Various ensembles of the Gürzenich Orchestra visit Cologne’s daycare centers to perform exciting and fun concerts where children can join in, learn about instruments, and enjoy classical music. The concerts last around 40 minutes and take place on the listed dates, each morning at 9:15 a.m. or 11:00 a.m.

Rehearsal Visit for Preschoolers at the Philharmonie

There’s so much to discover in an orchestra: How many musicians are on stage? Which instruments can you hear? And what does a concert hall actually look like from the inside?Preschool children can explore these questions during the Zwergenprobe ("Little Giants' Rehearsal"). Before experiencing the orchestra in rehearsal for about half an hour, the children will receive an age-appropriate introduction from orchestra musicians who will present their instruments.

Mit Karacho!

In our school concerts, noisy neighbors WUM and BUM encounter the equally expressive ladies DING and DONG. One blasts loud marching music, another competes in singing with her canary. Mr. WUM stomps and crashes around the ground floor in a fit of rage, while Mrs. DING can even make a “pink frilly thing” in her cluttered apartment ring out — this can only mean trouble...

With onomatopoeic sounds, composer Gordon Kampe brings this bickering neighborhood to life using funny noises, sound effects, and a good dose of tschingderassabum. Will they find the one-and-only second solution — or is it finally basta and the end of the line?

To the accompanying offers

“King kommt noch” is a musical story about arriving in a foreign land. Over the course of two months, 300 second-grade students rehearse the piece “King Is Still Coming” (2018) under the guidance of vocal instructors. The project culminates in two concerts performed together with the Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne.

»King kommt noch«

The boy has been in this new country for just a few days, and everything here is completely different from home. The whole family came along and now shares a single room: Mama, Papa, the baby — but not King, the boy’s beloved dog. Not yet, because “King is still coming,” Mama says. While waiting, the boy closely explores his new surroundings.Everything he finds strange or curious, he shares with King through his wind phone. Why do people here put dog poop in little bags? Why can’t he and his parents read anything in this new country? And who is the woman from the yoga-yogurt shop, or the lady with the blue light? All very puzzling.

A cooperation between the Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne and KölnMusik.

Klangspaziergang

Ever wanted to create your own concert, perform on stage, or even be a presenter? All of this is possible for students as part of the “443 Hertz – Klangspaziergang” series – in direct collaboration with the professionals of the Gürzenich Orchestra. The focus of this project is hands-on engagement with everything that makes sound. Students get to know selected musical works and develop their own personal connection to the music. Guided by instructors, chamber ensembles will work with a grade 3 class to prepare a concert for the entire school. Workshops and the final concert will take place at the school.

The Special Rehearsal Visit – Lively, Visual, and Up Close

A unique experience at the Kölner Philharmonie for school classes of all grades and types: the rehearsal session. During this exclusive, half-hour rehearsal, students gain an exciting insight into an orchestral work and witness live the rehearsal discussions between conductor and musicians. The WDR Ensembles, the Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne, and the Kölner Philharmonie have put together suitable offerings for all grade levels.

Teaching materials for pre- and/or post-visit preparation are available for download.

The rehearsal sessions for school classes are made possible by the Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne in cooperation with KölnMusik and WDR.

Filmreif

Music has the power to influence our emotions and create moods. It can move us to tears, boost our self-confidence, or send shivers down our spines. This power of music is especially used in films to give scenes a special atmosphere and to guide the emotions of the viewers. But how exactly does it work?

In the school concert “Filmreif” for Grades 5–8, the Gürzenich Orchestra explores works composed specifically for films, as well as classical compositions frequently used in movies. Together, we will experience how music stimulates the imagination and brings stories to life.

Amazônia

Brazilian photographer and environmental activist Sebastião Salgado has documented the Amazon rainforest in all its beauty and fragility. His powerful black-and-white images are presented on a large screen – accompanied by the lush Rainforest Suite by Villa-Lobos. Around this concert, students can participate in workshops to explore both the music and important topics such as environmental and species conservation.

Rehearsal Visit and Workshop

School classes have the opportunity to discover two major cultural institutions from a very personal perspective. The Cologne Opera and the Gürzenich Orchestra offer a special behind-the-scenes experience.

During a morning visit, students first get to know the orchestra: they attend an exclusive instrument presentation and an introduction to the music. Seated next to their favorite instrument, they then experience how the orchestra rehearses for the upcoming opera production.
In the second part of the visit, the work is explored from a different angle: in a scenic workshop, students learn all about the opera's story and get to try out their own theatrical skills.

A cooperation between the Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne and the Cologne Opera.

The Gürzenich Orchestra offers special ticket prices for upper school students to five symphonic concerts of the season. On selected Monday or Tuesday evenings, interested classes and music courses can experience highlights of music history in symphonic concerts of the Gürzenich Orchestra. Seats are allocated based on availability and are located in Block Z.