Barenboim-Said Akademie

The Barenboim-Said Akademie is a state-recognized, privately operated non-profit institution (gGmbH) located in Berlin-Mitte, Germany, founded in 2016 by conductor Daniel Barenboim and literary scholar Edward Said. It provides a unique conservatory education for talented young musicians, primarily from the Middle East and North Africa, though it welcomes applications from musicians of all backgrounds globally. The curriculum integrates intensive musical performance studies with a grounding in the humanities, including courses in philosophy, history, literature, democratic theory, postcolonialism, and migration. The Akademie is housed in a landmark building on Französische Straße that includes the Pierre Boulez Saal, a concert hall designed by architect Frank Gehry. The institution is institutionally funded by the German government, with the Federal Foreign Office providing scholarships for students in degree programs. It offers an accredited four-year Bachelor of Music degree, a two-year Master of Music degree (launched in the 2023–24 academic year), a one-year post-graduate Artist Diploma (a certificate, not an accredited degree), and a one-year Preparatory Program. Programs are available in all orchestral instruments, piano, and composition. The language of instruction is English.