Brain Scans and Beats at the Kölner Philharmonie

10. July 2026

Brain Scans and Beats at the Kölner Philharmonie

“Notes and Neurons” brings music and brain research to the stage. (Photo: UKB; DZNE)

Featuring the Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne and the iconic band Bläck Fööss, the concert series “Notes and Neurons: Music for Brain Health” kicks off tonight at the Kölner Philharmonie in Cologne, Germany. After its premiere, it will be touring four additional cities across Germany through December. These popular science events blend pop music, classical music, and soundtracks with insights into current brain research, including interactive experiments with the audience. At the heart of these events is the question of how music affects the human brain and supports cognitive fitness. The concert series is a joint initiative by the University of Bonn's Faculty of Medicine, the University Hospital Bonn (UKB), the Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics (MPIEA) in Frankfurt am Main, and the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), marking the German Science Year 2026—Medicine of the Future.

“’Notes and Neurons’ is an extraordinary concert that brings science and music together in a tangible way. For the Gürzenich Orchestra, unique concert formats like this have been a special focus for several years now. For example, last year’s special concert, ‘Amazônia,’ featured images by Sebastião Salgado. We are thrilled that this spectacular interdisciplinary concert series will kick off with our orchestra at the Kölner Philharmonie,” says Stefan Englert, Director of the Gürzenich Orchestra.

At the concerts, a project orchestra of about 100 musicians and the UKB Choir will share the stage with renowned ensembles and a rotating lineup of guest stars. “We'll perform a diverse repertoire, ranging from Mozart to Coldplay to John Williams. In Cologne, members of the Gürzenich Orchestra will join us, and the Bläck Fööss will make a special guest appearance,” reports associate professor Theodor Rüber, neurologist at UKB and researcher at University of Bonn's Faculty of Medicine. He directs the UKB Choir and founded “Noten und Neuronen.” “The audience will be able to actively participate. Singing along is encouraged, and you can take part in a live experiment exploring the interplay of music, emotions, and memories through a special app.”

Furthermore, the audience will see a demonstration of the world’s first mobile brain scanner. Conventional devices weigh several metric tons and are permanently installed, whereas this scanner fits inside an ambulance. Also, brain scans of musicians taken beforehand will be presented. “Our goal is to demonstrate how music evokes emotions, stirs up memories, connects people, and can have a lasting positive impact on our brains,” says Rüber.

“We are honored and pleased to have been invited to participate in this exciting project! Since making music plays a central role in our lives, we are naturally curious to see how the scientific aspect of our daily ‘work’ affects our brains—and, more importantly, the brains of our listeners. It's a truly unique project! We’re proud to perform at the Kölner Philharmonie concert and join the ranks of distinguished guests from across Germany.” – Alexander Vesper of Bläck Fööss.

This event series is a collaboration between the University of Bonn's Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Bonn (UKB), the Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics (MPIEA) in Frankfurt am Main, and the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE). It is presented in honor of the Science Year 2026—Medicine of the Future.

“Notes and Neurons: Music for Brain Health,” is a series of joint events organized by the University of Bonn’s Faculty of Medicine, the University Hospital Bonn (UKB), the Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics (MPIEA), and German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE). The series is funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR) as part of the Science Year 2026—Medicine of the Future. The tour comprises six concerts. Following its kickoff in Cologne, the tour will continue in October with stops in Berlin, twice in Bonn, Dortmund, and Munich. For more information and dates (in German), visit notenundneuronen.de.

Science Year 2026—Medicine of the Future

Health is one of the most important prerequisites for a good life. The Science Year 2026—Medicine of the Future highlights how researchers are already shaping tomorrow's medicine with their ideas and solutions. How will diseases be diagnosed in the future? How will diseases be diagnosed in the future? What ideas exist for medical care? Will AI revolutionize drug development? How can we use innovative technologies to support care while maintaining the human element? How can we improve prevention strategies so that we fall ill less frequently and with less severity? The Science Year has a special focus on gender-sensitive research because, to this day, data for gender-specific treatment and care is lacking for many diseases. This is especially true for conditions that primarily affect women, such as endometriosis and menopause.

The Science Year is the largest nationwide platform for interdisciplinary communication on current research topics. Each year, 400 to 800 research institutes, universities, associations, organizations, companies, and foundations participate through up to 1,000 events and activities. These include a nationwide university competition and events such as SchulKinoWochen, MINTmachtage, and MS Wissenschaft, an exhibition ship that visits up to 30 German cities from May through September. Science Years have been held since 2000 and are an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR) in collaboration with Wissenschaft im Dialog (WiD).

Throughout the Science Year, there will be events, projects, and activities that encourage people to learn about current medical research and participate in discussions with scientists, businesspeople, media representatives, policymakers, and the public. Social media campaigns, monthly challenges, and prominent ambassadors will also play a significant role.