SoundTrack_Cologne 22 Award Ceremony and Concert
A
n extraordinary concert evening for film music fans in Cologne — just recently seen in cinemas or streamed online, now performed live by the WDR Funkhausorchester in the WDR Broadcasting Hall: the SoundTrack_Cologne Award Ceremony not only presents five prestigious awards, but is also an exclusive concert experience. Under the baton of Enrico Delamboye, the WDR Funkhausorchester brings fourteen soundtracks from recent blockbusters, award-winning series, and video games to the concert stage in Cologne for the first time: eight pieces are world concert premieres, the rest European premieres.
The program offers an impressive range: from Michael Abels’ atmospheric score for Jordan Peele’s horror-thriller Nope, to the epic sounds of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, to the imaginative film music of The School of Magical Animals. The Lola Award-winning score for Islands by Dascha Dauenhauer will also be performed in concert for the first time.
The world of TV series is well represented as well, with highlights like the Netflix hit Katla, the Star Wars series The Acolyte, and the Disney production Rivals.
Video game fans are not left out either: Olivier Derivière’s music for the recently released game hit South of Midnight will be performed live for the first time.
The evening combines a concert experience with the presentation of five renowned awards: the Career Achievement Award 2025 goes to American composer Michael Abels, who gained international acclaim for his innovative scores for Jordan Peele’s films Get Out, Nope, and Us. Additional awards go to outstanding talents: the WDR Filmscore Award, the European Talent Award Sound Design, the Peer Raben Music Award, and the SoundTrack_Cologne Music Documentary Award.
Soprano soloist: Samantha Senn.
All composers will be present, and during the conference, SoundTrack_Cologne will dedicate individual artist talks to each of them.
For the first time, the Award Ceremony will be held in the WDR Broadcasting Hall, providing the perfect acoustic setting for these musical premieres.
Venue: Klaus-von-Bismarck Hall (WDR Funkhaus) · Wallrafplatz 5 · 50667 Cologne
Program:
Jongnic Bontemps: Transformers: Rise of the Beasts
Olivier Derivière: South of Midnight
Jack Halama: Rivals
Sofia Degli Alessandri-Hultquist: Cobweb 1m3
Sofia Degli Alessandri-Hultquist: Red, White & Royal Blue 3m17
Christoph Zirngibl: Hero of Centopia
Dominik Giesriegl: The School of Magical Animals
Högni Egilsson: Larva
Högni Egilsson: KTLA
Dascha Dauenhauer: Islands
Anthony D’Amario & Edouard Rigaudière: Still Waters
Michael Abels: Pas de Deux
Michael Abels: Nope
Michael Abels: Star Wars: The Acolyte
Total duration: approx. 120 minutes · No intermission
Conductor: Enrico Delamboye | Host: Sarah Schygulla
