BECOME A SUPPORTER TODAY
he Berlin Academy of American Music The Berlin Academy of American Music was founded on the idea that performers and audience members could connect on a deeper level through music, at a time when the world had been cut off from connection. Against all odds, an orchestra was formed at the height of the pandemic, because Garrett Keast believed that music - perhaps more than anything - had the power to keep us connected.
The orchestra has come a long way since its creation in 2020, from its debut concerts in a 100-seat hall in 2021 to its invited performances at sold-out, internationally renowned venues of 2000+ seats, including Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie and the George Enescu Festival. Without support, however, these giant steps would not have been possible for a start-up-style orchestra founded during one of the world’s most challenging times in recent history.
American Supporters
American-based supporters can make tax-deductible donation via Friends of BAAM 501c3.
Friends of BAAM is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization based in New York City. To learn more, please click here or contact us directly.
Why is BAAM Important?
Genuine Connection is at the heart of BAAM’s work. We strive to connect composers, musicians, audiences, and even continents to develop a deeper sense of understanding.
BAAM presents the works of past and living American and American immigrant composers to European audiences and beyond. We wish to build a transatlantic community, broaden representation in classical music, and start dialogues about relevant themes including cultural exchange, diversity, and immigration. In a world where the media promotes the sensationalism of “us versus them,” we believe that bringing light to our differences and learning to appreciate them creates enriched experiences and lives. And one of the most successful ways of doing this is through the universal language of music.
It is a surprise to many that Igor Stravinsky, perhaps the most influential composer of the 20th century, was an American citizen! Primarily known as a Russian composer, Stravinsky spent more of his life in the USA than in France and Russia, receiving his American citizenship in 1945. Here are just some of the composers you may recognize who immigrated to the US and became American citizens in the years shown below:
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Sergei Rachmaninoff in 1943
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Arnold Schoenberg in 1941
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Alma Mahler in 1946 (wife of Gustav Mahler)
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Kurt Weill in 1943
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Erich Korngold in 1943 (film composer: "The Adventures of Robin Hood")
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Béla Bartók in 1945
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Paul Hindemith in 1946
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Franz Waxman in 1935 (film composer: "Sunset Boulevard" and "The Bride of Frankenstein")
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Ursula Mamlok in 1945 (teacher at the Manhattan School of Music, influencing several generations of U.S. composers)
Relevance is critical in classical music. These composers and their music highlight topics that are still relevant today: a globally connected society, immigration, war, genocide, and social justice.
The Future is Here
The world continues to innovate and change, and yet classical music is still largely defined by its old European roots and composers. While the great symphonies of Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven have stood the test of time as important pillars of this genre, support for classical music will continue to decline if there isn’t change.
We provide Innovative Programming, expanding and redefining the classical canon, infusing concert programs and musical education with something relevant, exciting, and uniquely American. By performing fresh repertoire and bringing it to European audiences who have rarely had the opportunity to hear it, we have the ability to reinvigorate what it means to be a fan of classical music. This could be the difference between keeping this incredible, inspiring music in our concert halls – where people can feel the energy and resonance of the music – and having this kind of experience left only to recordings and playlists for those who happen upon its existence.
BAAM’s programming includes the works of classic American composers (e.g., Bernstein and Copland), historically underrepresented composers (e.g., Florence Price, George Walker), and contemporary composers (e.g., Anthony Davis, Philip Glass, Caroline Shaw), as well as works that have connections to American themes.
Through this repertoire, we bring to light the stories of real people, whose experiences carry important and relatable messages to us all. Through the themes that inspired their music, we are weaving a compelling tapestry that builds community and connection.