The Berlin Academy of American Music (BAAM) is an orchestra bringing together top Berlin-based musicians with a focus on presenting music by American composers, modern European composers, and composers with transatlantic connections between America and Europe. Formed during the height of the pandemic, founder and conductor Garrett Keast conceptualized a way to connect music, performers, and audiences on a deeper level. The cultivation of collaboration, meaningful communication, and an inclusive, diverse environment are all foundational to BAAM’s pursuit and delivery of excellence.
Transatlantic, the orchestra’s debut recording received 5-star ratings from BBC Music Magazine, Limelight Magazine, and das Orchester. The album reflects BAAM’s signature programming: a fusion of iconic, contemporary and new works. Since its 2021 "highly auspicious recording debut" (Fanfare Magazine), the orchestra has performed annually for sold-out audiences in Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie, received multiple invitations for touring including at the George Enescu Festival, and founded a new contemporary series in the Konzerthaus-Berlin.
Our Story
Our debut album Transatlantic was recorded in early 2021, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The origins of the orchestra date back to summer 2020, when bassist Rosie Salvucci and I organized informal, distanced orchestra readings in Berlin. With many performances cancelled, musicians were eager to reconnect and make music together again. These sessions sparked the idea for a larger project.
In November 2020, together with composer Craig Urquhart and flutist Stathis Karapanos, we began planning a recording of Urquhart’s Lamentation for Flute and Strings. What started as a single work quickly developed into a full album. Within just two months, the orchestra was formed, and in January–February 2021 we recorded Transatlantic at Berlin’s renowned Teldex Studio.
The album’s concept reflects transatlantic connections—through its repertoire and its musicians. Featuring works by American composers and those influenced by American culture, the project also brings together artists from across five continents, many of whom share ties to the United States.
Released worldwide by ONYX Classics on October 29, 2021,Transatlantic marks the debut of the Berlin Academy of American Music. The recording features soprano Chen Reiss, flutist Stathis Karapanos, and members of the Berlin Philharmonic, including Noah Bendix-Balgley and Marie-Pierre Langlamet. The orchestra’s first Berlin concert series followed in November 2021.
BAAM Orchestra
Violin –
Shanshan Yao
Michael Brooks
Tim Summers
Yezu Woo
Sophia Fournier
Sijun Kim
Pheobe Gardner
Malina Ciobanu
Sarah Martin
Jessie Ramsay
Viola –
Joel Hunter
Florian Peelman
Jimin Jang
Cello –
Stefan Heinemeyer
Mischa Meyer
Lillia Keyes
Bass –
Kaspar Loyal
Jurgis Buinevicius
Niklas Heide
Flute –
Juree Kim
Kelly Watson Woelffer
Federico Dalprà
Clarinet –
Julius Engelbach
Žilvinas Brazauskas
Constance Morvan
Bassoon –
Louisa Slosar
Kenichi Furuya
Oboe –
Jorge Delgado
Janos Wollenweber
Soohyun Jee
Saxophone –
Christoph Enzel
Horn –
Bar Zemach
Clemen Alpermann
Sakura Koyama
Michelle Perry
Trumpet –
Tomas Medina
Eric Klug
Trombone –
Vladimir Veres
Roberto De La Guia
Percussion –
Finlay Panter
Jose Colina
Felix Mendoza
Piano –
Chelsey Padilla
Assistant Conductor –
Luke Berringer
Ken Yanagisawa