Sjaella, a German a cappella vocal ensemble from Leipzig, was founded in 2005 by Felicitas Erben, Franziska Eberhardt, Helene Erben, Marie Charlotte Seidel, Marie Fenske, and Viola Blache. The group's breakthrough came with their first performance at the Nacht der Chöre in Leipzig’s Peterskirche. Sjaella gained recognition through various national and international a cappella competitions, including winning the Hildebrand-Wettbewerb in 2008 and the Ward Swingle Award at the Internationale A cappella Competition Graz in 2010. The ensemble signed with Querstand in 2010 and released their debut album Sjaella in 2011, followed by Hugo Distler in 2012, Preisung in 2013, and Lifted in 2015. Notable performances include concerts at the Bachfest Leipzig and MDR-Musiksommer, as well as collaborations with Bobby McFerrin. The ensemble has been an official ambassador for SOS-Kinderdörfer weltweit since 2016 and received the CARA Award in 2019 for their album Meridiane NORD.
