Passionate amateurs: ASO Munich rocks the orchestra competition!

Passionate amateurs: ASO Munich rocks the orchestra competition!

The Academic Symphony Orchestra Munich (ASO) is determined to score big points in the German Orchestra Competition. Under the direction of the talented conductor Carolin Nordmeyer, who has had artistic responsibility for the orchestra since 2013, the approximately 60 to 80 musicians are preparing intensively for their performance. The rehearsals take place every Tuesday evening and bring together passionate amateurs from a wide variety of professions - whether from law firms, practices or architectural offices, who all share a great enthusiasm for music.

For the competition, the ASO has put together a demanding program that lasts around 20 minutes - a clear difference to classical concerts, which usually last over 90 minutes. The musicians therefore work thoroughly and with great attention to detail on their performance, which includes the last movement of Brahms' fourth symphony as well as Stravinsky's “Firebird” suite. BR Classic emphasizes that such intensive preparations are a great motivation for the ensemble members not only for the competition but also beyond.

A conductor with passion

Carolin Nordmeyer was born in Freiburg in 1975 and grew up in a musical environment. Her repertoire used to include piano, violin, viola and horn. After studying the horn in Detmold, she continued her conducting studies and completed a scholarship at the Conservatoire National de Musique in Paris. In her conducting career to date, she has conducted numerous works, including major opera productions and numerous youth and family concerts, and is passionately dedicated to music education and working with amateurs and young people. Particularly important to her is her commitment to July orchestras, which act as a protected space for young talent, as she herself emphasizes.

Nordmeyer is convinced that the future of the orchestra world looks promising. A crucial point here is the solidarity between the orchestra members, which she also experienced in her youth orchestras. Here the competition is not only a stage for the young generation, but also particularly demands creativity and team spirit.

Challenges and opportunities

The German Orchestra Competition is also an opportunity for young musicians to show their skills and compete with like-minded people. However, recent times have been challenging for music creators. Especially in the post-Corona period, there were often vacancies in orchestras, which made it difficult to put together a “real” symphony orchestra. But with a new and suitable repertoire for smaller ensembles, cohesion is promoted and the motivation to rehearse regularly increases. The youth orchestra award supports young musicians in developing creatively and offers them comprehensive support through coaching and materials.

Even if the notes in the concert hall are not always easy to hit, the entire orchestral scene appears strong and full of vigor. With its participation, the ASO Munich is once again one of the beacons of this diversity and impressively proves that the passion for music connects and inspires all generations.