Classical music meets digital networking: the orchestra in the stairwell
A new way to experience classical music
On October 27, 2025, Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR) published a report entitled "Orchester im Treppenhaus: Festival und App für die Community", in which the extraordinary concept of the Orchester im Treppenhaus is presented. The ensemble from Hanover has been transforming everyday spaces into concert venues for years, and during the Treppenhausfestival 2025 it will go one step further: classical music will be played in unusual places over eleven days, accompanied by the launch of its own community app.
The platform connects concertgoers with the orchestra and with each other and forms the core of the ensemble's digital strategy
Digital platform for the community
A special feature of the festival is the "Treppenhaus-Cloud", an app with which the orchestra wants to connect more closely with its audience. Nicole Böwer from the orchestra explains in the interview that when you open the app, you see a central feed that provides information about current events. The feed shows photos of a spacy hotel room or musicians relaxing before a concert, for example. In addition to concert dates and ensemble information, users can contact the orchestra, exchange information with each other and form networks.
Nicole Böwer emphasizes that the emotions and impressions of a concert have a unifying effect. The aim of the app is for people to come into contact with each other and with the orchestra in order to exchange ideas. This platform is a "stage, network and cabinet of curiosities at the same time", as the festival website adds.
The aim of the app is for people to come into contact with each other and with the orchestra in order to exchange ideas
Audience participation and community music
The musicians also see the new platform as an opportunity for direct exchange. Bassoonist Peter Amann explains that there was a lot of interest even before the official launch: many regulars had registered, asked questions and discussed what was special about the orchestra or what projects they would like to see with unlimited resources. Such discussions encourage the ensemble to develop new ideas and respond to the wishes of the audience.
The platform is also intended to bring people together who want to make music together or form new groups. This concept is called community music and is becoming increasingly popular in Germany. The community-building idea is not only created by the digital app, but comes from the orchestra itself.
The platform is intended to bring people together who want to make music together or form new groups
The Treppenhaus-Cloud invites you to discuss concert experiences, make new contacts and become part of a growing classical music community.
The NDR report shows how the Orchester im Treppenhaus takes classical music out of traditional concert spaces and combines it with digital tools. By choosing unusual venues and launching its own app, the ensemble opens up new approaches to music and turns visitors into active participants.
To the complete article by Agnes Bührig:
https://www.ndr.de/kultur/musik/klassik/orchester-im-treppenhaus-festival-und-app-fuer-die-community,treppenhausfestival-100.html
