The Sound of Water

Oliver Rudin began his musical career in the Knabenkantorei Basel. He was co-founder and conductor of the Männerstimmen Basel for 14 years and has conducted the Knabenkantorei Basel and the OYENGA Gospel Choir at the Münster for many years. He has also worked with renowned orchestras such as the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine and the Basel Symphony Orchestra, conducted at Theater Basel and toured several continents with his choirs and the a cappella group The Glue.
His performances have taken him to renowned concert halls such as the Berlin Philharmonie, the Palais des Congrès in Yaoundé, the National Concert Hall in Taipei, the Salón Dorado del Teatro Colón and the Harpa in Reykjavik. Rudin has won prizes at numerous international festivals.
Driven by his passion for contemporary music, Rudin has conducted numerous world premieres and commissioned works, collaborating with composers such as Ivo Antognini, Ēriks Ešenvalds, and Eric Whitacre. He regularly serves as a juror at international competitions, most recently at Sing for Gold – The World Choral Cup in Barcelona (2024) and the World Choir Games in Helsingborg (2026). He also acts as artistic director of international festivals including Berlin Loves You at the Berlin Philharmonie (2025) and Songs of Europe at Smetana Hall in Prague (2026) alongside Daniel Raaflaub. 

Daniel Raaflaub began his musical training at an early age in the choir school of the Knabenkantorei Basel, where he gained valuable experience as a choral singer and soloist.
In the artistic metropolis of Vienna, he studied singing, acting and dance at the renowned University of Music and Performing Arts and attended various master classes. Over the past 15 years, Daniel Raaflaub has performed in musicals, plays and concerts in Switzerland, Germany and Austria. With leading roles in productions such as Chess, Godspell, Jesus Christ Superstar and RENT, he has established himself as a versatile artist.
Today, Daniel Raaflaub is a sought-after singing teacher and guest lecturer and is engaged as a vocal coach in numerous projects and choirs in Switzerland and abroad. As a choir director and choreographer in Switzerland (including Knabenkantorei Basel and OYENGA Gospel Choir at Basel Cathedral) and internationally (including Vox Aurea in Finland and Kristina Academy Children’s Choir in Kenya), he successfully creates musical dramaturgy that inspires and enthuses. In 2025, he contributed the choreography for the opening show of the European Youth Choir Festival in Basel with 800 singers. In addition, as artistic director of “Berlin Loves You” together with Oliver Rudin, he was responsible for the design of the final concert in the Berlin Philharmonic.

The Knabenkantorei Basel is one of Switzerland’s leading boys’ choirs, combining a rich musical tradition with artistic excellence at an international level. Founded in 1927, the choir has played a significant role in the cultural life of Basel and beyond for nearly a century.

Its repertoire spans from early music and major oratorio works to contemporary compositions and innovative concert formats. Regular performances in prestigious venues and international tours highlight the ensemble’s high artistic standards.

Under the direction of Oliver Rudin, the Knabenkantorei Basel continuously develops new artistic projects while providing comprehensive musical training for young singers.

The Vokalhelden were founded in 2013 by the Berlin Philharmonic on the initiative of Simon Halsey and Sir Simon Rattle. The artistic director of the Vokalhelden is Johannes David Wolff. The aim of the program is to inspire as many children and young people as possible to sing together, regardless of their origin, native language, disabilities or financial means. Over 350 children aged 6 to 13 rehearse every week at locations in the districts of Moabit, Hellersdorf, Schöneberg, Gropiusstadt, in the Märkisches Viertel and in the cross-district youth choir. Performances in the districts and cross-location concerts take place regularly.