring that the musical education of the choir's members became an integral part of their school curriculum. The international breakthrough came in 1951 in a concert at Stefansdom, Vienna in front of 1500 spectators, followed by a performance at the Aldeburgh Festival the following year. In 1955 Niels Møller took over as choirmaster. Until 1959 the choir was permanently attached to Christiansborg Slotskirke, but since then the choir has been giving regular concerts every Friday evening in Vor Frue Kirke throughout the main season, as well as during high mass and vespers. Since 1991 the choirmaster has been Ebbe Munk, himself a former member of the choir.