Choir, Orchestra and Ensembles

Under the direction of internationally renowned conductors such as Heinz Holliger, Ronald Zollman, Jonathan Nott or Gábor Takács-Nagy, the orchestra of the Academy performs mainly large-scale repertoire works of the 19th and 20th centuries, regularly in cooperation with the Academies of Music of Lucerne, Geneva and Zurich.

Works performed include:

Franz Schubert: Messe in Es-Dur für Chor, Soli und Orchester, D 950
György Ligeti: Atmosphères
Richard Wagner: Vorspiel zum 1. Akt der Oper Lohengrin
Gustav Mahler: Sinfonie Nr. 4 G-Dur für Sopran und Orchester
Arthur Honnegger: Le Roi David für Soli, Chor, Blaser und grosses Schlagwerk
Gustav Mahler: Sinfonie Nr. 1 (Der Titan)
Richard Strauss: Suite aus der Oper Der Rosenkavalier
Johannes Brahms: Ein deutsches Requiem für Soli, Chor und Orchester op. 45

The Chamber Academy Basel, the chamber orchestra of the Academy of Music Basel, performs solo concertos and orchestral works from the Baroque to the 20th century under the direction of the concertmaster, often with professors of the Academy as soloists.

All first and second year Bachelor students sing in the Grosse Chor of the Academy of Music Basel. The focus is on discovering one's own voice, targeted voice training and a general introduction to choral singing and vocal repertoire a cappella. Each semester there is one concert. In addition to Martin Wettges, guests also regularly conduct this choir.

The Chamber Choir is considered the concert choir of the Hochschule für Musik Basel. In addition to demanding vocal music a cappella, the Chamber Choir also performs works with orchestra under the direction of Martin Wettges. Those who sing in the Chamber Choir are exempt from participation in the "Grosse Chor". The subject Chamber Choir can also be taken as an elective. Participants take an entrance examination. Most of them receive voice training or attend lessons with vocal instructors. In addition, the choral conducting class is involved, conducting partial and full rehearsals.

zone expérimentale basel, the ensemble of the Master's programme in Contemporary Music at the Basel Academy of Music FHNW, is a group of students who distinguish themselves equally as exceptional artistic personalities and virtuoso players. zone expérimentale is not a classical ensemble, but provides a framework for discovery - for the players as well as for the audience. The focus is on discovering different possibilities of musical expression in contemporary music, but also on works by the mothers and fathers of our present day music. Chamber music programmes alternate with installations or improvisational works. The group's programmes are wide-ranging and range from individual works to larger ensemble pieces with up to 16 players.

DIAGONAL is the contemporary music ensemble of the Academy of Music Basel FHNW. Twice a year, under the direction of renowned conductors, the ensemble performs large-scale works written after 1950. Marcus Weiss is responsible for the programming and organisation.