Choir Encounters – Funding Program of the German Youth Choir Association (Deutsche Chorjugend e.V.)

Choral Encounters is a grant program of the German Choir Youth Association (Deutsche Chorjugend e.V.) that is open nationwide to non-profit organizations and promotes intercultural exchange among young singers. The aim is to provide financial support primarily to children’s and youth choirs for encounters with choirs abroad. A prerequisite for application is membership in a state youth association of the German Choir Youth or the German Choir Association, as well as a documented partnership project in the field of international choral encounters. Funding covers travel expenses, accommodation, meals, as well as the transport of instruments and sheet music. Personnel or administrative costs and investments in real estate are not eligible. Evaluation is based on the quality and concept of the exchange, the educational added value for the participants, and the sustainability of the encounter.

Interested choirs and ensembles can submit applications on an ongoing basis and must provide a project description, a cost and financing plan, an extract from the register of associations, and proof of partnership with the foreign choir. With regard to social cohesion and democratic education, the funding program makes an important contribution to strengthening voluntary engagement and international understanding. Through these encounters, musical impulses are set, and young people gain valuable learning experiences in intercultural cooperation. The office of the German Choir Youth in Berlin accompanies the projects and supports the choirs with professional expertise so that the encounters become unforgettable experiences and sustainable networks within European and global choral life.