About us and our impact

Who we are, where we come from and what our work achieves.

Who we are

Musik Brunnen gGmbH is a non-profit, intercultural music initiative based in Detmold. Through musical dialogue we promote integration, interculturality and internationality. By combining different cultures and instruments, above all Western and Eastern ones in an international line-up, we show how music creates mutual inspiration and understanding.

Our mission

We use the universal language of music to build lasting bridges between cultures, regardless of nationality, faith or origin. We are convinced that people who listen to one another, musically and in general, achieve more together and can overcome political and ideological divides.

Our story

In 1819 Goethe published his “West-Eastern Divan”, a collection of poems that reflects his conviction that different cultures can meet and understand one another across borders. Inspired by it, the German-Azerbaijani composer, musicologist and organist Dr. Khadija Zeynalova founded the Bridge of Sound Ensemble in 2017.

Since 2017 the ensemble has performed in many places in East Westphalia-Lippe and across Germany, founded the annual Harmony of Sound music festival in 2021 and released three CDs. In 2025 we founded Musik Brunnen gGmbH as the new legal home of this work, to professionalise it and secure it for the long term. The ensemble’s earlier activities were carried by Bridge of Sound e.V., which continues to exist; its activities are gradually transferring to Musik Brunnen gGmbH.

Western and Eastern instruments side by side

Impact

In numbers

Over 50 concerts since 2017, in East Westphalia-Lippe, across Germany and abroad
5 festival editions featuring music from 5 countries
3 CDs released in Germany and the USA
12 TV and radio broadcasts, including Deutschlandfunk and RBB Kultur

Milestones

2017
Ensemble founded; first concert on 26 September at Theater Gütersloh
2019
First radio broadcast on Deutschlandfunk (10 August)
2020
Four online concerts during the pandemic, the first on 27 March
2021
First Harmony of Sound festival (Azerbaijan)
2022
Chamber orchestra concert in Berlin; Harmony of Sound dedicated to Ukraine
2023
Harmony of Sound dedicated to Argentina
2024
First appearances outside Germany, in Italy and Japan; Harmony of Sound dedicated to Cuba
2025
Musik Brunnen gGmbH founded; Harmony of Sound dedicated to Brazil

Management

Dr. Khadija Zeynalova

Managing Director · Artistic Director

Dr. Khadija Zeynalova is a multiple award-winning German-Azerbaijani composer, musicologist and organist. Based in Detmold, she founded the intercultural Bridge of Sound Ensemble in 2017 and is founder, curator and Artistic Director of the Harmony of Sound festival. As Managing Director she runs Musik Brunnen gGmbH together with Emil Zeynalov.

She studied composition and music theory at the Baku Music Academy (Bachelor 1998, Master 2000) and at the Detmold University of Music, and earned a doctorate in musicology at the University of Paderborn. She held scholarships from the DAAD and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, received artist grants from the State of North Rhine-Westphalia and the Musikfonds as well as state honours from the Republic of Azerbaijan, and was Artist in Residence of the Klosterlandschaft OWL in 2024.

Her works are published by Donemus Publishing, Laurentius-Verlag, Edition Avantus and other publishers, and have been performed in countries all over the world. Her music portfolio ranges from solo works to symphonic works, including film and theatre music productions. Interculturality, internationality and integration are closest to her heart. More about her work: khadijazeynalova.com

We believe that people who listen to one another – musically and in general – achieve more together and can overcome political and ideological divides.Dr. Khadija Zeynalova

Emil Zeynalov, MBA

Managing Director

Emil Zeynalov is a financial professional and entrepreneur and a passionate culture advocate. He founded Musik Brunnen gGmbH together with his sister, Dr. Khadija Zeynalova, and runs it as Managing Director.

He brings more than 16 years of international experience in finance, planning and management reporting, including at EY, the Royal Bank of Scotland and Barclays. He holds an MBA from the University of Liverpool (with distinction) and a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Baku State University.

With this experience he wants to give the artistic work a reliable foundation, so that its impact can keep growing over the long term.

Music has a unique ability to bring people together. We want to use this to bring not just people but cultures together.Emil Zeynalov