Notes and Neurons

What happens in the brain when music moves us? Why do melodies stay with us for a lifetime? And can music influence our brain health? »Notes & Neurons – Music for Brain Health« combines music, neuroscience, and cutting-edge medical technology into a unique live experience as part of Science Year 2026. The concert series will tour renowned concert halls throughout Germany, bringing international artists, leading scientists, and innovative research to the stage. The opening concert will bring together Cologne’s musical traditions, choral and orchestral music, and the latest findings in brain research.

The lineup includes the Bläck Fööss, members of the Gürzenich-Orchester Köln, the choir and project orchestra of the Universitätsklinikum Bonn, and – live on stage – the world’s first portable MRI system. Blending sound, science, and the audience, the evening uniquely combines concert, research, and experience. Great music meets fascinating insights into modern brain research. A science concert for everyone who wants to not only hear music, but also understand and experience it.

Supported by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space.