120 Years Brass Choir Concert — St. Gertraud Church

120 Years Brass Choir in Frankfurt (Oder)

The Brass Choir of the St. Gertraud Congregation Frankfurt (Oder) is celebrating a remarkable anniversary in 2026: 120 years of uninterrupted existence. Founded in 1906, the brass ensemble is one of the oldest Protestant church music groups in the city — and one of the most traditional brass choirs in Brandenburg. Brass choirs are the typical Protestant form of brass music, played in church services, at weddings, funerals, at Christmas from the towers — and once a century at a festive concert like this.

Date and Venue — October 17, 2026, 5 PM

The Festive Concert will take place on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at 5:00 PM in the St. Gertraud Church, the choir's home church. The program — "Music for Brass Ensemble" — will be curated by the choir itself, traditionally spanning from Bach chorale preludes through Romanticism to contemporary brass choir compositions. Admission is free — a collection for church music will be requested at the exit.

Festive Service on Sunday Morning

On Sunday, October 18, 2026, at 10:00 AM, a festive church service in the neighboring St. Georg Church will complement the anniversary weekend. The brass choir will play during the service, and the sermon will likely be delivered by the church district superintendent or a prominent guest from the Evangelical Church Berlin-Brandenburg-Silesian Upper Lusatia. Admission is also free here.

St. Gertraud Church — Neo-Gothic Landmark

The St. Gertraud Church in Frankfurt (Oder) is a Neo-Gothic building from the 19th century with a distinctive brick tower. It is located in the south of the city center and is one of the main churches of the Protestant community of Frankfurt (Oder). The acoustics are ideal for brass music — the high vaults and the slender interior carry the full sound of the brass choir without excessive reverberation.

Kirchenmusik Frankfurt (Oder) — Stephan Hardt

The responsible body is Kirchenmusik Frankfurt (Oder), an umbrella organization for the musical activities of the Protestant congregation, led by Church Music Director Stephan Hardt. Under his direction, the brass choir, choir, children's choir, and organist circle have established a dense annual program — from weekly services to the Advent concert and the major summer organ cycle. The 120th anniversary of the brass choir is one of the musical highlights of 2026.