Cologne – October 29, 2026 -- The WDR Funkhausorchester will play around 50 concerts across the Lippe district from November 9 to 14, 2026, and the concerts at host venues are free. Under the banner "Deine Region – dein Orchester!", the orchestra brings seven formats to daycare centers, schools, senior facilities, companies and unconventional venues.
Hosts who applied turn community spaces into concert halls
The project began in spring with a call for applications. Host venues now include community centers and school auditoriums that are being cleared for the occasion, churches that become concert halls, and a municipal theater opening its doors. Daycare centers are teaming up so more children can attend. Regional orchestras are moving their rehearsal times to take part in masterclasses with members of the WDR Funkhausorchester. Companies are organizing after-work concerts, including for apprentices who rarely get to see an orchestra.
The orchestra splits into ensembles from string trios to 30-plus players
The orchestra often plays at several venues at once, from north to south and east to west. Lineups range from a string trio and a woodwind quintet to large formations of more than 30 musicians. The schedule includes 16 daycare concerts, 16 senior concerts, eight school concerts and eight after-work concerts, plus the closing concerts in Lemgo.
Repertoire runs from storytelling to tango and film themes
For the youngest listeners, instruments come to life in musical stories. Senior facilities get classical works, tango, film melodies and evergreens. Teenagers experience a large ensemble up close at the "WDR Musik-Battle".
Principal guest conductor Enrico Delamboye leads "Salon Europe", an after-work program of European salon music. Chief conductor David Brophy brings "Tropical" with sunny rhythms.
The full orchestra closes the week at PHOENIX CONTACT Arena in Lemgo
For the finale, the full orchestra turns the PHOENIX CONTACT Arena in Lemgo into a concert hall. "Tanz mal mit der Maus", aimed at families, runs on Friday, November 13, and Saturday, November 14. On Saturday evening, "Ganz großes Kino" presents film melodies.
WDR runs the project with the Kreis Lippe and Lippe Tourismus & Marketing GmbH. Tickets for the closing concerts are available through Reservix.