OstBahnGroove: Munich's Pop and Jazz Choir with Groove, Precision, and Stage Magic

A choir that brings A cappella to life

OstBahnGroove represents a young, energetic, and highly precise form of choral music from Munich. The mixed pop and jazz choir was founded in 2015 by Agnes Haßler and has since established itself with a distinct signature in the Munich A cappella scene. The ensemble combines musical virtuosity with a modern, open concert aesthetic and perceives choral singing as a vibrant, narrative art form. ([ostbahngroove.de](https://www.ostbahngroove.de/about-1/?utm_source=openai))

The artistic DNA: Pop, Jazz, and an adventurous A cappella culture

OstBahnGroove works with a repertoire that transforms jazz, funk, and pop music into its own arrangements. The choir relies on beatboxing, amplified bass, and body percussion to create rhythmic sharpness, sonic depth, and an immediate live effect. This connection of vocal precision, groove, and sonic diversity makes the ensemble a representative of the international A cappella development that productively merges tradition and modernity. ([ostbahngroove.de](https://www.ostbahngroove.de/about-1/?utm_source=openai))

The musical orientation is not just a stylistic mix, but a conscious concept. OstBahnGroove sees itself as an adventurous choir project that works with dynamics, rhythm, and sound design, staging each piece as a small scene. This results in a choir profile that significantly distinguishes itself from traditional amateur choirs and occupies an independent position in the realm of modern choral music. ([ostbahngroove.de](https://www.ostbahngroove.de/about-1/?utm_source=openai))

Agnes Haßler and the founding in 2015

The musical direction is led by Agnes Haßler, born Schlaghaufer, who studied music education with a focus on ear training at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Munich. While still studying, she sang with the Munich choir Voices in Time, was part of the acapella band Elevator Pitch, and founded OstBahnGroove in the fall of 2015. This biography shows a development arising from practical ensemble experience, supported by solid training and a clear passion for vocal popular music. ([ostbahngroove.de](https://www.ostbahngroove.de/crew/?utm_source=openai))

Haßler focused early on continuing education in pop and jazz choral conducting as well as in the international A cappella scene. Coaching sessions and festivals with recognized names such as Jesper Holm, Oliver Gies, Patrick Oliver, Morten Vinther, and Christine Fries highlight how strongly the choir relies on exchange, methodological work, and continuous development. This openness to impulses explains why OstBahnGroove not only sings but also evolves audibly. ([ostbahngroove.de](https://www.ostbahngroove.de/crew/?utm_source=openai))

The breakthrough: Competitions, awards, and recognition

The choir's biggest success to date came in 2023 with winning the German Choir Competition in the "Jazz and Pop Choir" category. Particularly impressive: With 24.2 out of 25 possible points, OstBahnGroove achieved the highest score of the entire competition. Previously, the ensemble had already qualified for the national competition with second place and the designation "excellent success" at the 11th Bavarian Choir Competition in 2022, winning a special prize of a CD recording with Bayerischer Rundfunk. ([ostbahngroove.de](https://www.ostbahngroove.de/about-1/?utm_source=openai))

The jury also praised the choir significantly, highlighting "extraordinary motivation, technique, dynamics, and interpretation" as well as the "very remarkable repertoire." Such phrases in the competitive context are more than friendly recognition: they mark an ensemble that places emphasis on technical discipline and artistic maturity. OstBahnGroove thereby connects high performance standards and audience impact in a remarkably stable manner. ([ostbahngroove.de](https://www.ostbahngroove.de/about-1/?utm_source=openai))

Concerts, rehearsal work, and musical development

The choir is not only present in competitions but regularly performs live as well. On its concert page, OstBahnGroove documents appearances in Munich, Freiburg, and other locations; additional performances and anniversary concerts are slated for 2025 and 2026, including the major 10th anniversary on July 18, 2026, in Munich. This continuity reflects a music career built on presence, repertoire development, and public visibility. ([ostbahngroove.de](https://www.ostbahngroove.de/konzerte/?utm_source=openai))

The rehearsal work is not secondary, but rather a driving force for artistic development. According to choir information, OstBahnGroove rehearses regularly, focusing on timing, intonation, and complex grooves, and places value on making music together at a high level. Especially in the A cappella realm, this discipline determines sound quality, stage presence, and the impression an ensemble leaves in the space. ([ostbahngroove.de](https://www.ostbahngroove.de/crew/mitsingen-suche/?utm_source=openai))

Discography: two released albums and a clear sound

OstBahnGroove has two released albums in its catalog: Gleis 1 and Gleis 2. The releases are not just recordings, but resonant documents of a musical signature that positions the choir as an innovative A cappella ensemble. On the shop page, the choir itself refers to these two CDs and describes them as a collection of its own songs and stage work. ([ostbahngroove.de](https://www.ostbahngroove.de/shop/?utm_source=openai))

Particularly, Gleis 1 marks the early phase of the choir with a clear profile of beatboxing, amplified bass, and solo voices. Gleis 2 builds on this and showcases the further developments of the group following the successes of the competitive years. The discography remains small but focused: less mass than class, less randomness than a carefully constructed sound picture. ([ostbahngroove.de](https://www.ostbahngroove.de/shop/?utm_source=openai))

Stylistics and arrangements: why OstBahnGroove sounds different

The distinctive OBG sound arises from the interplay of arrangement, rhythmic work, and vocal texture. The choir members utilize the full range of possible sounds, from soft, breathy pianissimo to powerful forte passages, and combine this with body percussion and percussive effects. Thus, the choir does not appear static but rhythmically alive and dramaturgically precise. ([ostbahngroove.de](https://www.ostbahngroove.de/about-1/?utm_source=openai))

Also essential is the approach of understanding original arrangements as "tailor-made uniques." This phrasing points to a high demand for musical individuality: the focus is not merely on reproducing well-known templates but on the independent interpretation of jazz, funk, and pop songs. This is where the ensemble's strength lies: the arrangements carry the identity of the choir while simultaneously creating recognition for the audience. ([ostbahngroove.de](https://www.ostbahngroove.de/about-1/?utm_source=openai))

Cultural influence and relevance in the scene

OstBahnGroove has now become a firm part of the Munich A cappella scene. The name references Ostbahnhof, near which the first rehearsal spaces were located, thus also anchoring the ensemble geographically in the city's history. This combination of urban origins, young ensemble culture, and growing renown makes the choir particularly interesting for the regional music landscape. ([ostbahngroove.de](https://www.ostbahngroove.de/about-1/?utm_source=openai))

Moreover, the choir's work illustrates how contemporary choral music positions itself today: close to popular genres, open to technical innovations, and simultaneously high-quality in musical demands. OstBahnGroove exemplifies a generation of choirs that does not pit entertainment against artistic quality but productively combines both. The result is a form of choral art that remains culturally relevant and musically sophisticated. ([ostbahngroove.de](https://www.ostbahngroove.de/about-1/?utm_source=openai))

Conclusion: A choir with attitude, energy, and a future

OstBahnGroove impresses with precision, groove, and a strong artistic identity. The choir has evolved from a young formation in Munich into an award-winning A cappella ensemble that convincingly combines competitive successes, concert practice, and stylistic independence. For those seeking modern choral music with a pop and jazz flair, high quality, and noticeable stage energy, they will find an ensemble with a true profile here. ([ostbahngroove.de](https://www.ostbahngroove.de/about-1/?utm_source=openai))

Especially live, OstBahnGroove reveals its full strength: then the artistry of arrangements, sense of rhythm, and collective presence immediately engage with the audience. Anyone who experiences the choir on stage quickly understands why this sound stands out in the A cappella scene. A concert by OstBahnGroove is worth it for all who want to experience choral music as an engaging, modern, and thrilling art form. ([ostbahngroove.de](https://www.ostbahngroove.de/about-1/?utm_source=openai))

Official channels of OstBahnGroove:

Instagram: no official profile found
Facebook: no official profile found
YouTube: no official profile found
Spotify: no official profile found
TikTok: no official profile found

OstBahnGroove