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By Özgür Selvi Tasdan (photo by Andreas Zachow)

On May 10, the ESME e.V. community came together in Einstein Kulturzentrum for one of its most cherished annual traditions: the Spring Showcase. Held before a sold-out audience, this year’s concert was a joyful and memorable celebration of the power of music and the spirit of togetherness.
Unlike our Winter and Summer concerts, which feature our large core ensembles – the Orchestra, the Singers, and the Resident Alien Big Band – the Spring Showcase shines a spotlight on smaller ensembles and musical collaborations formed within the wider ESME membership. It’s a unique opportunity for our members to explore new styles, work in intimate settings, and share the stage in creative and often surprising combinations.
The programme opened with a delightful selection by the Singers, who took the audience on a journey through time and style – from the Renaissance elegance of April is in my Mistress’ Face and Now is the Month of Maying, to an energetic rendition of the 90s pop hit Wannabe. Just when the audience thought they had seen it all, the piece ended with an unexpected twist that brought the house to laughter and applause – a true surprise moment.
Chamber music followed with Telemann’s Concerto for Four Violas, beautifully performed by Alina, Camille, Tanja, and John. The interplay between the instruments highlighted the group’s coordination and musical connection. The emotional core of the first half came with Bring Him Home, interpreted by a male vocal ensemble of Luis, Stefano, Thomas, Tom, Federico, Felix, and Christian. The audience was
moved by their rich harmonies and heartfelt delivery.
Other highlights before the intermission included Camille and Seulgi’s elegant rendering of Bach/Casadesus’s Viola Concerto, Elmira’s expressive performance of Hich, and a haunting moment with Divane Aşık Gibi, performed by Hamdi, Özgür, Frances, and Thomas. The Singers brought us back into the fold with the sweeping Adiemus and lively Celtic Dance, ending the first act.
After a 20-minute intermission filled with hugs and laughter, the second half opened with high energy as our male ensemble returned with the boisterous song Viva la Compagne. Bart’s performance of Kodály’s Sonata for Solo Cello was a technical and emotional highlight – a display of both virtuosity and vulnerability that captivated the room.
Luis, Stefano, Thomas, Tom, Federico, and Felix continued to charm with
Connected, before Roland brought the house down with Dave Brubeck’s jazz classic Blue Rondo à la Turk. The intricate rhythms and electrifying performance reminded us of ESME’s wide musical range.
Later performances included the atmospheric I Am the Winter by Gustav, Katharina, Elisa, and Niels, and a moving duet of Lovesong by Michelle and David. The Call, performed by Christian, Luis, Felix, Emily, Kirsty, Sophie, Inge, and Linda, brought together a rich blend of voices and built toward the emotional climax of the night.

The final choral selections – Wanting Memories and the vibrant Hela Rotan – brought the full community together in a spirit of joy, cultural exchange, and applause that
echoed long after the last note.
It was, without doubt, a concert to remember. From Renaissance madrigals to contemporary compositions, from Turkish folk melodies to jazz improvisations, the 2025 Spring Showcase embodied everything ESME stands for: musical diversity, community spirit, and a shared love of performance.

With full hearts and full seats,
we thank our performers, volunteers, and our enthusiastic audience for making this Spring Showcase such a success.

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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.

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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.