Barenboim-Said Academie (BSA)

The Barenboim-Said Academy (BSA) is a state-recognized artistic university in Berlin-Mitte with a unique educational concept that combines highly qualified musical training with an interdisciplinary liberal arts education. It was founded in 2016 and is named after the pianist and conductor Daniel Barenboim and the literary scholar Edward W. Said. The aim of the academy is to support young musicians and to contribute to intercultural understanding and dialogue through education and music.

The academy is located on Französische Straße in Berlin-Mitte. In the winter semester of 2024/25, the university had 82 students.

The academy is housed in a listed building, the former scenery depot of the Berlin State Opera Unter den Linden. The building was completely denucleated and redesigned for academic use in 2014-2015 based on the designs of the star architect Frank Gehry and in collaboration with the office HG Merz. The exterior facade was preserved due to heritage protection. The interior now houses an auditorium, the Mozart Auditorium, numerous seminar rooms, 21 practice rooms, a library with computer workstations, and the Pierre Boulez Hall as the central concert and event space.

The Pierre Boulez Hall is an elliptically designed chamber music hall with up to 682 seats, designed to provide an intimate musical experience. The acoustic design was overseen by the renowned acoustician Yasuhisa Toyota. The seating rows and central stage are flexible, allowing for a variety of musical and academic events. The hall serves not only as a performance venue for students but is also open to the public and hosts concerts, lectures, and symposia.

The BSA offers four study programs: the state-recognized, four-year Bachelor of Music, the two-year Master of Music program, a one-year Artist Diploma, and a one-year Preparatory Program for study preparation. Musical instruction includes all orchestral instruments, piano, and composition, taught by internationally renowned faculty. Many faculty members are active members of leading orchestras such as the Berlin Philharmonic, the Berlin State Orchestra, or the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

A central element of all study programs is the interdisciplinary Humanities Program. It conveys liberal arts content in the subjects of philosophy, history, and literature. In the bachelor and master's programs, these contents are firmly anchored in the curriculum, including mandatory and elective courses as well as thesis work. The humanities teaching promotes critical thinking, intercultural skills, and intellectual exchange among students. Special events such as the Academy Forum or the Edward W. Said Days provide additional platforms for discussion and cultural dialogue.

Admission to the BSA is through a two-stage selection process involving application and audition. Applications are accepted each autumn for the following winter semester. There are no tuition fees. Students in the Bachelor of Music and Preparatory Program receive a monthly stipend and accommodation in academy-owned shared flats in Berlin-Mitte. Limited external scholarships are available for students in the Master of Music or Artist Diploma programs.

The educational philosophy of the Barenboim-Said Academy is based on the belief that musical and liberal arts education complement each other. The academy sees music as a medium for communication and intercultural exchange. It is part of a larger network that includes the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra founded by Barenboim and Said, as well as the Barenboim-Said Foundation.

The Barenboim-Said Academy combines academic excellence with a socially relevant educational mission and sees itself as a place for cultural encounter, reflection, and artistic development. The academy is managed by the Barenboim-Said Academy gGmbH and receives institutional funding from the federal government. The scholarships are financed by the Federal Foreign Office.