By Sofia Hofmann, Erfurt Cathedral Girls’ Choir
From May 8 to 10, 2026, we, the Erfurt Cathedral Girls’ Choir, had the opportunity to travel to Stockholm to participate as a guest choir in the choir festival of the Swedish Pueri Cantores choirs. After a smooth flight, we were welcomed by members of the Stockholm Cathedral Choir in the parish hall of the cathedral parish with a delicious dinner. We already knew many of the singers from the Stockholm choir’s visit to Erfurt last year. Together with Elisabeth von Waldstein, president of the International Federation of Pueri Cantores and former cathedral cantor in Stockholm, we then took a short walking tour of the city to get our first impressions of Stockholm.
The next morning, during a trip to the Vasa Museum, we were able to admire the oldest and largest salvaged shipwreck and learn a great deal about the history of Sweden and Stockholm. At noon, the highlight of the trip awaited us: the choir festival of the Swedish Pueri Cantores at Johanneskyrkan (St. John’s Church), a large, originally Protestant church from the 19th century that was recently acquired for Stockholm’s growing Catholic community. Together with the Swedish choirs, we celebrated a grand sung prayer for peace in the tradition of the Pueri Cantores. During rehearsals, singing, and shared meals, there were many good conversations and encounters in English – sometimes more, sometimes less fluently spoken. Although we speak different languages, the music connected us immediately. It was especially exciting for us to learn Swedish songs and sing them together. In this international setting, as well as across a wide age range – from children to young adults – we all came together to perform as one large choir.
On Sunday, our girls’ choir had the privilege of providing the music for the main service at St. Erik’s Cathedral. A few of us even tried our hand at joining the parish in singing Swedish hymns, which was an exciting challenge given our limited knowledge of the language.
The trip was a special experience for us because we not only got to know Stockholm and Swedish culture, but above all, we saw firsthand how music brings people together across national and linguistic boundaries. Singing together led to many wonderful encounters and new friendships.
Our choir director, Elisabeth Lehmann-Dronke, summed it up: “Last year, the Stockholm Cathedral Youth Choir visited us here in Erfurt. Thanks to the generous support of the Bonifatiuswerk, we were able to make a return visit to Stockholm, continuing and deepening the friendly exchange between the two choirs and the bonds between the children and young people. Both choirs share the experience of being part of a diaspora. The encounters and shared activities reinforced the young people’s commitment to working together.”
Photos: Rickard Liljero Eriksson, Katharina Rießland
©Katharina Rießland
©Rickard Liljero Eriksson
©Rickard Liljero Eriksson
