Award-Winning Children’s Radio Play
German Record Critics’ Award for “Nepomuk & der Rabel” by University of Music Alumni Annika and Martin Bosch
The third episode of the musical children’s radio play “Nepomuk & der Rabel” has now won an award: The new installment, “Die Pinguininsel,” has been honored with the German Record Critics’ Award. Behind this radio play universe, which has been growing for years, are Annika and Martin Bosch, two alumni of the Weimar Music university. The third episode of their radio play is accompanied for the first time by the Staatskapelle Weimar.
In terms of content, the story remains true to its fairytale style: the little boy Nepomuk lives together with his feathered friend Rabel. The clever starling brings not only wit and charm, but also fantastic stories. In this new chapter, dreams and reality become intertwined: Rabel takes us on an adventurous journey to the mysterious Penguin Island—and who knows, maybe they’ll even find... diamonds?
“Nepomuk & Rabel” is a musical radio play series with catchy tunes. The target audience for the audio play is primarily children between the ages of four and eight. However, the musical audio play can also appeal to younger and older siblings or the whole family.
The German Record Critics’ Award writes in its jury review: “With classical orchestral music and sea dog rap, this is the perfect penguin party! After a turbulent start, migratory bird Rabel, Annika Bosch, and their small, dedicated team transport listeners with narrative charm and passion into a mysterious, spectacular world of sound—featuring cheerful, cheeky penguins, grumpy sea lions, and sparkling eyes in a “spooky cave.” Enveloped by the opulent, atmospheric sound of the Staatskapelle Weimar and featuring the enchanting participation of children, a delicate work of auditory art has emerged that truly makes “everything dark become colorful.”
Annika Bosch works as a singer and music educator both in Germany and abroad and studied school music and elementary music education at the FRANZ LISZT University of Music in Weimar and at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki. From 2018 to 2020, she taught various subjects within the EMP/Rhythmics master’s program at the Department of Music Education at the FRANZ LISZT University of Music in Weimar and at the University of Erfurt. Since 2020, she has been teaching jazz/pop singing to school music students at the FRANZ LISZT University of Music in Weimar.
In September 2019, she was invited by the “Time Phoenix Department of Education in Beijing” to lead workshops for elementary school teachers and elementary school children. In addition to her institutional teaching activities, she regularly leads inclusive workshops for amateur musicians, children, and youth on the topics of “Music & Movement,” “Elementary Music Education,” and “Singing & Voice Training.” With her project “Nepomuk & der Rabel,” she has already conducted countless children’s concerts and workshops followed by performances, and regularly performs concerts with symphony orchestras or bands. More info: www.annikabosch.de
Martin Bosch studied school music and jazz at the FRANZ LISZT University of Music in Weimar, as well as audio engineering at Hofa College. From 2022 to 2026, he was a professor of band coaching and ensemble music at the HfMDK Frankfurt and also taught band conducting and music production at the University of Music Weimar. Artistically, he works as a bassist in the fields of jazz and popular music. With his jazz quintet Nachtfarben, he has already released several albums and performed numerous concerts.
Since 2020, he has been touring with this project alongside the lyricist and poet Felix Römer and released the album “Schön.” He has also been involved in several music productions as a sound engineer, producer, and musician. He also works as an arranger, composer, and audiobook author. In 2022, he released the second part of the musical children’s radio play “Nepomuk & der Rabel” together with Annika Bosch and wrote an arrangement for large orchestra for the Staatskapelle Weimar. As an author in the field of music education, he has published a work on the topic “The iPad in Music Education” together with Christian Stick.
Further information: https://www.schallplattenkritik.de/bestenlisten/2026/02
[June 8, 2026]