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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 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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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.