Andrea Figallo (2012 to 2013)

For more than ten years now, Andrea Figallo has been a known constant in a-cappella music in Europe and beyond. Not only was he the bass singer and vocal percussionist of the internationally renowned a-cappella group „The Flying Pickets“, but also a well-respected arranger, producer (The Ghost Files, The Flying Pickets), composer, and coach for choirs and vocal groups all over Europe. He is frequently invited onto the juries of prestigious international competitions such as Vokal Total in Graz, Austria. In addition to various other singing projects, he was featured on Bobby McFerrin’s 2010 Grammy-nominated CD “Vocabularies”. In January 2013 Andrea became the new bass of the German vocal pop-band “Wise Guys”.

In mid-2012, Andrea took over the reins from predecessor Florian Helgath, becoming the don camillo chor’s main conductor. On account of his commitments with the Wise Guys, he reluctantly passed the baton to Matthias the following year, but nonetheless maintains a close relationship with the Camillos as a regular coach.

Florian Helgath (2005 to 2012)

Singing in the renowned boys’ choir „Regensburger Domspatzen“ in his home town, Florian Helgath was exposed with music from an early age. Later, he enrolled at the Acadamy of Music and Theatre Munich, pursuing a teaching degree in music for secondary schools. Subsequently he became a student of Professor Michael Gläser, majoring in choral conducting. In the spring of 2008 he completed his studies, earning a diploma of the Meisterklasse (Master Class Degree).

To complement his musical education, Florian Helgath attended master courses by Stefan Parkman, Stephen Cleobury, Helmut Rilling, Dan-Olof Stenlund, Simon Halsey and Jos van Veldhoven. In 2007 he was an active participant both at the 2nd Choral Conducting Forum organized by the Bavarian Radio Choir and the Eric Ericson Master class in Haarlem/The Netherlands. Florian Helgath was internationally successful as prize winner and finalist at the Eric Ericson Award in 2006 in Sweden and at the Competition For Young Choral Conductors in 2007 in Budapest.

In February 2010 he accepted the position as chorus master of the Danish Radio Choir and in 2011 of the ChorWerk Ruhr. He is a regular guest conductor for the Bavarian Radio Choir, and he has conducted the RIAS Kammerchor, the SWR  Vokalensemble, the Rundfunkchor Berlin and the Netherlands Radio Choir, as well as the Danish Chamber Orchestra, the Munich Symphony and the Georgian Chamber Orchestra Ingolstadt.

Aside from all these musical activities and commitments, Florian Helgath directs the via-nova-chor. This choir allows him to focus mainly on contemporary music, including numerous premiere performances. Under his direction both, via nova chor and don camillo chor have been prize winners at nationally and internationally acclaimed choir contests. CD and radio recordings have also been part of his choral activity.

Peter Giesl (2001 to 2004)

Peter was no stranger to don camillo chor, when he became conductor of the don camillo chor in 2001. Since 1999, the choir had already been benifiting from his musical skills as a pianist. His promotion to conductor offered the mathematics professor the chance to extend the choir’s repertoire with unconventional rhythms and, above all, with his own experimental compositions. By the way: he loved to conduct with his whole body, especially with his hips – to the delight of not only the audience. This swivelling hips enchanted a former soprano of the choir, with whom he is happily married today – a real don-camillo marriage!

Rainer Dunker (1998 to 2000)

Attending a concert of the don camillo chor in the autumn of 1997, Rainer read in the programme: „Looking for a conductor!“. By the intermission, he was already certain, that he wanted to be that person. Given his considerable experience in conducting and as a curch musician he soon came out on top against his competitors for the position. A skilled computer scientist, Rainer made jazz rhythms and intensive work on the sound parts of the choir’s daily routine. Hearing a beautiful chord, flavored with one or more interesting notes, he would be all smiles and lost in reveries - so that ultimately, the singers also discovered their love for jazz music.

Philipp Bernhard (1994 to 1997)

Philipp and the don camillo chor go together like Bach and the fugue. He was the one who gathered  a small group of fellow pupils and singer friends to rehearse some pieces for the musical arrangement of a church service for kids.

The diverse repertoire of gospels, spirituals and traditionals, spiced up with a few highlights of pop music and, above all, the high standards to the quality of singing inspired the vocalists in the choir and the audience. As a result a new choir was born – with regular rehearsals and yearly concert tours. It is Philipp’s personal commitment, vision and his passion for detail that remains in the memories of singers and spectators alike.