Vielstimmig III. 9 Chöre. 40 Konzerte

In the organizer's words:

Voices, halls, sounds, art: nine choirs from Berlin perform their songs in the Humboldt Forum's spectacular rooms and collections from all over the world. Classical, jazzy-pop, queer and feminist ensembles alternate with Arabic, Bulgarian, African and Latin American songs in short concerts throughout the building.

The four-time highlight of the festival is the joint singing of all choirs in the Grand Foyer. More than 200 voices provide an unforgettable experience in the extraordinary architecture of the foyer. Singing enthusiasts have the opportunity to try out their musical skills in open workshops in the Mechanical Arena.

For the third time, the Humboldt Forum, in cooperation with the Chorverband Berlin, is inviting a colorful selection of Berlin choirs to discover the building musically and thus give the public new, unusual perspectives on the rooms, the various collections and the exhibitions on display at the Humboldt Forum. The 2026 festival will focus on the musical exploration of the Humboldt Forum's current annual theme "Relating to Family".

Vielstimmig III is part of the 125th anniversary program of the Berlin Choir Association.

The choirs

Women in Harmony

The Women in Harmony choir, which emerged from the Arab Music Initiative Berlin e.V., is now an important part of Berlin's lively Arab music scene. The choir brings together women from diverse backgrounds who express their personal stories of migration, culture and identity through music. Their singing encompasses the entire Arabic repertoire - from classical maqamat to contemporary songs - and combines traditional ornamentation with polyphonic choral singing.

More than that, however, the choir is a space of empowerment, self-confidence and community, in which the women support each other and thus also grow artistically. Through concerts, collaborations and festivals, they act as cultural ambassadors and connect Arabic musical heritage with Berlin's diverse cultural life. The Women in Harmony Choir is therefore not only sound, but also an expression of female voices that resonate and build cultural bridges.

Berlin Oratorio Choir

Founded in 1904 as the "Berliner Volks-Chor", the Berliner Oratorien-Chor has been performing works of classical choral symphonic music for over 120 years. Collaborations, guest appearances and regular performances in the Berlin Philharmonie make up the choir's concert calendar. Since 1958, the choir has secured a firm place in Berlin's musical life under the long-standing direction of Gert Sell. In 2004, it was honored with the Zelter Plaque for the cultivation of choral music.

Thomas Hennig has been artistic director of the Berlin Oratorio Choir since 2008. With him, new, innovative programs are created that are characterized by the combination of secular and sacred music. The choir also enjoys performing new works, including several world premieres. However, well-known older oratorios, masses and choral symphonies are also part of its regular repertoire, and the Berlin Oratorio Choir currently consists of around 80 active members from a wide range of professional backgrounds and generations.

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Bulgarian Voices

Bulgarian Voices Berlin is an international women's ensemble that combines the primal power of traditional Bulgarian folk singing with contemporary performance practice. Under the direction of Boryana Velichkova, the choir has been uniting singers of different nationalities since 2009. The choir takes its audience on an emotional journey through all regions of Bulgaria: from the humorous, dissonant duets of the West to the melancholy of the Rhodopes and the complex ornaments of the Black Sea coast. With captivating rhythms and powerful melodies, the music touches the soul and provides tangible energy.

The Bulgarian Voices have performed in the Berlin Philharmonie and the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg. International tours, prizes at prestigious competitions and the release of several albums underline the ensemble's success and have cemented its reputation as a leading vocal ensemble that masterfully translates Bulgaria's rich singing tradition into the modern age.

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Coro Contrapunto

Coro Contrapunto was founded in Berlin in 2008 and is directed by Catalina Restrepo Amaya. The a cappella choir has an international cast, with most of the 30 or so singers coming from Latin America or having lived there for some time. The choir regularly gives concerts in Berlin and internationally. It mainly sings in churches and social institutions, but also likes to perform in concert halls.In 2024, for example, the choir took part in a concert in the Berlin Philharmonie for which seven Latin American composers composed or rearranged works.

Coro Contrapunto's repertoire is wide-ranging and includes contemporary and traditional pieces from Latin America as well as arrangements of classical works.Choir director Catalina Restrepo Amaya studied orchestral and choral conducting in her native Colombia before moving to Berlin in 2004, where she studied to become a music teacher at the UdK, specializing in piano and singing. She already founded several choirs in Colombia.

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Joliba Friendship Choir

The Joliba Friendship Choir, based in Kreuzberg, is part of the 'Joliba Intercultural Network in Berlin e.V.', an association that has been supporting African and Afro-German families since 1997, is committed to African refugees and promotes intercultural coexistence. The Joliba Friendship Choir sees itself as a bridge between cultures, a place for exchange, friendship and encounters. It has been directed by Djatou Touré from the Ivory Coast since 2021. The choir singers come from four continents.

With its African song repertoire, the Joliba Friendship Choir creates spaces for encounters in which cultural diversity can be experienced and mutual understanding is promoted. The focus is on communicating African musical traditions. The choir currently sings in over a dozen languages, including Bambara, Zulu, Swahili, Ewe and Mandinka. Songs are learned in the traditional African way, i.e. by ear and repetition, without sheet music.

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Pet Shop Bears

The "singing club Pet Shop Bears" emerged in 2014 from a queer party series of the same name in the Berghain canteen. The now 25-member a cappella ensemble combines different musical traditions: the choir's repertoire consists of classical works for male choir from the Renaissance to the present day on the one hand and specially arranged cover versions of artists such as Björk, Kate Bush, Grace Jones, Freddie Mercury, Joe Jackson and Rufus Wainwright on the other.

The Pet Shop Bears have repeatedly collaborated with musician friends: They have given concerts with the US singer-songwriter Jon Campbell, with the Canadian indie pop band The Hidden Cameras or most recently with the Hamburg accordionist Bernd Butz. The choir traditionally spends the Whitsun weekend in the Piedmont village of Colma di Valduggia. The final concert there now attracts audiences from all over the region. The Pet Shop Bears choir has been directed by Christian Höffling since 2024.

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Singing Shinks

The Singing Shinks is probably the only choir in the world made up exclusively of psychiatrists, psychologists and neurologists - and has been for over 25 years. Whether in village churches in Brandenburg, in Berlin's TIPI am Kanzleramt alongside Eckart von Hirschhausen or in the Waldbühne at 'Halleluja Berlin' with Rainald Grebe, whether at medical congresses in front of colleagues, at the FU matriculation ceremony or when recruiting young doctors - the Singing Shrinks stand for the emotional and psychological power of choral music.

During the day, the 25 or so choir members care for people in emotional crisis. In the evenings, they draw on their repertoire of songs from the 1920s to pop songs by the Doctors, Rosenstolz and the Beatles. For them, singing is one thing above all: therapy from therapy. Because they know that singing is healthy for body and soul. It activates positive emotions, regulates stress hormones and creates a social bond.

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Siren

Siren is a feminist choir from Berlin that sees its music as a means of resistance, solidarity and social change. Founded out of an urgent need to draw attention to the ongoing violence against women and girls, Siren raises its voice where it is all too often ignored.

The ensemble, consisting of five professionally trained singers, sees itself as a protest choir. At the heart of the choir's work is the collective voice as an expression of resistance, solidarity and hope. Siren uses music to make the strength, vulnerability and resilience of women audible - loud, polyphonic and highly visible.

Siren presented its first release on March 8, 2025, International Women's Day, with a premiere on YouTube. The choir's performances and projects often take place in the context of feminist days of action, especially around the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on November 25.

Spirited

Spirited was founded in 2001 and today consists of around 25 singers. The choir sees itself primarily as a pop choir, but its repertoire is characterized by great stylistic diversity. Regardless of the genre or origin of the pieces, Spirited aims to convey its passionate love of rhythm, melody and harmony to its audience and inspire them with its pointed arrangements and interpretations. The choir has been led by passionate choirmaster Ilja Panzer since 2015.

Spirited sings polyphonically, poetically, emotionally and dramatically, enjoying unusual harmonies and touching texts. The choir attaches particular importance to authentic expression and closeness to the audience, who are invited to join in the musical journey and often sing along too. A cappella, authentic and extraordinary: the Berlin choir Spirited stands for swinging and precise pop melodies. The familiar sounds new here, the unknown becomes a listening experience!

- Price: Foyer and workshops Free admission, choir concerts in the exhibitions with Humboldt Forum Ticket

- for people of all ages

- Venue: Humboldt Forum