Short Stays, Shared Music: Finding Belonging in Munich’s International Orchestra

The Munich International Orchestra (MIO) brings together local and international musicians, including exchange students who stay for only one or two semesters. Alongside making music, its rehearsals and social gatherings offer opportunities to build a community.

We spoke with Anne, MIO’s second board member, who is originally from Luxembourg and works in public relations. Having moved to Munich about a year ago, she now volunteers to help keep the orchestra running. Through her eyes, we explore MIO and how people can find a sense of belonging, even during a short stay.

1. Could you briefly introduce yourself?

I’m Anne. I am originally from Luxembourg and I’ve been in Munich for about a year now. I came here to work, and my day job is in PR.

I joined the orchestra, MIO, and I volunteered to be on the orchestra board since this semester. It is quite interesting and it’s a lot of fun.

2. What is MIO?

It’s the Munich International Orchestra, short MIO. I think it was founded as a student orchestra, but today there are students and professionals. It’s for everybody, local or international, who wants to play music together.

MIO was founded with the concept of them knowing how hard it is to find an orchestra abroad, especially if you don’t know people or won’t stay long. The founders wanted to make it easier for internationals to join an orchestra, so that’s what they wanted represented in the name.

3. How did you find MIO, and why did you join the board?

I googled, and MIO just came up on a Google search. I emailed, then auditioned and I got accepted. I’m really happy that it worked out.

I really like the orchestra and the people in it because it really gave me community. I got to meet new people and it’s so much fun. Like every nonprofit organization, it only works if people give back. When I was asked if I wanted to take over, it was a no-brainer. This was a way to support an association that means a lot to me and where I met my friends.

4. Which parts of the work are you responsible for in the orchestra?

As second board member, I’m responsible for MIO’s internal work. I’m like the HR person. I help newcomers find us, coordinate their first rehearsals and organize auditions. I also coordinate rehearsal dates with our conductor and the people finding rooms.

Besides board members, we have people that have mini jobs, like running social media, printing notes and advertising concerts in the orchestra. What I am trying to do in my position on the board, is to open the board up for people, to let people know we’re accessible.

5. What has been the most difficult situation you have faced in your role?

Probably the auditions. I was so nervous because I’m going to be the first impression they got from the orchestra. I don’t think it was necessarily that hard objectively, but I put a lot of pressure on myself to get people to want to join the orchestra. But I feel like I managed okay. People joined, so I feel like I managed okay by just being me.

6. How do you help newcomers feel part of the community?

We have Charlotte who is in charge of fun activities, and she really is the heart and soul of getting people integrated into the orchestra. She arranges drinks after rehearsals, a talent show during the rehearsal weekend, and encourages people to bring board games.

I think that’s a really nice way of getting people engaged and helping people connect beyond the music. It helps create a space and a platform, and you can use it if you want to, but you don’t have to.

7. How can international members who do not speak German take part in rehearsals?

We encourage people to speak English, and I try to make my announcements in English. Rehearsals are in German, but there are always enough people help and translate for people that do not understand.

Something that I always find really beautiful is music doesn’t necessarily need a language. Of course, for rehearsing, you need a language. But once you make music together, it really doesn’t matter whether you speak German or not. You can connect through music, and that’s also really great.

8. How does the constant turnover of members affect MIO?

I think it interesting because you never know who will return until people commit to the next project. Of course, it is a challenge if you lose amazing players, but new members keep the orchestra young and dynamic. We encourage them to bring new ideas. I see it as more of an opportunity than a challenge, because in the end, the orchestra is about making music together. It works per semester, it works per project, and you will just have to regroup and reorganize for each project. That’s still a really beautiful thing.

9. What do you hope international members will take away from their time in MIO?

I would love for internationals that join MIO, when they leave, say that they made good memories, that they had fun, that they played beautiful music, and maybe that they got to connect with other internationals or local people.

I hope they can think back to the project that they did and want to tell everybody about it: ‘This was a great community. This was a great experience that I had there. And I’m so happy that I joined.’