The announcement came as a surprise today as there are two orchestra’s who received an award today by the Deutsche Orchester-Stiftung.
Out of 33 applications an international jury of experts chaired by Peter Ruzicka awarded the main price to the Konzerthausorchester Berlin. But also the Staatsorchester Mainz received a special award for a specific project.
KONZERTHAUSORCHESTER BERLIN – most innovative orchestra 2017
It was “the successful implementation of the strategic re-positioning of the orchestra based on its tradition and history,” that convinced the jury. With many different approaches the orchestra has created programs and opened up to very different layers of the population of Berlin. The orchestra managed to establish a very strong connection between the city of Berlin and this orchestra. “This is a role model for others,” the jury wrote.
The activities of the orchestra includes “Espresso Concerts” at lunchtime or concerts formats with the audience sitting within the orchestra (“Mittendrin-Konzerte). It developed a program for young people with autism and their families. And set a new standard for orchestral promotion through webvideo-series „#klangberlins that had 3 million views on Facebook.
Here is an example of ‘#klangberlins – the Currywurst
STAATSORCHESTER MAINZ – Special Price for the Godchild Concerts
It was the extraordinary concept of Mainz’ ‘Godchild-Concerts” (Patenkindkonzerte) that made the jury to create a special price. In 2014 the orchestra offered an orchestra-godchildhood to the parents of all children that were born in that very year. 1100 children – which is a third of all children born in that year in Mainz- were registered by their parents and will be accompanied by the orchestra in the first six years of their lives. At least once a year every child (and their parents) will be part of an activity that is custom-made for the child’s age.
The full press-release from the Deutsche Orchester-Stiftung with statements from the jury can be read here (in German).
More clips and info about the the Konzerthaus Orchestra’s activities can be found on their YouTube channel.
