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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/.

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By Emily Burnell Petrou

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.

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By Özgür Selvi Tasdan (photos by Andreas Zachow)

On a crisp and rainy night in December, the magnificent Künstlerhaus am Lenbachplatz was ready and waiting for our guests who wanted to escape from the burden of everyday life, be enchanted by music, have fun and embrace the Christmas spirit at the 2024 Winter Concert “Underneath the Stars”. Blessed by its particular historical ceiling, the night sparkled with talent, joy, and community. After the audience settled in, as per tradition in all such performances, the anticipation for an harmonious mix of Singers, Orchestra, and Big Band, was immediately apparent. 

The concert opened with the Singers, who established a serene and magical flavor with their first numbers – Fum Fum Fantasy, Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, Underneath the Stars, and Pat-A-Pan. Underneath the Stars by Kate Rusby showcased the Singers’ accomplishment in both the emotional depth and the technical complexity of the piece.

Under Julia Chalfin’s skilled direction, the Singers captivated the audience and drew them into the evening’s magical ambiance.

Right after the Singers, Resident Alien Big Band, under the charming Davy Kazan, had an added flavor to the concert when it comes to jazz. With pieces like A Big Band Christmas and Nothing from Nothing, the band had the audience tapping their feet and swaying to the beat. Kazan’s love for jazz shone through and was a complete performance testament to their commitment and excellence. An interplay of instruments and active arrangements creates the physical liveliness to the classical evening, making it different.

At the beginning of the second part of the concert, the Singers presented more songs including Howard Blake’s Walking in the Air and Carly Simon’s Let the River Run.The hall was filled with energy with the combination of voices and the accompanying instruments. In Bogoroditse Devo by Rachmaninov, Chalfin’s well-groomed stamp was evident in every note. The second half continued with Vivaldi’s Gloria in Excelsis Deo, performed by orchestra and singers. The piece already had the promise of melodies and harmonies calling for the audience, reminding that destiny was still to be explored musically. After Gloria, another feast awaited the audience who were already captivated by the magic of the music. Under the baton of Prof. Dr. M. Orhan Ahiskal, the Orchestra played with impressive precision and passion. It played every piece that distinguished the lively Pizzicato Polka by Johann Strauss Jr. and the evocative L’Arlésienne Suite No. 2, by Georges Bizet, in graceful and dynamic measures. The concert concluded as the orchestra delivered a great rendition of Music from Frozen. The beloved melodies resonated so deeply that many in the audience couldn’t resist singing along, their voices blending softly with the orchestra.

What made Underneath the Stars unique was that it made all of us feel like we belonged. ESME has taken a new turn into the offering of multiculturalism and the collaboration of over 30 countries into its diverse ensemble of musicians. So what happens next? We will continue to announce ESME’s future performances. The Spring Showcase on 10 May 2025 will definitely bring some excitement to our loyal audience, those who may have missed the performances, and everyone who loves music.