Your Cultural Voluntary Year with the Rundfunkchor Berlin (FSJ Kultur)
Finished school and fancy a breath of fresh cultural air? Keen to spend a year in one of Europe’s most vibrant cultural capitals? Then the Rundfunkchor Berlin might be just the place for you. Join our young, dedicated team and get a behind-the-scenes look at one of Berlin’s most renowned choral ensembles. You’ll find inspiration, gain hands-on experience, and have the chance to contribute your own ideas along the way. We can’t wait to meet you!
What you can expect
You’ll gain a well-rounded insight into how a professional choir operates: How does the conductor get to the choir? How does the choir get to the stage? How does the music land on the stands? And how do audiences find their way into the concert hall?
Your year with the Rundfunkchor Berlin is essentially a guided tour through every aspect of choir management. You’ll support us in preparing a wide range of concert events, assist singers and guests, and work closely with both project management and the artistic operations team. A highlight of the year is our annual Song Exchange project. Here, you’ll be involved in all organisational aspects – from scheduling and rehearsal planning to sourcing sheet music and liaising with venues and participants. You’ll also gain insight into our marketing team’s work, from initial brainstorming to the final rollout of a campaign. Got ideas of your own? Brilliant – we’re always keen to hear them and, where possible, bring them to life together. Of course, running a choir also means solid office work. That includes maintaining databases, updating contact lists, and keeping everything ticking over behind the scenes – the quiet backbone of everything we do.
You can apply for an FSJ Kultur in Berlin if
- You’ve completed your compulsory schooling.
- You haven’t yet completed a university degree or an equivalent qualification (e.g. technical college, business qualifications, master craftsman or educator training).
- You haven’t previously completed a voluntary service lasting more than six months.
- You are under 27 years old.
- You don’t need prior experience in the arts – nor will your grades be assessed during the application process.
What’s included
- Full-time placement (35 hours per week).
- Monthly allowance of €483.10, plus full social insurance.
- Continued eligibility for child benefit, housing support, and other social benefits (depending on legal requirements).
- 25 mandatory training days (with leave granted by us).
- 30 days of holiday.
- A certificate at the end of your year detailing your role, responsibilities, and final project.
- In some cases, the FSJ can count towards the practical component of a Fachhochschulreife (university of applied sciences entrance qualification).
- Many universities recognise the FSJ as a waiting semester for degree programmes in culture, education, and the arts.
How to apply
Applications are usually open from 1 February to 15 March. You can apply directly via the Freiwilligendienste Kultur und Bildung website, where you’ll also find further details.
IMPORTANT: You must be at least 18 years old to apply.
The FSJ Kultur runs annually from 1 September to 31 August.
Behind the scenes
Fresh out of school and straight into Berlin life, Emilia Voss jumped headfirst into the world of choral music. As the first FSJ participant in the Rundfunkchor Berlin’s management team, she shares in an interview why you don’t need to be a professional to make a big impact – and what everyday life during the programme is really like.
A Word With Emilia VossGot questions? Don’t hesitate to get in touch – we’d love to hear from you.
Rachel Balatoni
Project Management14057 Berlin
