As part of the Friends of the Berlin Philharmonic, the Young Friends aim to interest young adults in Philharmonic life and classical music – with exclusive events, exciting discussion rounds and joint excursions.
About us
Are you between 18 and 35 years old, enthusiastic about classical music and looking for like-minded people? Then become a member of the Young Friends!
As a member, you can expect backstage discussions, workshops and visits to dress rehearsals that provide unusual insights into the artistic work of the Berliner Philharmoniker and the world of classical music. The events are open to all members. Non-members are cordially invited to attend an event on a trial basis and be convinced by what we have to offer.
What awaits you:
- Dress rehearsal visits: Be there when the Berliner Philharmoniker rehearse with world-famous conductors – for example at the dress rehearsal for the New Year’s Eve concert and the end-of-season concert at the Waldbühne.
- Shared concert experiences & cinema live: Experience your favourite orchestra together with other Young Friends at a monthly concert and at the cinema and talk about the music.
- Backstage tours: Take a look behind the scenes and discover what happens before the concert – for example in the in-house recording studio, the percussion room or the music library.
- Music in dispute! Discuss key issues of cultural life with members of the orchestra and other experts from the music and culture scene – informative, controversial and humorous. Our current series of events: “Women in the music industry”, “inside the instrument”, “kulturjung”
- Excursions and “Friends meet friends”: Get to know the Berliner Philharmoniker's musical neighbours on joint excursions and network with members of other young friends’ groups.
- Matinees: Enjoy chamber music from musicians* and ensembles of the orchestra, as well as other exciting interviews and lectures at the Sunday morning concerts that take place three times a year.
- Junge Kammerphilharmonie Berlin: Get to know the Junge Kammerphilharmonie Berlin – the Young Friends’ ensemble – at exclusive chamber music concerts and rehearsal visits.
- Get-togethers: Meet up with other young members after the events and network.
Upcoming events
If not already noted, the exact dates will be published as soon as possible.
Subject to change without notice. Members will receive detailed information / invitations by e-mail.
Current events in the 2024/25 season
Sun 8 September 2024, 18:00, Main Auditorium: “Joining concert, making friends”
A joint concert visit with a get-together in advance
Programme schedule
Sun 13. October 2024, 18.30, Hermann-Wolff-Saal: “Meet and Greet”
A meeting for members and interested people with musical interludes by members of the Junge Kammerphilharmonie Berlin
Thu 24 October 2024, 19:00, Main Auditorium: “Joining concert, making friends”
A joint concert visit with a get-together in advance
Programme schedule
Wed 6 November 2024, 19:00, Main Auditorium: “Joining concert, making friends”
A joint concert visit with a get-together in advance
Programme schedule
Sun 10 November 2024, 11:00, Main Auditorium: “The 75th birthday”
A matinee for all members to celebrate the association's anniversary, followed by a reception
Programme schedule
Sun 29 December 2024, 10:00, Main Auditorium: General rehearsal visit - New Year's Eve concert
The Berliner Philharmoniker conducted by Kirill Petrenko, soloist Daniil Trifonov; with a a get-together afterwards
Programme schedule
Tue 31 December 2024, 17:00: Live in Cinema – New Year’s Eve concert
The Berliner Philharmoniker conducted by Kirill Petrenko, soloist Daniil Trifonov live at the cinema
Programme schedule
Sun 09 March 2025, 11:00, Main Auditorium: “Music must enchant”
A Maurice Ravel matinee for all members
Programme schedule
Sun 11 May 2025, 15:00, Chamber Music Hall: “From stage fright to happiness hormones”
A “Let's talk about music” event for all members
Wed 28 May 2025, 15:30, Main Auditorium: Rehearsal visit
The Berliner Philharmoniker conducted by Klaus Mäkelä
Programme schedule
Sun 22 June 2025, 11:00, Main Auditorium: “Introduced: New Members of the Berliner Philharmoniker”
A welcome matinee for all members, incl. general meeting
Programme schedule
Fri 27 June 2025, 20.15, Waldbühne: General rehearsal visit of the end-of-season concert
The Berliner Philharmoniker conducted by Gustavo Dudamel
Programme schedule
Also waiting for you (the exact dates will follow soon):
Berliner Philharmonie – “A look behind the scenes”
Exclusive guided tour through a department of the Philharmonie Berlin
“Inside The Instrument” - The Berliner Philharmoniker and their musical ’tools’
In focus: the harp as an orchestral instrument
“Friends meeting friends”
International Opera Weekend with the Apollos, Young Friends of the Staatsoper Unter den Linden
Previous events
Fri 16 September 2022, 6 pm: “Dress up”-concert evening
A joint concert and restaurant visit with the possibility of dressing up
Concert calendar
Sat 29 October 2022, 6 pm: “Inside The Instrument” – The Berliner Philharmoniker and their musical “tools”
A talk with the philharmonic clarinetist Alexander Bader
Sun 30 October 2022, Matinee “From the Sarabande to the Tango”
A dance matinee with Bolero Berlin
Sat 26 November 2022, 2 pm: “Meet and Greet”
A meeting for members and interested people with musical interludes by members of the Junge Kammerphilharmonie Berlin
Thu 29 December 2022, 10 am: general rehearsal for the “End of Year”-concert
The Berliner Philharmoniker conducted by Kirill Petrenko, soloist Jonas Kaufmann; followed by a regular’s table
Concert calendar
Sun 22 January 2023, Berliner Philharmonie – “A look behind the scenes”
A joint visit to an organ concert followed by a guided tour of the organ in the great hall of the Berliner Philharmonie
Concert calendar
Sun 12 March 2023, Matinee “Music must come from the heart”
A Rachmaninov matinee to mark the 150th anniversary of his birth
Wed 15 March 2023, 19:15, Music in dispute!
Opening of our new series of talks "Women in Music Business"
April: “Meet and Greet”
A meeting for members and interested people with musical interludes by members of the Junge Kammerphilharmonie Berlin
Sun 16 April 2023, 16:00, “Let's talk about music”
A conversation about the "hip" Philharmonic ("hip" here means "historically informed performance")
Wed 10 May 2023, 16:15: visit of a rehearsal
The Berliner Philharmoniker conducted by Gustavo Dudamel with Sergio Tiempo (piano)
Concert calendar
Thu 18 May 2023, 19:00: "Friends Meet Friends"
Participation in the annual international opera weekend of the APOLLOS with a concert in the Berliner Philharmonie
Concert calendar
Tue, 23 May 2023, 17:30: Berliner Philharmonie – »A glimpse behind the scenes«
Guided tour through the poster exhibition "György Ligeti on the occasion of his 100th birthday" in the foyer of the Berliner Philharmonie with the curators Dr. Simone Hohmaier and Prof. Dr. Heinz von Loesch
Wed 14. June 2023, 18.30: Meeting with the Junge Kammerphilharmonie Berlin
Rehearsal visit at the JKP, incl. regulars' table and exchange with the instrumentalists
Fri 23 June 2023, general rehearsal visit of the end-of-season concert at the Waldbühne
The Berliner Philharmoniker conducted by Andris Nelsons, with Klaus Florian Vogt (soloist)
Concert calendar
Sun 25 June 2023, Matinee “How powerful is your magical music”
A flute matinee with Emmanuel Pahud
Fri, 25 August 2023, 6:30 pm: “Live in cinemas” – Season opening concert
The Berliner Philharmoniker conducted by Kirill Petrenko
Programme schedule
Fri, 15 September, 8.30 pm: “Joining concert, making friends”
A joint concert visit followed by regulars‘ table
Programme schedule
Sun, 15 October 2023, 11 am, Main Auditorium: “Home game”
A matinee for the 60th birthday of the Philharmonie
Current events
Tue, 21 November 2023, 6:30 pm: “Meet and Greet”
A meeting for members and interested people with musical interludes by members of the Junge Kammerphilharmonie Berlin
Fri, 29 December 2023, 10 am: general rehearsal for the “End of Year”-concert
The Berliner Philharmoniker conducted Kirill Petrenko, Jonas Kaufmann as solist; followed by regulars‘ table
Programme schedule
Tue, 23 Jan 2024, 7 pm: Music in dispute!
A new guest in our talk series “Women in Music Business”
Tue, 13. Februar 2024, “Inside The Instrument” – The Berliner Philharmoniker and their musical “tools”
A look behind the scenes of the percussion room with the Philharmoniker's percussionist Raphael Haeger.
Sun, 3 March 2024, 11 am, Main Auditorium: "Music comes from Bohemia"
A Czech matinee
Current events
Sun, 21 April 2024, 3 pm, Chamber Music Hall: „Let's talk about music”
"Welcome to the orchestra: the precious Guadagnini violin"
Current events
Wed, 29 May 2024, 4:15 pm, Main Auditorium: Dress rehearsal
The Berliner Philharmoniker conducted by Sir Simon Rattle
Current events
Thu, 30 May 2024: Music in dispute!
A talk with composer in residence Jörg Widmann, followed by a joint visit of his piece “concerto for Horn and Orchestra” (Premiere)
Programme schedule
June: Meeting with the Junge Kammerphilharmonie Berlin
Rehearsal visit at the JKP, incl. regulars' table and exchange with the instrumentalists
Junge Kammerphilharmonie Berlin
Fri, 21 June 2024, 8 pm: general rehearsal visit of the end-of-season concert at the Waldbühne
The Berliner Philharmoniker conducted by Kirill Petrenko, with Yuja Wang as soloist
Programme schedule
Sun, 23 June 2024 11 am, Main Auditorium: “The queen of instruments”
An organ matinee
Current events
Go to membership
If you have already decided:
Become a member of the Young Circle of Friends directly and support the Berliner Philharmoniker with an annual minimum contribution of €100.00 or €50.00 for students. Click here to register
If you are still undecided:
You are welcome to visit one of our events on a trial basis. Please send us an email to: junge.freunde@berliner-philharmoniker.de
Networking
The Young Friends on YouTube
Watch recordings of our past events.
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Young Chamber Philharmonic Berlin
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Contact and info
Do you have any questions? Please contact us by email at junge.freunde@berliner-philharmoniker.dejunge
Further contacts and information can be found on our general contact page.