Jubiläumskonzert 10 Jahre Rainbow Sound Orchestra Munich

In the organizer's words:

"Thank you for the queer music!" - This is the motto of the Rainbow Sound Orchestra Munich's anniversary concert at Himmelfahrtskirche München-Sendling on October 25: the first and only queer orchestra in the state capital is celebrating its 10th birthday! For ten years, it has been consistently and courageously mixing works by female, male and queer musicians, famous and (still) unknown composers in its programs. Conducting "dual leadership" Mary Ellen Kitchens and Alexander Strauch are particularly interested in works by women and LGBT people as well as pieces that are rarely heard in everyday classical concerts. This results in a wide musical range and compositional diversity - and this fits in with the orchestra's idea of inclusion.

The Rainbow Sound Orchestra Munich's autumn concert combines the pulsating baroque music of Henry Purcell with the melodious romanticism of Franz Schubert, and Giuseppe Verdi's rousing opera overture drama with lively listening experiments in contemporary music. There is also threefold female power: music by Ethel Smyth (1858 - 1944), who campaigned vehemently for women's rights in England, by the American composer and Munich resident by choice Gloria Coates (1933 - 2023) with her 15th Symphony entitled "Homage to Mozart" (1st movement: Iridescences) and by Kazakh composer Aigerim Seilova (*1987). As a "gift" for its 10th anniversary, the RSOM will accompany its friend Ofer Canetti, principal cellist of the Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra, in the virtuoso first cello concerto by Camille Saint-Saëns.

How did the orchestra get to its anniversary in the first place? The ensemble was founded in 2015 with the international gay and lesbian choir festival "Various Voices" in mind, which took place in Munich's Gasteig in 2018. Then as now, the aim was to become visible in the city's cultural life with a queer instrumental ensemble. The orchestra is particularly proud that it has been able to maintain the music-making community for so long after the festival and has become an integral part of Munich's musical life.

"Thank you for the queer music" will take place on Saturday, October 25, 2025 at 6 pm in the Sendlinger Himmelfahrtskirche (Kidlerstr. 15, 81371 Munich). Free admission, a voluntary donation is requested.

Price information:

Donations welcome