Music that
unites religions

The Naghash Ensemble from Armenia combines the spirituality of ancient Armenian music with new classical, post-minimalism, and the energy of rock and jazz. Three brilliant singers and virtuoso instrumentalists on duduk, oud, dhol, and grand piano play new music based on the texts of the medieval poet and priest Mkrtich Naghash. The “Songs of Exile,” composed for the Naghash Ensemble by American Armenian John Hodian, form a poignant meditation on the relationship between man and God—from the perspective of a priest who was forced to spend many years in exile. The Musica Sacra International festival also features liturgical chants from the Patarag (the Armenian liturgy), medieval sharakans (sacred hymns), and works by composer Komitas Vardapet, the founder of modern Armenian music. “Sublime music between pride and beauty, sorrow and hope,” wrote the Hamburger Abendblatt, and the BR Klassik review stated: “Music that is difficult to describe as old or new, foreign or familiar, Western or Eastern, simple or complex, minimalist or medieval. In any case, music that defies labeling.”

The Kölner Gagaku Ensemble from Cologne, Germany and Japan represents three religions: Buddhism, Shinto, and Tenri. Prof. Robert Günther founded Europe’s first gagaku ensemble in 2000 together with Rev. Masatoshi Shamoto and Yoshiro Shimizu. Günther played a decisive role in not only promoting Japanese music and culture in Germany, but also actively practicing it. He is therefore considered a pioneer of gagaku in Europe and the ethnomusicological method of bi-musicality.

Gagaku, court music, is one of the oldest forms of ensemble music in the world and has a history dating back over 1,200 years. In the playing of gagaku, a discrepancy with other musical genres can be observed due to a different musical theory, and this style of playing has been systematically handed down to this day without major changes. Japanese gagaku dates back to the Chinese ritual music ya-yue from the Tang dynasty. The music was introduced to Japan from China about 1200 years ago. Since this musical genre has long been lost in other Asian countries such as China and Korea, and its original playing style is now only preserved in Japan, gagaku is called traditional Japanese court music.

Rooted in the resonant stillness of Dhrupad, north India’s oldest Rāga music tradition, Prassanna Vishwanathan’s music flows from the depths of meditative sound and silence. Prassanna Vishwanathan performs as a four-person ensemble. Alongside Prassanna as the lead singer, a pakhawaj drum player (Shri Sukhad Munde), a tanpura player (Sarah Dunn) and another singer (Rohini Srikumar) will perform Dhrupad music.

Prassanna himself is a senior disciple of Dhrupad maestro Uday Bhawalkar, the foremost exponent of this art form. Prassanna has trained in the Guru–Shishya Paramparā tradition, the classical teacher–disciple lineage that embodies a deep spiritual bond between teacher and disciple.

Prassanna is a distinguished Dhrupad teacher himself. Through Dhrupad vocal workshops held across India and Europe, Prassanna has guided artists, students, and music lovers into the timeless experience of this ancient art. He unveils Dhrupad as a discipline where breath becomes melody, and sound turns into deep immersion of the spirit.

Efsun Ensemble was founded in 2025 by Osman Öksüzoğlu with the vision of sharing the profound beauty and emotional depth of traditional Turkish music with audiences around the world. The word “Efsun” carries a sense of enchantment—a mysterious charm that captivates and transports listeners to another realm. This very essence defines the ensemble’s artistic philosophy: to weave a spell of sound that transcends time and culture.

Efsun Ensemble’s repertoire spans from early Anatolian and Ottoman compositions to contemporary works inspired by centuries-old musical traditions. Each performance reflects a dialogue between authenticity and renewal—preserving the heritage while allowing it to breathe in the present.

The ensemble performs on traditional instruments such as Ney, Tanbur, Oud, Kudüm, Kanun and Kemençe, carefully recreating the textures and emotional nuances of historical soundscapes. Through concerts and recordings, Efsun Ensemble invites listeners to experience the meditative, poetic and timeless spirit of Turkish music—a sound both ancient and vividly alive.

Le Chant sur la Lowé from Gabon, a mixed choir of about thirty members, was founded in 1990. Its mission is to promote high-quality vocal performances beyond the traditional church setting and to reach a secular audience in Gabon and beyond. It also aims to bring Gabon’s musical heritage closer to the world by performing a wide range of Gabonese folk songs in all the languages of Gabon. The group’s authenticity is reflected in its unique musical pieces, which originate from the heart of the equatorial rainforest, as well as in its costumes, jewelry, and choreography, which draw on Gabon’s rich cultural heritage. Le Chant sur la Lowé regularly gives public concerts and various private performances in Gabon. The group has also represented Gabon at several international events, festivals, and competitions abroad.

The Kol koré (The Voice Calls) ensemble from Germany and Israel presents compositions from the Jewish spiritual tradition. These include works from the Jewish Orthodox liturgy as well as the repertoire of the Jewish Reform movement, music from Eastern and Central Europe and modern compositions from North America. Works that embody the Christian-Jewish musical dialogue will also be performed. The ensemble consists of cantor Aviv Weinberg, horn player and shofar virtuoso Bar Zemach and pianist Jascha Nemtsov. Weinberg was born in Israel and lives in Berlin. She is active in the Jewish community of Celle and throughout Europe. Weinberg has long been involved in Christian-Jewish dialogue. In 2018, she released her first CD, “Jazz goes Synagogue.” Bar Zemach is principal horn player of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra under Daniel Barenboim. Zemach is passionately committed to establishing the shofar as a full-value classical instrument. His unique ability to play melodies on the sacred Jewish musical instrument has enthralled audiences in various countries. Jascha Nemtsov is an internationally renowned pianist and professor of Jewish music history in Weimar and Potsdam. He has recorded more than 40 CDs to date, including numerous first recordings of works by rediscovered persecuted composers. In 2007, he received the German Record Critics' Award and in 2018 the OPUS KLASSIK Award.

The State Chamber Choir Polifonija from Šiauliai (Lithuania), under the artistic direction and chief conductor Povilas Vanžodis, is one of Lithuania’s best-known professional choirs. It was founded in 1974 by conductor Sigitas Vaičiulionis for the New Year’s Concert, which has been held annually ever since. Polifonija is the only early music vocal ensemble in Lithuania that performs works by Renaissance and Baroque composers. Initially, it was supported by the Šiauliai Pedagogical Institute, and later by the Šiauliai Conservatory. In 1979, it was awarded the title of national ensemble and the choir was given the name “Polifonija”; in 1986, Polifonija received the status of a professional ensemble and became the State Chamber Choir of the Lithuanian State Philharmonic in Šiauliai. Today, Polifonija is committed to promoting Lithuanian choral music and preserving the tradition of Lithuanian choral art. In its approximately fifty years of existence, the choir has given around 4,000 concerts and toured almost all European countries, as well as Russia, Argentina, and Brazil. It has won prizes at several international competitions.

The Brigham Young University Singers from the United States and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are an exciting choir with impressive voices and a wide range of styles. Under the direction of Andrew Crane, the group performs pieces from almost every musical genre, as well as many original works written or arranged for the choir. Internationally, the BYU Singers have won first place in prestigious European competitions. They have given concerts in some of the world’s most prestigious venues, including Carnegie Hall in New York City and the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. They have traveled throughout the United States and visited 28 countries. Among other engagements, the choir represented the United States at the Fourth World Choir Symposium in 1996. The ensemble has appeared on four nationally televised programs produced for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and has released ten solo albums. Its online content consistently ranks among the most streamed American university choirs. The BYU Singers were founded in 1984 by Ronald Staheli. The BYU Singers consist of around 40 students enrolled in various bachelor’s and master’s degree programs and have their origins in the School of Music at Brigham Young University’s College of Fine Arts and Communications in Provo, Utah. BYU is one of the largest private universities in the country with more than 30,000 students from all parts of the United States and 120 other countries.