Available church music positions left unclaimed in Saxony - Untouched Venues for Sacred Melodies in Saxony
The music and theology schools in Saxony, specifically the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (HMT) in Leipzig and the Hochschule für Kirchenmusik Dresden, are facing a shortage of students in church music studies. This issue is largely due to a lack of young talent in the field of church music in Saxony [1][2].
Many positions for church musicians remain unfilled, a trend that is also reflected in the low number of applicants for corresponding study places. The specialized nature of church music studies, which focuses on professional activities within the church, may limit its attractiveness.
Another factor contributing to the shortage of students is the high demand for studies that offer a secure and promising future. Church-related activities are often tied to specific regional or church structures, which can develop differently across regions. The job opportunities for church musicians may not always be sufficient to employ all graduates, leading to a less stable professional outlook [4].
Despite over 60% of graduates expressing a desire to stay in Saxony and high satisfaction with the state's universities, this seems less common for church music studies, as there are not enough applicants for these study places [4].
In an effort to address the shortage of students, the Hochschule für Kirchenmusik Dresden is planning to focus more on Christian popular music starting next year, aiming to expand its target group [5]. The HMT in Leipzig, on the other hand, is offering taster days and workshops to inspire new talent [6].
It is worth noting that graduates from the HMT often receive highly attractive job offers without much professional experience [7]. At the HMT, students even receive job offers during their training [3]. However, church background appears to be a significant factor in attracting talent for church music studies [8].
Unfortunately, the specific number of unfilled study places at the Hochschule für Kirchenmusik Dresden for the direct study program starting in September was not mentioned. Similarly, no information was provided about the gender distribution of students in church music studies at either the HMT in Leipzig or the Hochschule für Kirchenmusik in Dresden.
In conclusion, the unfilled study places in church music at the music and theology schools in Saxony reflect the overall shortage of young talent in church music studies, combined with the specialized nature and relatively limited career prospects in this field [1][2].
In the attempt to broaden the reach of church music studies, the Hochschule für Kirchenmusik Dresden is planning to emphasize Christian popular music starting next year, with the intention of expanding its target audience. Additionally, the HMT in Leipzig is encouraging new talent through taster days and workshops as part of their education-and-self-development and personal-growth initiatives, focusing on vocational training in the field of church music.
