Music as a Sanctuary in Ochsenhausen
PRESS RELEASE
Historic Benedictine Abbey Hosts Young Musicians from Israel, Europe, the USA, and China to Build Bridges of Understanding, Friendship, and Peace
At a site long dedicated to reflection and renewal, the project creates a sanctuary for resilience, dialogue, and reconciliation in a divided world.
In a time when the world feels increasingly divided, more than 50 young musicians — all under the age of 19 — from Israel, Europe, the United States, and China will come together this October at the State Academy of Music in Ochsenhausen, Baden-Württemberg. The international project Music as a Sanctuary, co-presented by the Althafen Foundation (Berlin), the Jerusalem Music Centre, and the Landesakademie Ochsenhausen, stands as a powerful response to conflict and uncertainty: an urgent reminder that music remains a universal language of healing and human connection.
The origins of the project underscore its necessity. In October 2023, as war erupted in Israel, the Young Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra – 40 Israeli musicians – found themselves in Germany for an international masterclass. Their scheduled concerts in Israel were cancelled overnight, and upon returning home, they faced a reality transformed by violence and loss. In those dark days, the Jerusalem Music Centre began live-streaming performances from its studio, sending music into homes as an act of collective resilience. Thousands listened, finding comfort and strength where words alone could not suffice.
© Yael IIan
Two years later, the urgency has only grown. Music as a Sanctuary returns to Ochsenhausen with more than 50 young participants, offering not just a festival of music, but a sanctuary of humanity. This October, these young artists will rehearse, study, and live side by side, guided by world-renowned faculty. They will also take part in yoga and Qigong, choir singing, and professional development sessions led by the Althafen Foundation — all designed to equip them not only as musicians, but as future cultural leaders capable of bridging divides.
The choice of Ochsenhausen is no coincidence. The Landesakademie is housed in a former Benedictine monastery, a site that for centuries has embodied reflection, renewal, and learning. Today, it stands as a center of international music education where tradition meets innovation. To host young musicians from Israel, Europe, the United States, and China in this historic setting is profoundly symbolic: a place once devoted to spiritual seclusion has become a stage for intercultural exchange, reconciliation, and hope.
Among the most poignant moments will be the world premiere of a new composition by Udi Perlman, inspired by the music of Josima Feldschuh, a gifted 13-year-old pianist and composer from the Warsaw Ghetto. Her voice, silenced too soon, will be heard again — a reminder of both what was lost and what can still be carried forward through music.
The project is made possible with the generous support of the Ida Bieler and György Fischer Foundation, Bruno-Frey-Musikstiftung Ochsenhausen, Baden-Württemberg Foundation, Josima Feldschuh Foundation, and Berthold Leibinger Stiftung GmbH.
A highlight of the residency will be the public concert at the State Academy of Music Ochsenhausen on October 11, 2025, at 20:00.
Supported by the Embassy of the State of Israel in Germany as part of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations, the project makes a clear statement: in times of fragmentation, music does more than comfort — it creates the conditions for understanding, for friendship, and for the possibility of lasting peace.
Voices from the Project
“These young musicians, all under the age of 19, carry so much promise,” said Yoram Kligman, Director of Excellence Programs at the Jerusalem Music Centre. “For them, it is vital to spend time together — to play, to study, to simply be with one another. When they do, they discover that music is more than notes on a page; it becomes a way of building friendships and bridges that go far beyond nationality or conflict.”
“I was once one of these young musicians myself, and I know how deeply such encounters can shape a life,” said Mark Prihodko, Artistic Director of the Althafen Foundation. “Bringing young people together across borders is not only vital for their artistic growth, it is vital for our shared future. Music nurtures understanding, it creates culture, and culture is the strongest assurance we have for peace.
“Music as a Sanctuary is about giving the next generation of artists the freedom to imagine a world without borders. When these young musicians play together, they don’t represent nations or conflicts — they embody our shared humanity. Their music is not only art; it is a vision of the world as it could be”, — Mark Gilenson, Artistic Director, Music as a Sanctuary
About
The Jerusalem Music Center (JMC) was founded in 1973 by legendary violinist Isaac Stern and the Jerusalem Foundation. Located in Mishkenot Sha’ananim, the JMC has since become one of Israel’s most important cultural institutions, nurturing generations of young musicians. Through masterclasses, orchestral programs, and international collaborations, the JMC supports musical excellence while promoting dialogue, creativity, and cultural exchange.
The Landesakademie für die musizierende Jugend in Baden-Württemberg, Ochsenhausen, is one of Germany’s leading music academies for young people. Located in the former Benedictine monastery of Ochsenhausen, it offers courses, workshops, and international masterclasses for musicians of all ages. The academy combines historical heritage with a forward-looking mission: to inspire creativity, foster excellence, and provide a space for intercultural encounters.
The Althafen Foundation (Berlin) empowers talents to drive innovation and sustainable global development through entrepreneurship, collaboration, and mentorship. In the arts, the Foundation supports young artists by opening new career pathways, strengthening cross-border collaboration, and creating platforms for cultural dialogue.