1st Organ Festival
for kids and teens
The organ festival “Play Organ!” for children and young people will take place from August 1 to 3, 2025 in Mainz.
It brings together young organ players and teachers from all over Germany and promotes creative access to the organ and exchange between music educators.
workshops
seminars
individual and group lessons
trial lessons
concerts
What can young organists expect at the organ festival “Play Organ!”?
☑ Individual and group lessons
Work on your favorite pieces and make music together with others.
☑ Improvisation workshops
Try new techniques and the art of improvisation.
☑ Organ workshop
Tune your own organ pipe and learn the technique of organ building.
☑ Opening concert with “Orgelbauer Fröhlich”
A playful introduction to the world of the organ with theater educator Friedhelm Bruns.
☑ Closing concert
Show what you have learned and play in a big concert.
☑ Creative accompanying program
Experience an exciting scavenger hunt, craft stations and information tables around the organ
Requirements for participation
✔ Age: 6 to 15 years
✔ At least 1 year of organ lessons
✔ Enjoyment of making music and interest in learning new things
✔ Willingness to engage in creative and musical activities
An unforgettable weekend full of music, fun and new experiences and getting to know other organists awaits!
What can teachers, church musicians and students expect from the organ festival “Play the Organ!”?
☑ internships
Watch the innovative organ lessons live on site.
Experience the holistic concept of the festival, which combines classical and modern approaches to organ teaching.
See how children become enthusiastic about the organ in individual and group workshops, improvisation courses and creative participatory activities.
☑ training seminar
Learn more about the new, holistic teaching concept for children and discuss its approaches with colleagues.
Let yourself be inspired for your own music education work.
☑ Opening concert with theater educator Friedhelm Bruns
Take part in a playful and vivid introduction to the world of the organ, specially designed for children and professionals.
☑ Exchange and networking
Make contacts with other teachers, educators and students.
Share your own ideas and approaches to organ pedagogy in an open exchange.
Open to teachers, educators, church musicians and students who are interested in innovative methods of organ teaching. There is also the opportunity to actively contribute your own ideas.
What can families expect at the organ festival “Play the Organ!”?
☑ Interactive stations for the whole family
Creative craft stations, exciting information tables and a scavenger hunt invite you to discover the world of the organ in a playful way.
An opportunity to get creative together with children and get to know the organ from a new perspective.
☑ Concerts for young and old
Festive opening concert and an impressive closing concert with young organists from all over Germany.
Musical enjoyment for the whole family, moderated and designed for all age groups.
☑ Trial lessons
There are free trial lessons for children and young people who have no organ experience.
A playful way to discover the instrument and play your first notes.
☑ Be a host family
Welcome young organists as guests and experience the festival first hand.
A special opportunity to gain exciting insights into the festival events and to create new encounters.
01
Ein innovatives Konzept
The festival presents a groundbreaking music education concept that combines modern approaches to organ teaching with practical experience. Organ teacher Carolin Kaiser leads the project and brings her many years of experience in working with children. Together with experienced specialists from Germany and abroad, innovative methods of organ teaching are presented that are specifically tailored to the needs of young musicians. The focus is on discovering and learning the organ in a playful way. The fascinating world of organ music is introduced using holistic methods.
02
Diverse offers
As part of "Play the Organ!", children and young people have the opportunity to take part in individual and group lessons in literature and improvisation in order to expand their musical skills and increase their motivation to play the organ. There is also a varied supporting program: insights into the art of organ building, a scavenger hunt around the organ, building a chocolate organ and much more. Free trial lessons offer everyone who has no experience with the instrument the opportunity to discover the organ in a playful way.
The opening concert will be moderated by the theatre teacher Friedhelm Bruns, and the organist Camille Déruelle from France will be playing the organ. The organ teacher Johanna Wimmer will be leading one of the organ workshops.
03
professional exchange
Ein zentrales Anliegen des Festivals ist auch der Austausch zwischen den Lehrenden. Zu Beginn des Festivals findet ein Seminar zum Thema Orgelunterricht mit Kindern statt, während des Festivals gibt es Hospitationsmöglichkeiten und anschließende Reflexionsgespräche, die die Lehrenden und Studierenden dazu anregen, innovative Ansätze der Orgelpädagogik zu diskutieren und auszuprobieren.
Sponsors and project partners:
