Beat Martin Raaflaub (born August 19, 1946, Winterthur) is a Swiss conductor.

He grew up in Basel and Cameroon and studied German and history at the University of Basel where he graduated as a doctor in modern Swiss history in 1977. At the same time he became a concert singer after having studied with Fritz Näf. Finally, the Basel Conservatory issued Beat Raaflaub the diploma for "Teaching School Music" and "Choir Direction". In 1976 he was nominated Director of the Jugendmusikschule Muttenz near Basel.

Since 1979 he has managed two other choirs as a musical dircetor, the Choir St. Arbogast Muttenz and the Chamber Choir Bülach (Kammerchor Zürcher Unterland). He gives concerts with both choirs in all parts of Switzerland.

In 1983 Beat Raaflaub took over the musical direction of the Basel Boys Choir (Knabenkantorei Basel). Many recordings for radio and television were produced with his choirs. He gave concerts with his Boys Choir in Europe, in the United States, in South Africa and in Brazil. Several CD-recordings were produced under his direction.

Beside, Beat Raaflaub teaches young conductors at the "Music Academy Basel". He also presents regularly the radio show Sing mit at the Swiss Radio DRS. Beat Raaflaub is an important artistic counselor of the European Youth Choir Festival.

External links

• Basel Boys Choir (http://www.knabenkantorei.ch/FRONT-E.htm)
• European Youth Choir Festival (http://www.ejcf.ch/2004/index_e.php)

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