Innovative concert formats
Federal School Music Choir comes to Weimar for project phase and concerts
Weimar is becoming a meeting place for aspiring music teachers from all over Germany: The Federal School Music Choir (BSMC) is coming together for an intensive work phase from March 6 to 15 under the title “unter Wellen | über Wolken” (under waves | above clouds).
Under the artistic direction of Weimar choir conducting professor Kerstin Behnke, who enjoys a high reputation nationwide as a conductor and music educator, the participants will work on a challenging program with works by Jaakko Mäntyjärvi, Johannes Brahms, Katerina Gimon, Andrea Tarrodi, and others.
There will be a special focus on contemporary and improvisational choral music as well as innovative concert formats that open up new approaches to singing together. Two public concerts on Friday, March 13, at 7:00 p.m. in the Thomaskirche Erfurt and on Saturday, March 14, at 6:00 p.m. in the KET-Halle in Weimar will form the artistic conclusion.
For the concert in Weimar, a free bus transfer will be offered from Goetheplatz to the KET Hall at 5:30 p.m. – as well as a transfer back to Goetheplatz after the concert. Admission to both concerts is free.
In addition to the artistic work, music education practice is a central component of the project. In workshops, the participants work together with students from the Lyonel Feininger Gymnasium Mellingen. The aim is to give children and young people creative access to music and selected concert works – through making music together, listening, drawing, and their own forms of expression.
This collaboration will conclude with a joint internal school concert on Thursday, March 12, at the Belvedere Studio Theater, where the students will perform on stage together with the Federal School Music Choir.
The music education work was prepared and accompanied by school music students from the FRANZ LISZT University of Music Weimar as part of a semester-long seminar. The project is complemented by an extensive supporting program of city tours, theater and museum visits, which promotes personal exchange and nationwide networking among the participants.
The entire project is organized by students at the Weimar Music university and is supported by their voluntary work for the BundesSchulMusikChor- & Orchester e.V. (Federal School Music Choir & Orchestra Association).
The “BundesSchulMusikChor” exemplifies the promotion of artistic excellence, the strengthening of music education, the nationwide networking of young music educators, and lively encounters between schools and universities. The project strengthens the musical landscape of Thuringia in the long term and at the same time sets new accents in the promotion of contemporary choral music.
It is under the patronage of Thuringia's Minister President Mario Voigt.
[3 March 2026]