With deep sorrow and profound gratitude, we say farewell to Freya Casey, who passed away far too soon on 21 June 2026 after a serious illness.
Freya was one of the most remarkable lead singers our project “Was uns am Herzen liegt” has ever known. From her very first appearance with us in 2017, she graced our stage with an effortlessness granted to only a very few. No one who experienced her ever forgot her: a voice that could bring a hall to complete silence and sweep it away a moment later, and a presence that never sought effect but always came straight from the heart. Her interpretations of “Wenn ich tanzen will”, “Let It Go”, “Les Oiseaux Dans La Charmille” and – above all – her own compositions “You Are The Light” and “Zeit Mit Dir”, dedicated to her daughter, are among the moments our audience will treasure forever.
Yet what made Freya so special to us was more than her extraordinary talent. She was an artist who truly understood what “Was uns am Herzen liegt” is all about: making music not for its own sake, but for a cause greater than all of us. With every performance, her incomparable energy and creative spirit helped seriously ill children and young people – and she did so with a warmth, a generosity and a sense of humour that have shaped our entire WUAHL family. Her many playful video messages from in front of and behind the scenes of our countless rehearsals will never be forgotten.
That she, of all people, has now succumbed to a serious illness gives us pause. The strength with which our concerts stand up for the most vulnerable has taken on a deeply personal meaning for us in these days. Freya lent her voice to this idea – and it will resonate in every note we sing on our stages from now on.
We bow before a magnificent musician and a wonderful human being. Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to her family, her children and all who were close to her.
Freya, you will be on stage with us at the Friedenskirche on 17 October. This concert is for you. You are the light.
With love and gratitude
Dirk Schieborn, Chairman
Jürgen Schwarz, Patron
on behalf of everyone involved in “Was uns am Herzen liegt e. V.”
