Idea competition »Choir of the future«

The Rundfunkchor Berlin is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2025. We would like to take this occasion as an impetus to develop the future of the choir jointly with as many people as possible. For our “Choir of the future?” idea competition, we are looking for ideas for concert formats that open up new perspectives for choral music and that are conceived as inclusively as possible.

We want to respond to the question about concert formats of the future not just from our own perspective, but also to gather inspirations from as many parts of society as possible.
We would like to explore how concerts could be staged so that participation and relevance are enabled for as many people as possible.

• What are you interested in?
• What would you like to hear or see?
• How would a concert look and feel that you would like to attend?
• From all entries that we receive, we will select one winning idea at the final stage; it will be realised in one of the coming seasons.

There are no specific requirements for participation in the competition, no particular professional expertise or prior experience is required. Anyone may participate. The idea should be submitted in German or in English.

The winning idea will be realised as an event in one of the Rundfunkchor Berlin’s coming seasons. Realisation will take place within the scope of constraints on time and financial means, and will be realised in consultation with the submitting person(s) and, if necessary, adapted.
The idea provider will be named in all publications as the source of the concert format. The second and third place ideas will also be incorporated into the choir’s future planning. The providers of the three winning ideas will receive free admission to all the Rundfunkchor Berlin’s own events* in 2025-26.
In addition, the three best ideas submitted will receive the following prizes:

1. 1st place: EUR 1,000
2. 2nd place: EUR 750
3. 3rd place: EUR 500

The Rundfunkchor Berlin would like to delve into how concerts could be put on so that participation and relevance are enabled for as many people as possible. Proposals are sought for shaping promising and inclusive concert formats.
The ideas submitted should refer specifically to:

• Thematic focus, musical works, composers, participants, type of performance, concert venues
• Format (e.g., classical concert, lecture-concert, performance with other artists, interactive concert, …)
Cooperations with other artists

The ideas can be submitted using the online form on this page. There you will also find the possibility to send in additional material.
Each person may submit up to two ideas to our idea competition.

Note: Only one idea per participant can be awarded prize money.

The ideas will be evaluated by a jury consisting of the following members:

• Gijs Leenaars, principal conductor of the Rundfunkchor Berlin
• Rachel-Sophia Dries, choral director of the Rundfunkchor Berlin
• Annabell Patt, artistic planning, Rundfunkchor Berlin
• Sarah Wedl-Wilson, State Secretary of Culture for the state of Berlin
• Mai-An Nguyen, head of theater pedagogy, Schaubühne Berlin
• Lucilla Schmidinger, dramaturg
• Laura Gehlhaar, consultant on inclusion and anti-discrimination
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1. Does the event enable the participation of as many people as possible, particularly including people who until now have had little contact with the classical concert scene?
2. Does the event reach people who are frequently excluded from cultural events or are not taken into account when programming?
3. Is the event realistically achievable? Have all necessary organisational aspects been taken into account?
4. Innovation: In what way does the event offer something new?

The ideas must be submitted using the form by 30 Nov. 2024. The winning idea will be announced on 30 May 2025 in the scope of the gala event celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Rundfunkchor Berlin in the Konzerthaus Berlin.

All ideas submitted are subject to copyright law. A contract will be concluded with the idea provider for the realisation of the winning idea.