Tauran Large (31), Bass 1, member of the BOC since 2024
Tauran, welcome to the BOC. When did you first become interested in music?
Tauran: Music has always been part of my life. My dad plays the guitar and my mum is a good singer. In primary school, my music teacher noticed my ear for music and offered me piano lessons. I also sang in a small school choir, played the horn and was a student at a conservatory for music for five years alongside high school. After school, that meant two hours a week of choir, two hours of music theory and horn practice in the evenings. My first choir concert at 13 was “Carmina Burana”. It was a great experience to sing together with soloists and an orchestra. As soon as I hear the piece today, it immediately takes me back to that time.
Your deep voice is clear, you sing in bass. Were you already a bass back then?
Tauran: Yes, I was already singing bass when I was twelve, with people who were 50, 60 years older. Many people say I should become a radio announcer or record audio books. I would love to do that.
You come from Canada. How do you experience the difference between choral singing and Germany?
Tauran: I don’t see any big differences. Maybe that’s because I know the languages. I think it’s good not to speak English or French in the choir. But it’s also a challenge to make music in a language other than your mother tongue.
How did you find out about the BOC? There are many opportunities in Berlin’s choral jungle.
Tauran: That’s a funny story. A few years ago, my mate David, who has also become a member of the BOC, and I wanted to find a choir. He sang in a choir 15 years ago and plays the piano. One day he googled “Berlin choir” and “classical music”, found the BOC and we just turned up. The first few weeks in the choir I was almost overwhelmed. i hadn’t read music properly for 15 years, especially not in German. It took a bit of energy to get back into it, but I was enthusiastic right from the start. Everyone in my voice group is also nice and welcoming, everything is super organised, we are very well informed and everyone at the BOC seems to be really happy and satisfied. Everyone comes because they want to be there.
The anniversary concert in September is your first with the BOC. How do you feel when you think about it?
Tauran: I’m already excited and looking forward to the orchestra and the soloists. I didn’t know the concert hall and I’m thrilled. We’ve come a long way since we started rehearsing. The result will be great. I’ve probably been lucky with the BOC. I’ve lived in Berlin for almost two years and haven’t been to a classical concert here yet. Instead, my first experience will be to be part of such a concert. That’s the perfect start.
