ECHO

The Kölner Philharmonie is one of the most beautiful and important concert halls in Europe – and not only plays a solo role, but is also part of a large European network.

Back in 1991, the directors of Europe's leading concert halls founded the European Concert Hall Organisation (ECHO). Today, ECHO brings together 23 renowned venues in 14 countries and is dedicated to presenting outstanding live music and nurturing the classical repertoire. Under the motto »Teaming Up for Impact!«, ECHO believes in the transformative power of music to enrich the lives of the communities it reaches.

As ECHO venues, we learn from each other, develop joint projects and advocate for a fair, sustainable, inclusive and diverse music sector. At the same time, we support outstanding young musicians and composers and offer valuable opportunities for their professional development.

A particular highlight of ECHO's work is the »Rising Stars« series: each member institution nominates a young soloist or ensemble each year, who then goes on tour to the ECHO institutions. For the artists, this is a springboard to an international career – and for the audience, it is a chance to experience the stars of tomorrow live today. Some musicians who started out as Rising Stars at the Kölner Philharmonie later returned as established stars.

This vibrant network not only promotes cultural exchange in Europe, but also enables unique concert experiences for artists and audiences alike.

Supported by the European Commission

Since 2000, the Kölner Philharmonie has also been a member of the Konzerthauskonferenz, an association of leading German concert halls that initiates forward-looking projects and works together to solve current challenges.