Chandra Maeder
French Horn – Voice Projects – Teaching
About me
1977 to 1981, music studies in Basel, solo trumpet player and leader of the brass section of the Swiss Youth Symphony Orchestra.
1981: Teaching diploma for trumpet at the Basel Conservatory with Edward Tarr.
Afterwards french horn lessons with Francesco Raselli, Jakob Hefti and Günther Schlund.
Natural horn lessons with Glen Borling and Thomas Müller.
1981 to 1999: Freelance horn player in various Swiss orchestras. Member of various chamber music formations (e.g. with Ottetto Classico Italiano, Windstärke 6, Rümlig Trio)
1991 to 1999: Freelance horn player in international early music ensembles (Baroque horn and classical natural horn, with Il Giardino Armonico, Concerto Köln, Freiburg Baroque Orchestra and the conductors Giovanni Antonini, René Jacobs, Christopher Hogwood, Nicholas McGegan, etc.)
From: Vivaldi, Concerto F-dur RV97
1st Horn: Chandra, 2nd Horn: Martin Mürner
Il Giardino Armonico directed by Giovanni Antonini
Over 35 years of teaching experience with french horn and trumpet.
Since 1987 I have also been active as a choir conductor and initiator of singing projects. I have been studying singing with Jane Thorner Mengedoht and David Thorner.
In my work with voice ensembles, I aim above all to bring the emotional content of the works to life for singers and listeners and encourage them to express themselves with colorful and transparent sounds. In doing so, it is just as important to me that rehearsals are experimental and lively as a relaxed and joyful atmosphere at concerts.
It is a great pleasure for me to continuously experiment and learn in different areas and to pass on what I have learned.
During my stay in Arizona, USA from 2000 to 2015, I also studied photography in depth (since 2005).
Since 2015 living in Langenbruck, BL, Switzerland.
Singing and choir projects
Vocal training with Jane Thorner Mengedoht and David Thorner.
Since 1984, I have been passionately conducting choirs, choir projects, creative vocal workshops, and choir weeks in Europe, North America, and Asia. In addition to conducting various choirs, I founded and directed the chamber choirs “Coro Do Poeta,” “Scapino Vocale,” and “Dolce Far Canto.”In my work with choirs,
I aim to help singers and listeners experience the emotional content of the works and encourage them to express themselves with colorful and transparent sounds. In doing so, I consider lively rehearsals that encourage experimentation to be just as important as a relaxed and joyful atmosphere at concerts.
Sheet music for french horn (natural horn)
by Chandra Maeder
Horn Duets for domestic use for natural horns in C, D, Eb, E or F or valve horns.
Horntrios for domestic use for natural horns in Eb (medium to difficult, can also be played in C, D, E or F) or valve horns.
4 Trios:
With Chandra Maeder, Thomas Müller and Charly Fässler. Natural Horns
Photography
Since my stay in Arizona, USA, from 2000 to 2015, II’m also deeply involved in photography.
Recommendations
Horn Lessons:
“I have known Chandra Maeder since the seminar times in Schiers in the canton of Graubünden, Switzerland.
Now, he has been teaching me natural horn for one year.
He leads me in an unconventional way to a lively, songlike playing, which opens new doors for me also for the modern horn.
His intuitive way of teaching gives me impulses for creative practice and his observations and tips open up new listening experiences for me in terms of sound. Playing thus becomes a creative act for me. His great musicality is very inspiring.
I am enthusiastic about his lessons and can recommend him highly as a horn teacher, also for modern horn”.
Hanspeter Lieberherr, Wind quintett “gli staccati”
Working with singers and choirs:
“I know and experience Chandra Maeder as a wide awake musician – choirmaster and singer and with a past as a very independent french horn player – who wants to revive the music of past times with great commitment and visions. Especially in the field of vocal Renaissance music he achieves very convincing and eloquent results.
Conrad Steinmann, (Swiss Music Price 2021)
“Chandra Maeder has distinguished himself as an instrumentalist and choral conductor. His great talent, his contagious enthusiasm and his open affection for all choir members have made wonderful results possible”.
Jonathan Rubin, lutenist at Les Arts Florissants.