Helga Forner (1936 – 3 December 2004) was a professor of singing at the

University of Music and Theatre Leipzig The University of Music and Theatre "Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy" Leipzig (german: Hochschule für Musik und Theater "Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy" Leipzig) is a public university in Leipzig (Saxony, Germany). Founded in 1843 by Felix Mendelssohn ...

. She was one of the best-known German singing teachers before and after the

Peaceful Revolution The Peaceful Revolution (german: Friedliche Revolution), as a part of the Revolutions of 1989, was the process of sociopolitical change that led to the opening of East Germany's borders with the West, the end of the ruling of the Socialist Unity ...

Career

Forner was born in Berlin. From 1954 to 1960 she studied singing at the Hochschule für Musik Leipzig, among others with Eva Fleischer. Afterwards, she taught singing at the Halle Conservatory for five years. In 1965 she received a teaching assignment at her former training centre in Leipzig. In 1978, after three rejections (for political reasons), she was appointed a lecturer for singing. In 1987 she received an extraordinary professorship and five years later she was appointed full professor of singing. Forner was nominated emeritus in 2001, but held a teaching position until 2004. The vocal teacher, who conducted

master class A master class is a Class (education), class given to students of a particular Academic discipline, discipline by an expert of that discipline—usually music, but also science, painting, drama, games, or on any other occasion where skills are b ...

es in Germany and Europe, trained a large number of singers, including Eva-Maria Bundschuh,

Simone Kermes Simone Kermes (born 17 May 1965, in Leipzig) is a German coloratura soprano, especially known for her virtuoso voice, suited to the opera seria genre of the Baroque and early Classical period. Career Kermes has performed at many importa ...

Romelia Lichtenstein Romelia Lichtenstein, also ''Romelia Assenowa-Lichtenstein'' (12 March 1962 in Sofia) is a German opera, operetta, oratorio, lied and concert soprano. After an apprenticeship as children's nurse she studied vocals at the University of Music and Th ...

Jochen Kupfer Jochen Kupfer (born 1969 in Grimma) is a German operatic baritone. Early life and education Kupfer received regular singing lessons from the age of 10, and studied singing with Helga Forner at the Musikhochschule Leipzig. He attended master classe ...

, and Thomas Wittig. Forner died in Leipzig.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Forner, Helga Voice teachers Academic staff of the University of Music and Theatre Leipzig 1936 births 2004 deaths Singers from Berlin