About Barenboim-Said Academy

About Barenboim-Said Academy

The Barenboim-Said Academy, established in 2015, is a private, state-recognised music academy in Berlin, Germany, named after conductor Daniel Barenboim and literary theorist Edward Said. It offers a Bachelor of Music degree and an Artist Diploma program in orchestral instruments, piano, composition, and conducting, integrating intensive musical training with humanities courses. With a small student body of approximately 83, the academy fosters a close-knit environment focused on dialogue and understanding through music, inspired by the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra co-founded by Barenboim and Said in 1999. Housed in the former set storage building of the Staatsoper Unter den Linden, the campus features the Pierre Boulez Saal, a concert hall designed by Frank Gehry and acoustician Yasuhisa Toyota. The academy aims to provide a holistic education, preparing students for professional music careers while encouraging intellectual and cultural engagement. Its central location in Berlin offers access to a vibrant cultural scene, enhancing the student experience.