»... The East-West Chamber Orchestra translates the poignant emotions expressed by the composer with infinite respect, perhaps going one step further than the Kremerata Baltica and Gidon Kremer in conveying this dramatic and moving message« Crescendo Magazine

The Peace Orchestra East-West Chamber Orchestra brings together first-rate soloists, concertmasters and section leaders from renowned orchestras in over 20 countries, including Germany, Italy, France, Great Britain, the USA, Belarus, Ukraine, Russia, Israel, Japan and Turkey. Its aim is to strengthen cultural cooperation and promote peace between East and West.

Founded in 2015 by Rostislav Krimer, the orchestra is based in Bonn and continues its mission through the East-West Festival NRW and by supporting talented children and children in need. It is committed to charitable causes and works with UNICEF and Save The Children.

The orchestra’s patrons include Sofia Gubaidulina, Evgeny Kissin, Erkki-Sven Tüür and Julian Rachlin. The Orchestra is an active promoter of contemporary music, including its acclaimed recordings of all four of Mieczyslaw Weinberg’s chamber symphonies (Naxos), which have been nominated for ICMA and Opus Klassik awards. In 2023, the orchestra commissioned Erkki-Sven Tüür’s work »Leaving behind ...« to be premiered at Beethovenfest Bonn 2025.

The EWCO was orchestra-in-residence at the Yuri Bashmet International Music Festival for five years. In 2021 it will make its debut at the Enescu Festival in Bucharest. It has worked with outstanding artists such as Paul Badura-Skoda, Fazıl Say and David Geringas. Their concerts have been broadcast worldwide on Medici.TV and on international radio and television stations.

Innovative projects such as »The Classical Night in the Underground« – where a metro station is transformed into a concert hall with light installations – or collaborations with world and European champions in rhythmic gymnastics are among the orchestra’s trademarks.