Karlsruhe sounds -
music to go
June 27, 2026
Withdrew due to the heat!
Due to the official heat warning and forecasted temperatures of up to 40 degrees, the music event “Karlsruhe klingt – Music to go” unfortunately could not take place as planned in downtown Karlsruhe on Saturday, June 27.
A cool alternative program in Karlsruhe's Oststadt district
Music fans didn't have to go without live music, though—at 4:15 p.m., a "cool" alternative program kicked off in Karlsruhe's Oststadt neighborhood: students and faculty from the University of Music Karlsruhe (HfM) presented rhythmic samba sounds during a walking performance that took them from the campus to the Alter Schlachthof and back again, and then enchanted the audience with spirited Brazilian music at a concert in the air-conditioned Wolfgang Rihm Forum at the HfM.
Admission was free.
“Karlsruhe Sounds – Music to Go” is a joint project of the Karlsruhe University of Music Karlsruhe and the City Marketing division of KME Karlsruhe Marketing and Event GmbH. Karlsruhe’s mayor, Dr. Frank Mentrup, once again served as patron of the event this year.
2026 in Review – Replacement Program
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A walking performance by the percussion class of the Karlsruhe University of Music (HfM), starting at the Wolfgang Rihm Forum on the university campus, proceeding past the Old Slaughterhouse, and returning to the Wolfgang Rihm Forum at the Karlsruhe University of Music.
Directed by Thibault Keith and Tolga Anlar
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Concert by the Karlsruhe University of Music Wind Ensemble at the Wolfgang Rihm Forum, conducted by Prof. Will Sanders
Gilson Santos (b. 1977): South American Fanfare
Hudson Nogueira (b. 1968): Três Danças Carnavalescas
Osvaldo Lacerda (1927–2011): Dobrado, Ponto, and Maracatú
Pedro Salgado (1927–2011), adapted by Marcelo Jardim: *Dois Corações*
José Ursicino da Silva “Maestro Duda” (b. 1935): Música para Metais No. 2
Jessé Sadoc (b. 1947): Volta de Acari
Tasso Bangel (b. 1931): Gauchissima
Gilson Santos (b. 1977): As Quarentonas de Quarentena Zouk
Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887–1959), arr. Jesse Sadoc: Bachianas Brasileiras
Hermeto Pascoal (1936–2025), arranged by Gilson Santos: Forró Brasil
João da Banda (b. 1960): João Pedro é Música Frevo de Rua
Frequently asked questions
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Unfortunately, “Karlsruhe klingt – music to go” cannot take place as planned in downtown Karlsruhe on June 27, 2026, due to the ongoing official heat warning and forecasted temperatures of up to 40 degrees. However, starting at 4:15 p.m., there will be a “cool” alternative program in Karlsruhe’s Oststadt neighborhood: The percussion class will present its walking act “Samba batucada” from the campus of the Karlsruhe University of Music , past the neighboring Alter Schlachthof, and back again, luring visitors—like the Pied Piper—toward the university’s MUT building. There, starting at 5:00 p.m. in the air-conditioned Wolfgang Rihm Forum, the HfM’s wind ensemble, conducted by Prof. Will Sanders, will perform a concert of spirited Brazilian music under the motto “BRASSillísimo.”
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No, “Karlsruhe klingt – music to go” is free for all visitors. You’re welcome to stop at the five different stations in downtown Karlsruhe, listen to the music, sing along, or even dance—and all of this is free of charge.
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At “Karlsruhe klingt – music to go,” students and faculty from the Karlsruhe University of Music at several venues in downtown Karlsruhe. From open-air chamber music to piano recitals and music theater, the students and faculty of the university offer a wide range of international music and bring Karlsruhe to life with sound.
You can find the complete schedule with times and venues here.
music to go 2022
For the 10th time, Karlsruhe city center was transformed into a huge open-air stage on July 9, 2022 as part of the popular music festival "Karlsruhe klingt - music to go".
At eleven locations in the city center on Saturday, July 9, 2022, between 2:00 and 8:00 p.m., around one hundred students, lecturers and graduates of the University of Music (HfM) with a varied program ranging from classical and jazz to pop and rock for visitors to the shopping and adventure city of Karlsruhe.
Framed by the opening concert of the BigBand of the HfM under the direction of Peter Lehel (14:00) and the big closing concert of the symphonic wind orchestra of the HfM under the direction of Will Sanders (19:00) on the Karlsruher market square the dozen or so venues - churches, retail outlets, the Baden State Librarypublic squares and subway stops - offered a variety of musical experiences: From small-scale chamber music to saxophone or trombone ensembles, American art song and Ukrainian folk songs to anarchic "absurdities" with Dada poetry, the students and lecturers presented a wide range of international music. Of course, the popular walking act "Samba Batucada" by Prof. Isao Nakamura's percussion class was not to be missed, with its rousing rhythms between marketplace and southern Waldstraße was on the move.
Karlsruhe klingt - music to go" was organized in cooperation with the Karlsruhe University of Music by the Citymarketing of the KME. The patron of the music festival has been Lord Mayor Dr. Frank Mentrup since 2013.