"When I was director of the Fachakademie für Katholische Kirchenmusik in Regensburg from 1988 to 2000, Bertold Hummel was the state examiner. On this occasion, I once asked him to write a motet for my still young ensemble. I was more than surprised when he presented me with the score of this beautiful "Cantate Domino" the following day. I have often sung this motet with my ensemble cantARTE, e.g. in Portugal (Porto Cathedral), Chicago (Cathedral), Rome and many other places. Always with great success! I have always felt a friendly relationship with Bertold Hummel and I am still grateful to this day that I was able to get to know him." Hubert Velten, 2008

Biography

KMD Hubert Velten (born 1938) studied at the State University of Music in Stuttgart and was a lecturer at the University of Education in Esslingen from 1963 to 1973. From 1975, he worked as a cantor in Freudenstadt and as a lecturer at the Rottenburg Church Music School. From 1988 until his retirement in 2000, he was director of the Fachakademie für Katholische Kirchenmusik und Musikerziehung in Regensburg. He also worked as a vocal coach and singing teacher for the Regensburger Domspatzen. The vocal ensemble cantArte was founded in autumn 1991 based on the idea of former Regensburg cathedral sparrows and church music director Hubert Velten. Since then, the 14 young men between the ages of 19 and 25 have used their excellent vocal training and their love of making music to perform American gospel songs and Negro spirituals in concert alongside demanding "musica sacra" literature and romantic contemporary vocal music. cantArte has delighted audiences at numerous performances at home and abroad. Outstanding among these were a joint concert with Daniel R. Williams, bass soloist at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, as well as three tours abroad (USA 1992 and 1996, Portugal 1995). In November 1995, cantArte took part in a choir competition for the first time. At the International Palestrina Choir Competition in Rome, the ensemble won the gold medal in the top A category. Since the summer of 1994, cantArte has been under contract with the Cologne-based record company Delta-Musik Capriccio. Hubert Velten died on 9 July 2010 at the age of 72 after a long, serious illness.