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For those who want to do more than just listen.

Our participation opportunities allow active involvement in cultural life, creating participation structures and networking. Here, amateurs and professionals make music together on stage, volunteers help people, even in their later years, to attend concerts, and we open our doors to young people who want to bring their own perspectives and ideas.

Singing is pure joy – especially when singing together. And even more so when you can make the Kölner Philharmonie shine alongside an orchestra. We want to make this incredible experience accessible to as many people as possible, which is why we created the Citizen's Choir. People from all walks of life come together here and prepare for a concert with the Gürzenich-Orchester.

In the upcoming 25/26 season, the Citizen's Choir will perform one of the greatest works: Carmina Burana by Carl Orff, which will open Andrés Orozco-Estrada's first season with the Gürzenich-Orchester Köln. Additionally, the Citizen's Choir will travel for the first time with the Gürzenich-Orchester and perform at three other locations.

The registration deadline has already passed.

Contact

Matthias Mehl
Anna Zirr
Jule Hardtmann

koelnerbuergerchor(at)gmail.com

Mountains can be moved with the enthusiasm of the singers of the citizens' choir.

Michael Ostrzyga

Do, 04. September 2025, 20 Uhr | Guest performance

Fr, 05. September 2025, 20 Uhr | Guest performance

So, 07. September 2025, 11 Uhr | Season opening Cologne Philharmonie

Do, 23. April 2026, 20 Uhr | Guest performance

So, 26. April 2026, 17 Uhr | Guest performance

Probenplan Bürgerchor 25/26

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As a singer in the citizens' choir, you should be able to sing! Ideally, you should already have choral experience. Regular and committed attendance at rehearsals is a prerequisite for participation in the citizens' choir. The minimum age is 18, but the most important requirement is of course to enjoy making music together.

The registration deadline has already expired.

After submitting your application form, you will receive a confirmation email from us including an invitation to audition. Only after the audition will we let you know whether you have been selected for the citizens' choir. You will find out everything else during the audition on site.

Anyone who is at least 18 years old can take part in the citizens' choir.

The Bürgerchor will be conducted by Andrés Orozco-Estrada in the concert itself and shortly before the concert. However, the rehearsals will be conducted by someone else: after many years of collaboration with Michael Ostrzyga, Nico Köhs will take over the direction of our choir. We are looking forward to the upcoming projects with him and would like to thank Michael Ostrzyga for his valuable work.

More about the Citizen Choir

Cologne is a musical city. And we, the orchestra of the city of Cologne, want to make music with you! In the 2022/23 season, this wish was fulfilled for the first time. Two special projects brought together a powerful choir that is as diverse and multifaceted as our city: the 'Citizen Choir'.

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Playing in an orchestra – for many people in Cologne, this wish comes true in the Cologne Citizens' Orchestra. This initiative is a matter of the heart for the musicians of the orchestra. More than 40 of them work with the participants on the pieces and support them in preparing for the joint concert at the Cologne Philharmonie. Playing side by side with the professionals is a great motivation and a lot of fun. Because in the rehearsals, you not only learn a lot – there is also a lot to laugh about!

The musical level of the amateur musicians varies greatly. Passages that are too difficult are simplified, and the experienced musicians help the less experienced ones. The philosophy is: There is no competition.

Contact

spielmituns(at)guerzenich-orchester.de

Register

Currently, it is not possible to register for the Citizen Orchestra.

Currently no concerts available.

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More about the Cologne Citizens' Orchestra

To the media library

We are committed to involving young people in cultural life. Therefore, young people between the ages of 14 and 20 have the opportunity to be creative in a newly founded club. In the group, you will visit rehearsals and concerts, and also accompany processes behind the scenes with your perspective. We open our doors, you decide: How often do you want to meet? Which musicians and team members do you want to meet? How would you like to be creative? Which of our topics should be put to the test? You decide what the club, currently without a name, will be called in the future.

Register and Information

If you are interested, please register using the online form.

Please contact us if you have any questions: musikvermittlung(at)guerzenich-orchester.de

For those who find the journey to the Philharmonie too far or too difficult and who would like to participate in cultural life, we have developed our Concert Patron Program. We connect people who enjoy going to concerts with those who need support – going to a concert is much more enjoyable when done together. People who are matched with a companion can purchase a subscription for three concerts. Concert patrons receive free admission.