The Winning Ideas Are In!

At the anniversary closing concert »The Art of Choral Music« on 31 May 2025, the Rundfunkchor Berlin unveiled the winning entries of its »Choir of the Future« ideas competition, launched at the start of the season 2024/25. The competition set out to find visionary concert formats that spark participation, offer fresh perspectives on classical music, and rethink the concert experience from the ground up.

1st Prize – Tillmann Triest

Project: »We’re Not Going Anywhere – Queer Resilience«
Prize: €1,000

Tillmann Triest’s concept for a community concert takes first place. Scheduled for the 2026/27 season, the project focuses on the resilience and lived experiences of queer identities in the world of classical music. The programme envisions an evening with works by Jake Heggie, Michael Shaieb and Our Lady J, paired with music education formats that weave in both historical and personal perspectives on queer life.

Themes such as queer history, the criminalisation of homosexuality in Germany, anti-Semitism, remembrance culture, intersectionality and resistance are explored through music that bridges opera, choral works, pop and jazz. Alongside queer Berlin choirs, partnerships are planned with institutions like the Schwules Museum and Diversity Arts Culture. Inclusive access and alternative ticketing models ensure strong community roots.

Triest accepted the award during a panel discussion with Rachel-Sophia Dries and Mai-An Nguyen, hosted by Vivian Perkovic, exploring the future of concert formats and the role of cultural institutions in a diverse society.

2nd Prize – Claudia Beißwanger

Project: »Stimmen-Vielfalt« (Voices of Diversity)
Prize: €750

Second place went to Claudia Beißwanger’s project, praised for its connection to Berlin’s cultural diversity and its vast repertoire of songs. The Rundfunkchor Berlin will perform music in different languages and traditions, developed in close collaboration with Berlin’s diverse communities and their »song mentors«.

3rd Prize – Kira Benkert

Project: »Chor der Zukunft« (Choir of the Future)
Prize: €500

Third place honours Kira Benkert’s wide-ranging concept full of ideas that connect choral music with the visual arts. The jury highlighted the forward-looking nature of these ideas, even if not fully fleshed out, as inspiration for future seasons.

Her proposal includes socially focused concert formats on topics such as the climate crisis, war and gender equality, combined with audience participation, collaborations with civic initiatives, and benefit or solidarity concerts.

The prize money was generously provided by the Friends and Supporters of the Rundfunkchor Berlin.