Alexander Schneider alto, artistic director

Alexander Schneider was born in Frankenberg, Saxony. From 1987 to 1996, he was a member of the Dresdner Kreuzchor before beginning his studies with Peter Herrmann at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin. In 2004, he successfully completed his degree in vocal performance and pedagogy.
 
He participated in masterclasses with renowned artists such as David Cordier, Jeffrey Gall and Peter Kooij, and in 2002, he was awarded a prize at the Musica Antiqua competition in Bruges.
 
As a countertenor, he collaborates with prominent ensembles including Cantus Cölln, Concerto Palatino, Pygmalion, Collegium 1704, Collegium Vocale Gent, the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, the Ricercar Consort, Vox Luminis, Musica Fiata and Currende. His work with conductors such as Philippe Herreweghe, Raphaël Pichon, Václav Luks, René Jacobs, Kristjan Järvi, Stephen Stubbs, Ludger Rémy, Howard Arman, Joshua Rifkin, Philippe Pierlot, Martin Haselböck, Marcus Creed, Hermann Max, Hans-Christoph Rademann and Konrad Junghänel has resulted in numerous recordings that document his artistic achievements.
 
In the world of opera, he has performed at venues including the Heidelberg Theater, Leipzig Opera, Goethe-Theater Bad Lauchstädt, Schlosstheater Potsdam (Neues Palais) and the Theater Altenburg Gera. He made his debut at the Lucerne Theater as Oberon in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Additionally, he appeared as Mozart in the international premiere of Daniel Schnyder’s jazz opera Casanova in Gstaad (Switzerland) and New York City (USA).
 
As the founder of the Ensemble Polyharmonique, he realises projects focused on vocal music of the late Renaissance and Baroque eras through concerts, recordings, as well as film and video productions. Since 2024, he has also served as dramaturge for the Rheinische Kantorei under the direction of Edzard Burchards.
 
Increasingly, Alexander Schneider has devoted himself to conducting larger oratorio works, including Monteverdi’s Vespers for the Blessed Virgin of 1610, Handel’s Messiah and Bach’s Mass in B minor. Residing in Belgium since 2014, he leads the Amicantus choir in Heusden-Zolder and will take over the direction of Florilegium in Leuven starting in 2025. In addition, he teaches voice at the Academie Beringen and shares his expertise through masterclasses and workshops