Songs of praise: An emotional Greek-German musical collaboration at Berlin Cathedral

A total of 240 Greek and German singers joined their voices in a festive service at Berlin Cathedral as part of the celebrations marking German Unity Day. Students from the Chios Music School performed alongside choirs and ensembles from the Sing Akademie zu Berlin. Together, they performed various works of German and Greek composers. The result of this unique musical encounter was deeply moving. It has a special story because this opening for Europe, that was our idea. Because three years ago, after the service, we came out of the cathedral and there was another demonstration in the Lustgarten from the right wing of our society. And we all say that cannot be. We come from the service, we want to be together without hate, without racism. So since three years we have booked this place for our choirs and have said okay we cannot only have a party for Germany because what is Germany without Europe and what is Europe without Greece. So in this year it's for me it's perfect we have young people from Europe come together, sing together and give a very strong sign for Europe. As part of the 10th Chios music festival held last August, more than 50 young female singers from the Sing Akademie zu Berlin had spent a week on the island, giving concerts at various locations across Chios. I think this not only meeting each other, but making art together, making music together is even a deeper impact that it has on them and I'm sure that they will take it into their lives as an experience. The Chios Music Festival and the Sing Akademie zu Berlin organized this special cultural exchange with the support of the German-Greek Youth Office. It would be a miracle for the children of Germany to co-operate with the children of Chios and to sing both Germanic songs and Greek songs, for there to be a cohesion, a common goal.