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by Emily Burnell Petrou

We’ve had a nice relaxing summer break (despite some rather non-summery weather after a record-breaking heatwave in June!) and all three of our ESME ensembles (Orchestra, Singers and the Resident Alien Big Band) are ready to get back together for our weekly rehearsals. The RABB, under the leadership of the dynamic duo of Davy (conductor) and Elaine (manager) Kazan, have already started rehearsing together at Kreativ Garage, preparing for their exciting Big Band Karaoke event at Kulturzentrum Neue Ziegelei, on Friday 17 October, starting at 19:30, with doors open at 19:00 (for more information to register and check out the growing song list, look here). The Singers, conducted by Julia Chalfin and managed by Finley Klee, and Orchestra, conducted by Orhan Ahiskal and managed by Maia Schmidt, kick off their rehearsals from 19:00 – 21:00 on Wednesday, 10 September and Monday, 15 September, respectively, at the usual location of Einstein Kultur. And this season we’ll be debuting a new concert administrator with a member from our Singers, Elli Wieser. We are so grateful to our many volunteers for stepping up and putting in their hard work for ESME when they are already juggling busy and productive lives, so thank you to all of you!

We are always on the lookout for new musicians in all three ensembles, so please check this page for openings and we’ll get back to you! The Orchestra is open for all instruments, the Singers need more tenors (and basses) and the RABB is on the lookout for (2nd) bass trombone and (2nd) 3rd trombone, a guitarist (comfortable with extended jazz chords/solos), and a solo jazz trumpet player comfortable in improv.

We’ll also be working (and playing) hard at our semi-annual ESME Weekend Away from 21 – 23 November at the Humboldt Institute at Bad Schüssenried. We have been having these retreats at this location (as well as others) since the very first one held in April 2012 by the Orchestra (then the “TT Orchestra”; ESME’s origins are due to the Toytown Munich expat website way back in 2008!), so it holds a special place in our hearts.

Our winter concert will be at the beautiful and historic Künstlerhaus am Lenbachplatz on Saturday, 13 December, with a time to be announced. Be sure to watch this space, as well as our Facebook and Instagram for further updates. We will be featuring our usual wide variety of musical genres, everything from pop to jazz to classical, including pieces from “Wicked” (just in time for the release of the film “Wicked: For Good”, the second half of the opus), as well as from Händel’s Messiah and other festive holiday favorites.

We can’t wait to prepare yet another concert for you to all enjoy!

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By Emily Burnell Petrou (photos and video by Emily Burnell Petrou, group shot by David Freer)


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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By Emily Burnell Petrou

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/.