Alma Mahler Kammerorchester - Folk Songs

The Alma Mahler Kammerorchester was created in 2017 by a group of young musicians from 17 European countries, dreaming of making music without borders at the highest level.

Some of you have already helped us at the very beginning: Thanks to you, the AMK has grown into a real chamber orchestra of more than 30 musicians, with a record of 7 successful residencies, one international tour, a daring interactive project combining dance, music and performance art, and much more.

Now the AMK has planted its roots in Auvergne's fertile fields and hills. We have embarked on a prestigious project in close collaboration with the city of Clermont-Ferrand and the Conservatoire à rayonnement régional de Clermont-Ferrand make Clermont-Ferrand the European Capital of Culture in 2028.

We are asking for your support to help us achieve these goals.

The project for this summer is called “Folk Songs”. It will feature an exciting program of Luciano Berio’s “Folk songs for 7 musicians and mezzo-soprano” and Antonin Dvorak’s “9th Symphony - From the New World” in an arrangement by the French composer David Walter.

We will examine how the human voice and the primal nature of folk songs in Berio’s piece stand up to the composed folklore-inspired symphony by Dvorak. We will furthermore see how the large symphonic work of Dvorak can be explored through these new lenses and in the context of the songs of Berio. We will pitch the Old World of Berio against the New World of Dvorak. The European nostalgia of Berio’s song cykle and the American optimism of Dvorak.

Our soloist will be the acclaimed German soprano Corinna Scheurle, and our conductor will be our always dearly beloved Leo McFall.

We will also do important outreach work this summer, teaming up with Maison de l‘Oradou and Maison Nelson Mandela to expose children in the city to our “Folk Songs” project through interactive concerts.

We find this work gratifying to us as an ensemble and on a personal level. We are also proving our dedication to the local community we are now a part of. We are determined to make a positive difference in the region, which is our way forward.

We have already secured some funding from our partners in the city of Clermont-Ferrand, but we still need your help to stabilize this project.

What we can achieve with your financial support:

200 € security expenses for our outdoor concert

680 € administration fees, accountants, agents, etc.

700 € score rentals, commissions, and performance rights

5000 € travel expenses for the musicians, soloist and conductor

We thank you sincerely for your unwavering support. The AMK has come very far since 2017 and only through the help of sponsors, volunteers, friends and the hard work of our musicians can we keep spreading our message of friendship, unity and never-ending curiosity to audiences all over Europe.

Important note: If you pay taxes in France, every donation to us is deductible at a rate of 66% : for a 100 euros donation, you get 66 euros back.

More information on our website: https://www.amkammerorchester.com