After 79 years exclusively for boys, the Windsbacher Boys' Choir is now allowing girls to join its dormitory for the first time. In the small Franconian town of Windsbach, the boys are preparing for the change. The last night alone in the dormitory is spent with singing and relaxation.
In Windsbach, a small town in Middle Franconia with half-timbered houses, hiking trails, and a train station, an era ends for the Windsbacher Boys' Choir. For 79 years, only boys learned to sing here in a dormitory. Now girls are allowed to join, raising questions about potential competition.
On the evening before the big change, the boys' singing echoes over the meadow—the first rehearsal after the holidays. Afterward, they retreat to their den, a typical youth basement with photos on the walls, old armchairs, and a bar. From tenth grade onward, they serve each other beer or soda here, as there's little else going on in the quiet small town.
While watching the Basketball European Championship final, they enjoy the last night alone. The choir, renowned for its concerts, now enters a new phase of equality. The integration of girls could alter the dormitory dynamics and rehearsals, but details remain to be seen.
