Frank Weber – Tenor

Season Joined: 2014-2015

Hometown: Rostock, Germany … and London, Ontario almost feels like it by now.

Education/Training:
In Germany I sang with my dad in a Traditional Shanty choir – almost no music sheet reading, all by memory, just like it was done at sea. Then I came to London in 2000 and was thrust into high-profile, fast-paced London Pro Musica, where my wife was singing: I sat there, in the middle of this harmony, and the sound flat out melted my soul. It was a steep learning curve and having a strong tenor anchor nearby was key.

A few years later, we moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan, and I sang in a Madrigal Choir. It was a larger choir but for many occasions we would break up into groups of 4 to 5 voices – no anchor anymore. It was here that I learned to just have confidence and soar.

Back in London we started having our cutie boys. I attended the KSS fall season concert in 2014, the quality was simply irresistible: what impressed me the most were the choir’s unified, “one-voice” parts. I am glad Karen let me pass the audition.

Do you also have a non-singing “day job”? If so, what do you do?
I co-own two engineering companies, having an outlet like KSS is not just hobby, but survival.

Where else do you teach/gig/conduct/sing/perform?
My boys take piano lessons with a superb teacher just down our street. I am very grateful that I can practice at home with them. The piano is my life’s passion, but I only had some formal training in my 20’s and then again just a few years ago.

The boys like when I play rocky songs on the guitar and they can do crazy, high energy dances to it, or accompany me with wild percussion. When my wife, Jennifer, gets her flute out or starts singing, I am in heaven.

Recording/TV/Film:
Way back, a friend of mine recorded his own album. He invited me in on two songs: one for mouth harp, the other one for recorder. Simple stuff, nothing fancy – but I was honoured he included me.

Highlights of your musical career:
One concert in the army band on the electric guitar, Neil Young’s “Like A Hurricane” …

Favorite choral work(s):
There are so many fine works out there. London Pro Musica’s CD Snow Has Fallen recorded together with Brassroots under Ken Fleet is certainly one of them.

A defining moment of favorite KSS onstage experience:
Singing with and right behind professional soloists is always very special. As choristers, they are our role models; I very much look up to them.

What are you listening to these days?
Anything relaxing and uplifting, from Tom Waits (Closing Time) to Glen Gould, from the good old Broadway Musical Classics to Sean Derraugh’s fabulous and varied clarinet playing.

Anything you’d like to add about yourself?
I shared way too much already.

What London experience do you consider essential for visitors/newcomers?
Take a bicycle and ride all river front cycle paths on a sunny, cloudless, brisk, color pregnant autumn day.