RIAS Kammerchor Berlin
The RIAS Kammerchor Berlin, founded in 1948 as the ensemble of the Radio in the American Sector (RIAS), is one of the world’s leading professional choirs. Its international reputation is attested to by numerous awards, including the German Record Critics’ Award, the "Nachtigall" Honorary Prize of the German Record Critics’ Award, the ECHO Klassik, the Gramophone Award, the Choc de l’année, and the Prix Caecilia.
The ensemble, consisting of 34 professionally trained singers, is widely known for its precise sound. Its repertoire ranges from Renaissance and Baroque music performed in a historically informed manner to new interpretations of Classical and Romantic works, as well as regular world premieres.
Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Justin Doyle
Justin Doyle has been the choir’s principal conductor and artistic director since the 2017/18 season. The British conductor previously served as principal conductor of the English Chamber Choir, among other positions. Recordings made to date under Doyle’s direction – including works by Handel, Bach, Britten, and de Victoria – have been enthusiastically received by audiences and critics alike, most recently the recording of Haydn’s "The Seven Last Words," released in March 2026 with the Konzerthausorchester Berlin. A recording featuring works by Benjamin Britten is scheduled for release in October 2026.
Concerts in Berlin and worldwide tours
With up to 50 concerts per season on stages across Germany, Europe, and Asia, the RIAS Kammerchor Berlin ranks among the country’s most prominent touring choirs. In its home city of Berlin, it presents six subscription concerts, including the renowned New Year’s Concert. The Berlin program for the 2026/27 season also features joint performances with ROC ensembles such as the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin and the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, as well as the ForumConcerts in collaboration with the "Forum of Friends and Supporters," in which extraordinary locations are transformed into concert venues.
Music Education and Supporting Young Talent in Berlin
In collaboration with the German Music Council, the RIAS Kammerchor Berlin awards the German Prize for Choral Conducting every two years, marking the conclusion of a multi-year support program for emerging conductors. Each season, the RIAS Kammerchor Studio integrates four academy participants as permanent members of the ensemble. Recurring music education projects include choir partnerships with Berlin school choirs, the "Musikalischer Salon," the "Klingende Bilder" series at the Gemäldegalerie Berlin, collaborations with the choirs of the Berlin University of the Arts and Berlin elementary schools, as well as audience workshops led by Justin Doyle.
German Prize for Choral Conducting 2024
History of the Ensemble and Musical Collaborations
Leading artists such as Günther Arndt, Uwe Gronostay, Marcus Creed, Daniel Reuss, and Hans-Christoph Rademann have shaped and influenced the choir since its founding. The choir regularly collaborates with prominent ensembles such as the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, the Ensemble Resonanz Hamburg, the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, and the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra, as well as with conductors such as René Jacobs, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Joana Mallwitz, Pablo Heras-Casado, and Krista Audere.