Vita
German Gents is an a cappella ensemble from Berlin. They were founded in the year 2018 by students of the University of Arts and members of the Berlin State- and Cathedral Choir. The group consists of two tenors, Thoma Wutz and Armin Horn, the baritone Raphael Zinser and the bass Marcel Raschke. The quartet performs pieces from the Romantic period and self-arranged classics and spirituals of the last centuries. In 2019 they participated in the International a cappella Contest in Leipzig and won the first place. The German Gents are currently following invitations from numerous concert organizers and renowned classical music festivals (Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Musica Bayreuth, Rheingau Musikfestival and more).
All members share a deeply rooted affection to classical music and enjoy singing together.
The German Gents (from left to right: Armin Horn, Thoma Wutz, Raphael Zinser, Marcel Raschke)
The Ensemble
Thoma Wutz
Thoma Wutz, a franco-german tenor, was born on January 28th, 2000 in Berlin. At the age of six he began his musical career as a boy soprano and soloist in the ”Staats- und Domchor Berlin", under the leadership of Prof. Kai-Uwe Jirka. From 2017 to 2018 he prepared for his later vocal studies as a junior student in the Julius-Stern-Institute at the UdK, University of the Arts Berlin, with Prof. Jochen Großmann. In October 2018, Thoma began studying singing at the UdK with Prof. Aris Argiris. Since December of 2019, the German Gents first tenor also sings in the Rias Kammerchor Studio Berlin (Riad Chamber Choir Studio).
Armin Horn
Armin Horn was born on the 5th of April 2000 in Bonn. He is second tenor of the German Gents and also writes arrangements. When he was 6 years old, he came to the boys choir "Staats- und Domchor Berlin“ and started singing regularly. At the age of 14 he realised, he had perfect pitch. He sung in mulitiple choirs and ensembles all around Berlin, and startet taking lessons from professor Jochen Großmann after he graduated from school. He studies singing at the „University of Arts Berlin“ since 2020, taught by professor Deborah York. His favourite music genres are jazz, swing and classical music.
Raphael Zinser
The german baritone Raphael Riebesell was born on the 20.10.2000 in Berlin. He started to sing at the age of six in the „Staats- und Domchor Berlin“ under the leadership of Prof. Kai- Uwe Jirka. From 2017 to 2019 he was junior student at the Julius-Stern-Institut of the University of Arts Berlin (UdK Berlin) in the class of Prof. Jochen Großmann. In 2018 he won the 1. prize at the 55th „Jugend musiziert“ competition in the the category Art Song. Since the summer of 2019 Raphael is a student at the UdK Berlin, studying singing with Beatrice Niehoff and Prof. Elisabeth Werres. Raphael is scholarship holder of the Konrad-Adenauer-Foundation. He passed the Fallsemester 2021/21 at „Conservatoire National de Paris“ studying with Isabelle Guillaud-Kalvar. In addition to art song and oratorio, the young singer takes interest in ensemble singing. Being member of the German Gents allows him to explore this passion.
Marcel Raschke
Born in Berlin, Marcel Raschke studied at the Hanns Eisler School of Music Berlin under Prof. Roman Trekel and at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique Paris with Prof. Yves Sotin. Masterclasses with Paul Agnew, Helmuth Rilling, Rudolph Piernay and Emmanuelle Haïm complemented his education. Marcel is singing as temporary help in the well known "Rundfunkchor Berlin" and the "RIAS Kammerchor" and has a lot of ensemble experience because of his membership in the boys choir "Staats - und Domchor Berlin", where he sung regulary from 1998 – 2012. As a concert singer he sang e.g. at the „Tage Alter Musik Saarbrücken“, at the „Eichstätt Music Festival“, the „Potsdam Easter Festival“ and at the „Festival for Early Music Zurich“. In 2018, Marcel Raschke made his debut as a soloist at the „Händel Festival Karlsruhe“. After that he performed in „Neue Szenen“ (UA) at Deutsche Oper Berlin under the baton of Manuel Nawri and in 2019 as Colline for the „Junge Oper Schloss Weikersheim“ and their open-air production of Puccini’s „La Bohème“ under the baton of Fausto Nardi. In september 2020 Marcel finally finished his master studies at the HfM Berlin with the best possible mark.