Cathedra of sacred music in cuba

Thanks

On the Regensburg Cooperation

The brotherhood between the archbishoprics of Regensburg and Havana dates back to 2009, when the cardinal bishops SER Mons. Gerhard Ludwig Müller and Jaime Ortega Alamino began a fraternal dialogue of collaboration, materialized in agreements signed between Ortega and the next prelate, Rudolf Voderholzer.

This alliance has resulted in dissimilar actions that have involved the practice of sacred music in Cuba over twelve years. Among them, the celebration of the Sacred Music Week of Havana since its first edition, and the training of Cuban students at the Institute of Sacred Music and Musical Pedagogy of Regensburg, reversing the experience learned in the Chair of Sacred Music and its projects stands out. , developed within the diocese of Havana.

For almost two decades, the German Embassy in Cuba has been an ally and facilitator of multiple actions related to sacred music. When the Johannus Monarke organ was donated to the Cathedral of Havana in 2005, a close relationship began between the German representation and the Archdiocese of Havana, which has promoted the systematic presence of musicians and teachers from various centers, in particular, the Institute of Sacred Music and Musical Pedagogy of Regensburg. Thus, its rector and organist Stefan Baier and flutist and teacher Claudia Gerauer arrived on the Island for the first time in 2007. After its restoration, Baier inaugurated in 2008 the replacement of the organ of the Church of Paula, and has contributed, together with Martin Rost, to the revival of the interpretation of the organ in Cuba, training several generations of organists.

Within this framework of collaboration, in 2013 the Chair of Sacred Music of Havana was founded and in 2014 the first Week of Sacred Music was held, which in its 8 completed editions has had constant support. Other important milestones have also happened, such as the restoration of the Merklin Schütze organ in 2018, which today adorns services and concerts in the San Francisco de Asís church in Havana. Finally, since 2020, the Embassy has collaborated with the provision of this virtual space for the visibility of the activities of the Chair of Sacred Music. We deeply appreciate so many years of closeness and human and professional accompaniment.

About the Cooperation of the German Embassy in Cuba