The International Choir Potsdam (Chor International Potsdam, CIP) began its journey on September 14, 1995, a Thursday evening at the Volkshochschule Potsdam (VHS). Under the direction of Dr Wolfgang Puwalla (then head of the Bundesvermögensamt), people passionate about singing met in the “International Choir” course offered as part of the VHS autumn program. “This offer is for locals, and especially for people from different countries and cultures, to create together a musical home for all by singing,” the course description read. Wolfgang Puwalla founded the International Choir Potsdam in collaboration with Konrad Geburek from the Volkshochschule Potsdam as a social and musical integration project. From the very beginning, the choir sang both German and international songs in the original languages.
Since then, CIP members have been meeting on Thursday evenings to sing together. Wolfgang Puwalla led the International Choir Potsdam on a voluntary basis for more than 20 years with great dedication. In April 2016, he handed over the baton to his equally passionate and professional successor, Eugen Zigutkin.
Initially, rehearsals took place at the Volkshochschule (Dortustraße), then at the former Bundesvermögensamt in Potsdam and at freiLand Potsdam. During the coronavirus pandemic, the choir was able to meet and sing online thanks to Eugen Zigutkin and the Jamulus software. Today, rehearsals usually take place at the Waschhaus Potsdam.
The International Choir Potsdam was awarded the Drei-Königs-Prize by the Catholic Diocesan Council of the Berlin Archdiocese in 2007. In 2008, the choir received the first prize of the Integration Awards of the city of Potsdam.
An unforgettable highlight of the choir’s activities was its participation in the play “Wie im Himmel” at the Hans-Otto-Theater in Potsdam in 2013/2014. The CIP experienced wonderful get-togethers with choirs from and in Perugia (Italy), Bergen (Norway), from and in Opole (Poland), among others. The CIP is also very close friends with the Potsdam intercultural musical group “Heimatsounds” and often organizes joint performances.
CIP members organise many activities for the choir. The annual bicycle tour on May 1 and the choir weekends at the at Heimvolkshochschule Seddiner See have become fixtures. The choir is tightly-knit, making good use of the wide range of skills of its members: We help each other and – if necessary – other people in need.
After almost 30 years of organising ourselves completely independently, the choir became part of the non-profit GmbH Soziale Stadt ProPotsdam (SSPP) on 1 January 2025. This change simplified organizational and admin tasks for the choir community and its ca. 50 active singers. It also allowed the CIP to become more active and involved in neighbourhood work in the city of Potsdam.
In 2025, the International Choir Potsdam celebrates its 30th anniversary. A very special year, with our anniversary concert on September 20, 2025, being one of many highlights. So much to look forward to – for us and our audiences!