About Us

How we started

The idea for EcoClassica emerged in 2024 out of the realization that the climate impact of orchestra and chamber music tours in classical music was almost always forgotten in the planning phase. From charter flights within Europe to transcontinental flights for a single concert, the norm is to rely on air travel for frequent tours and short concert trips worldwide. This is problematic: flying is an extremely large contributor to global warming.

At the same time, it became increasingly clear that classical music had unique opportunities to contribute to positive change by creating an emotional connection to this important issue in a very specific setting and audience. Climate concerts and climate-inspired compositions are still a niche, but we believe that the potential for change is enormous.

Both of these aspects of the negative or potentially positive impact of classical music on the climate were, and still are in large parts, untapped territory in discussions among classical musicians and concert organizers. This made it an urgent necessity to give a platform to the planet, raise awareness and start a debate in classical music.

What We're Doing

Awareness

Our first pillar of activity is aiming to raise more awareness:

• We publish regular Instagram posts that already reach thousands of classical musicians. Our account shares facts about climate change, practical tips for climate-conscious classical musicians, and inspiring initiatives by other organizations in classical music.
• This website serves as an information hub on sustainability in classical music. We’ll share articles, documents, books, videos, links, and other resources to help you start your journey toward sustainability in classical music.
• Print media: We designed a three-page poster for the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien (MDW). This poster will soon be available on our site!

More to come

In the future, we aim to offer an introductory consultancy service for festivals, orchestras, ensembles, and concert organizers seeking guidance on integrating climate considerations into their decision-making. We will share knowledge and best practices based on the experiences of Europe’s pioneering festivals Additionally, we will launch petitions and other political initiatives. Let us know here if you’d like to join us!

Team

Our team is based in multiple countries like Switzerland, Belgium, Austria, and Germany. Here are the people involved in our activities, offering precious time, energy, and advice to advance EcoClassica: