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By Emily Burnell Petrou


It’s been quite the summer, what with the record-breaking heatwave in June, followed by incessant rain and cooler weather in July and into August, but that didn’t stop our ESME members from gathering together to enjoy each other’s company after the big summer concert – both at the ESME Biergarten Social at the Augustiner Keller on Sunday, July 20, and the annual Munich Sessions Summer Fest at Rindermarkt on Sunday, August 3, to bop to our own Resident Alien Big Band. Sunblock, cold beer and tables in the shade were musts at the former, while raincoats, umbrellas and waterproof footwear were indispensable at the latter! Despite the many violent cloudbursts, the RABB – under the capable and laid back direction of Davy Kazan – kept the mood joyful and infectious, performing their usual dazzling array of jazz, pop, and Latin beats. Singers Caro Kelley, Elaine Kazan and Carina Little provided lively vocals, and newcomer Eduardo Alfonso de la Fuente, dubbed “The Spanish Michael Bublé” by Davy, made his MSSF debut and kept things swinging, even in the most difficult of circumstances (like crooning Bublé’s “It’s a Beautiful Day” as the rain came down in torrents). One of the highlights was a spontaneous line dance initiated by a few energetic and instructive seniors, which drew in other happy dancers of all ages. The Resident Alien Big Band has performed at every one of these open air Munich Session gigs since its debut in 2017 (where it also rained – and did most years after that as well, to provide us that unique Woodstock vibe, minus the mud pits and LSD). Unfortunately, this was the final Munich Sessions Summer Fest, as the diligent and multitalented founders/organizers – Jackson Lynch (who once sang with the RABB), Patrick Thompson, Alex Keogh and Joel Moser – have too many other commitments in their busy lives. We would like to thank their whole organization for providing so much entertainment and merriment over the years with this fest, and wish them continued success in their various endeavors. You can read more about Munich Sessions here – and don’t forget to check out their groovy merch, too: https://munichsessions.com/. You can also have an exciting chance to take the stage yourself and sing with the band, when the RABB has a Live Karaoke event on Friday, 17 October at the Neue Ziegelei in Bogenhausen. As for ESME, our rehearsals start up again in mid-September to prepare for our popular winter concert on Saturday December 13 at the beautiful Münchner Künstlerhaus, so stay tuned…and enjoy the rest of your summer! (And feel free to subscribe to our blog so you won’t miss a thing!)

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By Özgür Selvi Tasdan (photography by Andreas Zachow)

On Saturday, July 5, 2025, the Wolf-Ferrari-Haus in Ottobrunn came alive with music, laughter, and community spirit as the English-Speaking Music Ensembles (ESME e.V.) presented their Summer Concert. All three ensembles – the ESME Orchestra, the ESME Singers, and the Resident Alien Big Band – took part in the performance, making for a highly entertaining evening.

A Journey Through Time and Sound

The concert began with the ESME Singers, led by Julia Chalfin, who performed a delightful mix of Renaissance madrigals and contemporary pieces. The selection of pieces included the elegance of John Dowland’s Come Again and Fine Knacks for Ladies alongside a playful madrigal-style rendition of the Spice Girls’ Wannabe that surprised the audience. Other notable moments included the haunting Wanting Memories by Ysaye M. Barnwell and the vibrant Indonesian folk song Hela Rotan, delivered with heartfelt energy.

Next, the ESME Orchestra, under the direction of Prof. Dr. Orhan Ahiskal, gave a dynamic and emotionally engaging performance. The orchestra’s take on Bartók’s Romanian Folk Dances highlighted their rhythmic precision and flair, while Mozart’s Symphony in D Major (Paris Symphony) added brilliance and balance to the stage. The ESME Orchestra and Singers then united for a powerful rendition of Adiemus by Karl Jenkins, creating a rich and emotional sound.


The Afterparty Not to be Missed 

After a brief break, the celebration continued next door at the Wirtshaus, where the Resident Alien Big Band, led by Davy Kazan, took over. Their setlist moved between funk, swing, and Latin jazz, inviting the audience to dance, sway, or simply enjoy the joyful atmosphere. The band’s talented musicians and charismatic vocalists brought the night to a lively close, leaving an echo of the perfect summer soundtrack. 

A Community Effort 

As always, the concert’s success resulted from the commitment of our volunteers, musicians, board members, conductors, and support teams. Special thanks to those who worked behind the scenes, whether they organized rehearsals, managed logistics, promoted the event, or helped move chairs and equipment, and not forgetting a heartfelt thank-you to our audience, whose energy, support, and applause made the evening truly memorable. 

Keep the Music Going 

If you missed this concert, no need to fret. ESME has more music planned! Upcoming events include: 

• 17 October 2025 – Resident Alien Big Band Live Karaoke at Neue Ziegelei in Bogenhausen

• 13 December 2025 – ESME Winter Concert, Künstlerhaus am Lenbachplatz 

Follow us on Facebook or Instagram, or visit www.esme-ev.de to stay up to date with all of our upcoming performances and events.

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On a chilly (but thankfully sunny) January afternoon, our multitalented ESME Orchestra conductor, Dr. Orhan Ahiksal, lead a small group tour with a nice balance of members from the ESME Orchestra, Singers, and the Resident Alien Big Band. The main topic was the musical legacy of the city of Munich, noting such luminaries as Carl Orff, Schumann, Mozart, Chopin, Richard Strauss and their specific connections to the Bavarian capital. An engaging and enlightening description of these stories was accompanied by significant pieces of their music to highlight the live narration, and in the process we also learned a great deal about world history, architecture, literature and even etymology as we wandered through the scenic backstreets of the city. We ended the day with a much needed warming up of hot chocolates and further interesting discussions at Eataly, near Marienplatz. We are very grateful that Dr. Ahiskal managed to find time in his busy schedule for this walking tour, a generous gift to us for a successful recent season and sold out winter concert. For more information on these cultural tours, please check out: https://hittheroad.world/.

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On the fairly mild evening of December 17, 2024, our ESME Singers, conducted by Julia Chalfin, returned for our third appearance on the Munich Rathausbalkon (town hall balcony) to entertain the enthusiastic Glühwein-sipping audience gathered below at the Marienplatz Christkindlmarkt. We performed well-known carols, from “Joy to the World”, to “Deck the Hall” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”, as well as a few songs from our recent winter concert: the toe-tapping “Pan-a-Pan”, (once again accompanied by the Resident Alien Big Band’s Elaine Cole on flute and Thomas Eingartner on snare drum), the whimsical “Fum Fum Fantasy”, and the rousing choral version of Carly Simon’s “Let the River Run” (accompanied by our Singers unique percussionist Annie Janssen, keeping us on the beat with a box of Tic Tac mints lent to her by fellow alto Carly Russell!). We also shared the stage with a native Munich singer-songwriter, Ela Marion, whose unique numbers provided a nice contrast to our sound. A fine time was had by all, and we were so honoured to once again make the cut in a such prestigious and beloved Munich Advent tradition. Special thanks go to the Singers hard working soprano Eva Netzhammer for organizing this noteworthy event, a perfect way to cap off both a successful season and year for ESME! We wish you all – our members and our fans – the happiest of holidays, and look forward to a well-deserved break before launching back into rehearsals in January 2025.