MEHRLICHT!MUSIK

The Berlin University Platform for New Music

The Universität der Künste (UdK) and the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler are Berlin's two central music universities. For years, they have operated a joint institute for New Music — KLANGZEITORT — which combines interdisciplinary teaching, composition classes, and performance practice. MEHRLICHT!MUSIK is the annual showcase of this institute.

What You'll Hear There

The concerts exclusively present world premieres of student compositions — performed by professional specialist ensembles for contemporary music. This profile clearly distinguishes the festival from many other new music festivals: here, you won't hear established repertoire pieces, but brand-new works created in Berlin in the summer and autumn of the same year, selected and mentored by KLANGZEITORT.

Ensembles 2026

• Ensemble Recherche (November 21st, HfM)
• Music Theatre Program (November 22nd)
• Ensemble Echo (November 27th)
• Solo & BLO (November 28th) — Instrumental solos by Raphaelle Aoun, Cecelia Palumbo, Lukas Mertin (for voice), Enping Yang
• Ensemble Ilinx + Solo Voice (November 29th)
• Prologue on November 8th at the Sauen meeting center (State of Brandenburg) — KLANGZEITORT retreat location of the universities

Venues: Two Main Stages, One Brandenburg Kick-off

• HfM Hanns Eisler — Studiosaal: Charlottenstraße 55, Berlin-Mitte. One of the city's best acoustics for contemporary chamber music
• UdK Berlin — Probensaal: Bundesallee 1-12, Berlin-Wilmersdorf. Larger hall with good versatility for orchestral and electroacoustic works
• Begegnungsstätte Sauen: Retreat and workshop location in Brandenburg for the prologue

Who Attends

The festival is aimed at Berlin music enthusiasts who follow contemporary composition as a discipline — colleagues from universities, composers, musicologists, students, professional musicians. But open-minded concertgoers who want to hear something beyond the classical repertoire will also find a relatively accessible entry point into the contemporary music of the young Berlin generation.

Mitte and Wilmersdorf

The HfM Hanns Eisler is located in Berlin-Mitte, a five-minute walk from Gendarmenmarkt — one of Berlin's most central addresses. The UdK Berlin is in Wilmersdorf, on Bundesallee, a 10-minute U7 subway ride from the center. Those attending concerts at both locations combine Berlin-Mitte and West Berlin in one festival week.