Newsletter HKB Music 

January 2026

Dear music lovers

Playtime has begun! The eighth edition of the HKB Music Festival is a journey through genres, eras, styles and aesthetics. Find out what's on offer over the next two weeks here:

Best regards - the HKB Music team 

Mathias Spahlinger: Large formats

An evening with three works by German composer Mathias Spahlinger: off is written for six small drums and consists of a formal concept in the style of a city map. In farben der frühe, seven grand pianos stand on stage, and in doppelt bejaht, Mathias Spahlinger envisions the utopia of a self-organising orchestra – the duration is open.

Tue, 20 January 2026 – Yehudi Menuhin Forum, Bern

6–6.20 p.m.: off | 6.30–7.30 p.m.: farben der frühe | 8.15 p.m.–open end: doppelt bejaht

New: Study music education with a practical focus

Starting in the autumn semester of 2026/27, the HKB and the Oberemmental Music School will offer a practice-integrated version of the Master of Arts in Music Pedagogy: throughout the master's programme, students will teach 3-5 of their own pupils, be involved in the music school's activities and thus gain continuous professional experience. Technical support will be provided by HKB teaching staff and practical instructors from the music school.

HKB at Dachstock Reitschule

As part of a new collaboration with the Bern Norient Festival, the HKB presents the student string quartet Odyssey with Claude Debussy's string quartet in the Dachstock of the Reitschule Bern – an unusual and exciting setting. This act is part of an evening offering a diverse mix of everything from electronic music to yodelling.

Sat, 17.1.2026, 5 pm – Dachstock, Reitschule Bern, Neubrückstrasse 8, Bern

Kult Music Agency: digital platform

Our in-house music agency Kult has launched a new digital platform where you can find profiles of Kult ensembles and audio samples. Whether you are looking for a band, solo performance or DJ, you will find the right live music for your event among our numerous music students.

Preview: Holly Choe conducts the HKB Orchestra

Holly Choe, chief conductor of the Norwegian Radio Symphony Orchestra, is a guest at the HKB. The versatile musician conducts the HKB Orchestra through Anton Bruckner's monumental 4th Symphony – a work of epic breadth and romantic sonic power. The programme is complemented by Felix Mendelssohn's Piano Concerto No. 1 – a contrasting evening with Bachelor's student Emma-Saskia Bähler as soloist.

Sat, 7 March 2026, 7.30 p.m. – Französische Kirche Bern, Predigergasse 3, Bern

Keep up to date: 

Picture above: Playtime 2026 (HKB Atelier)
Picture below: In November 2025, a masterclass in conducting wind music was held with English composer Edward Gregson. At the end, the HKB Brass Ensemble played works by Gregson under the direction of master's students (image: Alex Anderfuhren).