Stephan Schlögl – Tenor and Composer between Classical, Operetta, and Popular Crossover

A Tenor with Distinction: From the Regensburg Cathedral Choir to Solo Programs across the DACH Region

Born on June 21, 1993, in Oberviechtach, Stephan Schlögl's music career has shaped itself from a dual passion: the classical singing tradition and a natural curiosity for popular soundscapes. His artistic development is rooted in the intensive choral experience of the Regensburg Cathedral Choir, matured in challenging ensemble contexts, and now leads to solo performances in significant concert halls and churches in the German-speaking world. As a tenor and composer, he captivates with stylistic versatility, precise expression, and a stage presence that carries both operatic and oratorio literature as well as operetta and crossover projects.

Focusing on his recent career, he highlights solo and ensemble successes, academic honors, and a continuous expansion of his repertoire. Schlögl combines vocal technique, interpretation, composition, and pedagogy into a consistent artistic profile – supported by careful voice management, smart program dramaturgy, and a keen sense for sound colors, text interpretation, and musical storytelling.

Biography: Foundations of a Voice

Between 2004 and 2012, Schlögl received comprehensive training in singing, piano, and trumpet at the Music Gymnasium of the Regensburg Cathedral Choir. Tours with the cathedral choir, initial solo performances, and the experience of performing vocal music in renowned churches and concert halls sharpened his understanding of vocal culture, ensemble homogeneity, and liturgical performance practice. In 2014, he joined the Renner Ensemble Regensburg – a milestone that ingrained the discipline and sound aesthetics of a professional male choir into his artistic DNA.

In 2015, he co-founded the a cappella group Free Vocals and began composing his own songs. This step marked the start of his compositional signature and a creative curiosity that fluctuates between a cappella pop, choral literature, and song-like forms. In 2016, Schlögl transitioned to the pop-oriented vocal group Stimmen der Berge – the conscious bridging between classical voice training and schlager/folk music crossover subsequently shaped his repertoire profile.

Study, Masterclasses, and Artistic Development

Alongside his stage activities, Schlögl deepened his expertise through a double degree: vocal pedagogy (Bachelor and Master's) at the Hochschule für Katholische Kirchenmusik und Musikpädagogik in Regensburg and school music (double major) at the University of Regensburg. From 2023 to 2025, he pursued an MA in Performance, Concert at the Zürcher Hochschule der Künste (ZHdK) in Professor Sebastian Geyer’s class, graduating with honors in summer 2025. This phase sharpened his stylistic range – from the baroque evangelist to romantic oratorio and late romantic to early modern tenor roles.

The combination of academic foundations, ensemble practice, and solo maturation shapes his artistic development. Schlögl's musical attitude is characterized by text-centered articulation, elegant phrasing, and a flexible, luminous high range that is convincing in both lyrical lines and expressive dramatic high points.

Ensembles, Awards, and the Special Choir Sound

With the Renner Ensemble Regensburg, Schlögl participated in several CD productions; the recording "War No More," released in 2018, was honored with the Opus Klassik – a significant quality seal in the classical scene. As early as 2015, the ensemble won a 3rd prize at the International Male Voice Choral Festival in Cornwall (UK). These milestones document a pronounced ensemble competence, a trained ear for male choir balance, and the ability to set soloistic accents within homogeneous vocal groups.

Since 2016, Schlögl has been a member of Stimmen der Berge. With this formation, numerous albums have been released, including chart successes like "Deutsches Gold," which entered the Official German Album Charts at number 5 in 2019. The group also received the smago! Crossover Award in 2019 ("Classical Meets Schlager"). For Schlögl, this format serves as an artistic workshop, where arrangements, microphone work, stage moderation, and audience-oriented dramaturgy meet classical voice training.

Solo Highlights: Oratorio, Operetta, and the "Swan"

Since 2022, Schlögl has increasingly been invited as a soloist in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. His repertoire includes major tenor roles in oratorios – including Haydn's "Creation," Handel's "Messiah," Mendelssohn's "Paul" and "Elijah" – as well as the evangelist roles in Bach's Christmas Oratorio and Passions. In the operetta and song tradition, he shapes programs with cultivated legato and style-conscious diction that highlight the golden Viennese sound, waltz euphoria, and tenor cantability.

Schlögl is building a notable reputation with the "Swan" from Carl Orff's Carmina Burana – an exposed, technically demanding scene that requires virtuosic high range, register balance, and ironic dramatic emphasis. Regular performances at prominent venues such as Münchener Brunnenhof, Herkulessaal Munich, Meistersingerhalle Nuremberg, KKL Lucerne, and Stuttgart Liederhalle underline the profiling of this role portrait.

Orchestras, Venues, and Conductors

Among the orchestras with which Schlögl has collaborated are Württembergische Philharmonie Reutlingen, Philharmonie Baden-Baden, Prague Royal Symphonic Orchestra, Hofer Symphoniker, Musikkollegium Winterthur, Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie, Bad Reichenhaller Philharmoniker and Vogtland Philharmonie. He has also worked on stylistically informed projects with specialized baroque ensembles like La Banda and L’arpa festante.

As a professional choral singer, Schlögl has sung with the Chorus of the Bavarian Broadcasting Corporation and the Zurich Singakademie, among others. Appearances have taken him to prestigious venues such as La Scala in Milan, the Concertgebouw Amsterdam, the Philharmonie de Paris, and Müpa Budapest – under the direction of Christian Thielemann, Sir Simon Rattle, and Riccardo Chailly. These experiences sharpen his timing, dynamic sensitivity, and the ability to embed soloistic presence within the grand overall sound.

Current Projects (2024–2026): Program Work and Repertoire Deepening

Since 2024, Schlögl has been touring with solo programs "Dein ist mein ganzes Herz" and "Wien, du Stadt meiner Träume" throughout southern Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Designed for a trio or quartet, the programs honor the operetta genre, the Viennese song, and the great era of tenor romance with arias, songs, and interludes. Along with programmatic frameworks, Schlögl focuses on finely balanced arrangements that prioritize sound colors and textual clarity.

As part of his artistic development, he has been expanding his spectrum towards more dramatic literature since 2025 – for instance, with Mahler's "Das Lied von der Erde" or Verdi's "Messa da Requiem" in collaborative projects. From autumn 2026, he plans a new program "Ein Lied geht um die Welt," which places the tradition of great tenor melodies in a contemporary concert context and emphasizes the interplay of nostalgia, virtuosity, and modern storytelling.

Discography: Ensemble Successes and Crossover Chart Placements

Stephan Schlögl's discography reflects his dual role as an ensemble and crossover singer. With the Renner Ensemble Regensburg, he was involved in "Franz Liszt und seine Zeit" (2016) and the award-winning production "War No More" (2018) – honored with the Opus Klassik in the category "Choral Recording of the Year." This compilation connects Renaissance, Romanticism, and modern interpretations into a reflective anti-war panorama.

With Stimmen der Berge, albums have been released continuously since 2016, including "Das Beste" (2017), "Italienische Sehnsucht" (2017), "Deutsches Gold" (2019), "Sing mit! Die große Kultschlager Party – Vol. 1" (2020), "Ewige Liebe" (2021), "Goldene Stimmen der Heimat" (2022), "Die größten Hits aller Zeiten" (2023), "Danke für die Lieder" (2023), and the anniversary album "10 Jahre – Das Beste zum Jubiläum" (2024). Several releases have charted in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland; "Deutsches Gold" reached number 5 in Germany. The chart presence underscores the group's reach and the popularity of the bright tenor voice in the crossover context.

Style, Technique, and Musical Handwriting

Schlögl's tenor blends a focused head voice with a powerful middle range, clear diction, and text-sensitive phrasing. In oratorio literature, he impresses with narrative clarity – essential for evangelist parts – and a seamless line that crisply outlines stretto passages. In operetta and classical entertainment music, he favors a portamento-friendly legato, elegant rubato, and a timbre that balances between warmth and brightness. His stylistic confidence stems from detailed score work, historical style knowledge, and an intuitive feel for dramatic arcs.

As a composer and arranger, he utilizes choral sound spaces and a cappella textures aimed at vocal balance and textual clarity. His works for Free Vocals demonstrate a closeness to the German pop song and art song expression, without sacrificing the immediate, audience-oriented impulse.

Cultural Influence and Positioning

Stephan Schlögl represents an artist biography in which classical disciplines – choir, oratorio, operetta – are combined with a broad performance practice and crossover aesthetics. This connection opens repertoire access for an audience that transitions between church music, concert halls, and popular formats. Particularly, the "Swan" from Orff's Carmina Burana serves as a bridge: virtuosic, theatrical, yet anchored in classical vocal technique, it addresses both classical music lovers and curious newcomers.

The continuous presence in charts and media – in the context of Stimmen der Berge – enhances the visibility of tenor sound culture beyond pure opera programs. At the same time, Schlögl maintains the accuracy, depth work, and reverence to the work that the classical tradition demands in oratorios and song evenings. As a free ensemble and choral singer in leading houses, he exemplifies the permeability between soloistic and collective musical practice.

Conclusion: A Tenor with Profile and Perspective

Stephan Schlögl combines vocal solidity, repertoire breadth, and dramaturgical intelligence. Awards, chart successes in ensembles, a master's degree completed with honors, and a growing solo agenda attest to his artistic authority. Those following his program work experience a singer navigating confidently between sacred music, operetta, and crossover – supported by musical substance and a joy in direct audience contact.

Recommendation: Experience Stephan Schlögl live – whether in oratorio, operetta evening, or Carmina Burana. The blend of stylistic versatility, precise vocal management, and charming stage presence ensures concerts that remain memorable.

Official Channels of Stephan Schlögl:

Instagram: No official profile found
Facebook: No official profile found
YouTube: No official profile found
Spotify: No official profile found
TikTok: No official profile found

Stephan Schlögl