ECHO
European Concert Hall Organisation (ECHO)
What is ECHO
As one of the world's most imposing and important concert halls, the Kölner Philharmonie plays a soloist role, yet also takes its place within the "Tutti" of the other European concert halls. Together with the other leading German concert venues, the Kölner Philharmonie became affiliated to the Concert Hall Conference in the year 2000, a body dedicated to the development of pioneering projects and to the joint resolution of current problems. As early as 1991 the Intendants and General Directors of Europe's major concert halls joined forces to launch the European Concert Hall Organisation, or ECHO. Jointly commissioning new compositions, ECHO is devoted to promoting a young musical elite. For the "Rising Stars" series, each ECHO concert hall annually nominates a young soloist or a young ensemble which then embarks on a tour of the various ECHO concert halls. This results in a vibrant cultural exchange, renders a valuable contribution to the artistic unity of Europe and also provides a wonderful opportunity to artists and audiences alike: For already a number of performers who began their careers as "Rising Stars" in the Kölner Philharmonie have returned as established stars - attracting many of the original audience back to the Philharmonie.
With the support of the Culture Programme of the European Union

Risings Stars 2019/2020 ©Alfonso Salgueiro
Members ECHO
- L'Auditori Barcelona
- Barbican Center London
- BOZAR Brüssel
- Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation Lisbon
- Casa da Música Porto
- Cité de la musique Paris
- Het Concertgebouw Amsterdam
- Festspielhaus Baden-Baden
- Kölner Philharmonie
- Konzerthaus Dortmund
- Laeiszhalle Elbphilharmonie Hamburg
- Megaron - The Athens Concert Halll
- Musikverein Wien
- Palace of Arts Budapest
- Palau de la Música Catalana
- Philharmonie Luxembourg
- The Sage Gateshead
- Stockholms Konserthus
- Le Théâtre des Champs Elysées
- Town Hall & Symphony Hall Birmingham
- Wiener Konzerthaus