Early Music Ensemble
AUXANTIQUA
The Ensemble
The debut of the ensemble AUXantiqua with Monteverdi’s Vespro della Beata Vergine in autumn 2019 was celebrated as “a blast” (Augsburger Allgemeine) and a “magical sound festival” (Donaukurier).
The singers, coming from various countries, mostly met during the Advanced Vocal Ensemble Studies at the renowned Schola Cantorum Basiliensis. Together with their teachers Anthony Rooley and Evelyn Tubb, they worked on sacred and secular vocal works from the Renaissance and Baroque periods of the English and Italian traditions.
The name AUXantiqua, inspired by Ars Antiqua, combines the colloquial city code of Augsburg, AUX, with antiqua(Latin antiquus, meaning ‘old’). The name already expresses the young ensemble’s intention:
to research, academically prepare, and bring to life outstanding vocal music of the 16th and 17th centuries.
Specialized in early music, the ensemble has made a name for itself with innovative programs, vivid interpretations, and meticulous research of historical sources. With a flexible lineup ranging from solo formations to larger ensembles, AUXantiqua enables performances of a wide repertoire, including both lesser-known works and major masterpieces.
The ensemble has performed at festivals such as the Festtage Alter Musik in Füssen, the Schrobenhausener Barocktage, and Laus Polyphoniae in Antwerp.
In addition to concert activities, the ensemble also dedicates itself to producing editions and recordings that preserve the musical-historical heritage and make it accessible to a broad audience.
Stefan Steinemann
Artistic Director
Stefan Steinemann, born in 1992, began his musical career at the age of 5 with the Augsburg Cathedral Boys' Choir.
After graduating from high school, Stefan Steinemann studied church music, singing, choral conducting and historical performance practice (organ) at the University of Music and Theatre in Munich.
From 2016 to 2018, Stefan Steinemann completed Advanced Vocal Ensemble Studies (AVES) at the Schola Cantorum in Basel. Under the direction of Evelyn Tubb and Anthony Rooley, the focus of his studies was on the study of secular vocal works of the Renaissance in English and Italian.
The vocal ensemble InVocare was formed during his studies and has performed in concerts and festivals throughout Europe with various ensemble sizes. In addition to his solo work, he is also a member of the Leonhard Paminger Ensemble and regularly performs with other international ensembles, including the Huelgas Ensemble and the Lamaraviglia Ensemble.
For his academic achievements, Stefan Steinemann was awarded the Deutschlandstipendium and a scholarship from the Maja Sacher Foundation.
In his busy concert career as a singer, keyboard player, and conductor, Stefan Steinemann explores music from all eras, from Gregorian chant to contemporary compositions. His performance focuses on works from the Renaissance and Baroque periods. The young artist consistently strives for historically informed yet lively and emotional interpretations. He has performed at the Ljubljana Philharmonic and numerous festivals, including the Innsbruck Festival, the Musica Antiqua Festival in Bruges, the Munich Residence Week, and the Laus Polyphoniae in Antwerp.
In autumn 2019, Stefan Steinemann made his debut with the ensemble AUXantiqua, which he founded.
On January 1, 2020, Stefan Steinemann, Germany's youngest cathedral music director, took over the overall musical direction of Augsburg Cathedral and thus also the artistic direction of the Augsburg Cathedral Boys' Choir. Since 2023, he has been teaching students in his oratorio class at the Munich University of Music and Theatre.
In 2024, Stefan Steinemann was awarded the Augsburg City Art Prize.