It all began back in the late 50s and early 60s when the founder, Dr Klaus Preis, began organizing musical soirées in the student milieu of Heidelberg. Concerts as such began in 1961 and gradually it all grew, with tours across Europe, predominantly Germany, France, Switzerland and Austria, but often further afield and every second year a world tour took Heideberg to places in Asia, Oceania, Africa and the Americas. The unending energy led to some years with 370 concerts – sometimes 2 concerts on religious festival days ! In more recent years the number of concerts has dropped as Klaus slowed down and he gave his last concerts in 2013 at age 87. Some of the musicians who played with him over the years have taken up the mantle and the Paris Chamber Players is one of the descendants of the Heidelberg Chamber Orchestra !
