During some intense summer days in june, children and young people from around the world gather in Gothenburg to play in an orchestra and sing in a choir druing the music camp Side by Side.
Exciting conductors, musicians and educators lead workshops and rehearsals during the camp days. Together they inspire each other, develop their talents and acquire new skills and knowledge. Parents and family members are also welcome to participate.
It is powerful to experience when all participants gather in a magnificent concert together with musicians from the Gothenburg Symphony and singers from the Vocal Ensemble, who are also mentors for the young musicians and singers.
Side by Side creates meeting places where children and young people from different cultures and backgrounds can play and sing together, side by side with professional musicians. The camp promotes the spread of classical music and works for tolerance, cooperation and equality.
Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra has been the main organizer of the camp since 2016. It is time again 12-17 June 2026!
Application to Side by Side 12-17 June 2026
- Apply from 7 January.
- Application period: 7 January-6 February
Contact
Project leader/Producer johan.andersson@gso.se
Side by Side 2026: Festival Concert
Experience 2000 young musicians and singers from all over the world at the Side by Side music camp as they perform side by side with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra in Scandinavium. A highlight for the whole family.
Side by Side 2026: Choirs in Concert
The favourite concert for choir lovers! Choirs in Concert brings together all the singers from the Side by Side music camp in a choir concert with over 300 young people on stage. With musicians from the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra and the Gothenburg Symphony Vocal Ensemble.
Side by Side 2026: Closing Concert
Closing gala concert in Gothenburg Concert Hall with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Gothenburg Symphony Vocal Ensemble and orchestras and choirs from advanced level at the Side by Side music camp. Hear masterpieces from the classical world performed by the stars of today and tomorrow.
How the camp started
“Let’s make a project together!” said our former chief conductor Gustavo Dudamel after we played a concert in Hammarkullen in 2009. So we did.
Together, we started a collaboration with the city of Gothenburg to establish El Sistema in Sweden. The model brought Gustavo Dudamel with him from Venezuela and in 2010 started the first El Sistema school in Hammarkullen by the Angered culture school. The initiative spread across the country and within a couple of years El Sistema was established in the rest of Sweden.
El Sistema is a global vision-driven music movement that gives children and young people the opportunity for positive development by playing and singing together in orchestra and choir. In Sweden, the function is mainly run via local music and culture schools. Through music, children and young people are given the tools to create dreams and goals with their own motivation.
“What you learn in an orchestra – practice, discipline and interaction – is what you need to create a good life for yourself outside of music as well.”
Gustavo Dudamel, world conductor and initiator of El Sistema Sweden
In 2014, the Side by Side music camp was developed as one of Gothenburg’s jubilee projects following a citizens’ proposal for a music Gothia Cup. The El Sistema Sweden foundation was tasked with conducting the camp and of course we in the Gothenburg Symphony were on board! During two intensive days, 565 children, young people and leaders gathered to sing and play side by side in central Gothenburg. Dinner, mingling and hanging out took place in a tent outside the Gothenburg Opera. The camp ended on the main stage of the Gothenburg Opera.
In 2015, Side by Side collaborated with KulturKRÄM and expanded the camp to include three orchestras, three choirs, visual arts, theatre, dance and film! 1000 participants gathered and held several concerts, including in Frihamnen as the opening of the Volvo Ocean Race. A gathering place for the camp was a huge tent in the Garden Association, and we in the Gothenburg Symphony were partners.
In 2016, we in the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra took over the organizing role for Side by Side and the camp was refined to a greater music focus. 1250 participants came to the camp divided into three orchestras and three choirs. We had a stage and meeting place at Hvitfeldtska’s schoolyard and for the first time carried out a Festival Concert with all the participants of the camp.
Side by Side has now existed for over ten years and has grown into one of the world’s largest orchestra and choir camps for children and young people. We look forward to many more camp years with returning campers and new curious ones who together find the joy and power that music can bring.
Side by Side creates meeting places where children and young people from different cultures and backgrounds can play and sing together, side by side with professional musicians. The camp promotes the spread of classical music and works for tolerance, cooperation and equality.
To the Side by Side-web
Develop your musicality with us
Musicians from Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, professional educators and singers inspire you in the Concert Hall - guaranteed energy injections for children and youth where you get to know even more people who love music.
