Ahead of their highly anticipated performance at this year’s Dyke* Festival, we caught up with the formidable D-Dur Dykes*, the choir that’s redefining what it means to sing with pride in Berlin! Renowned as Europe’s largest FLINTA* choir, D-Dur Dykes* is not only filling venues but also dismantling stereotypes and belting out lesbian pop with unapologetic flair.
Choral music is experiencing a renaissance in Berlin, with groups spanning from gospel to queer pop, catering to a multitude of identities and aesthetics. However, few have resonated as deeply as D-Dur Dykes*, now proudly recognised as the largest ensemble in Europe for female, lesbian, intersex, non-binary, trans, and agender singers.
What inspired you to create the D-Dur Dykes* choir, and what do you hope to achieve through this community?
We, Chris and Terry, started dreaming about creating a lesbian pub choir — a group that would visit Berlin’s dyke* bars and sing lesbian anthems for the crowd. At first, we imagined gathering around 20–30 people; that felt like the most we could realistically bring together. But interest far exceeded our expectations, and before long, we were rehearsing with 100 members.
We quickly realized what a powerful opportunity this choir could be for the dyke* community to grow closer. Our aim is to make an impact on an individual level, offering a space for healing and thriving, while also driving politically relevant change through media attention.
What types of music does the D-Dur Dykes* choir focus on?
We exclusively sing queer and lesbian pop — celebrating art from within our own community, performing songs we can relate to, and making queer pop music more visible.
Your first performance included a guest appearance by lesbian rapper Ebow and supported the organisation ‘the right to sing.’ Why was it important for you to connect your choir’s performances to broader social issues?
We are a queer-feminist choir. Being queer is political. Being feminist means fighting intersectional battles. No one is free until all of us are free.
In what ways does the choir plan to continue its social impact initiatives in the future?
We will be as loud as possible, singing our political beliefs into the world. With a large and engaged audience on social media, we have the opportunity to expand Dyke* visibility worldwide through TikToks and reels — combining fun with education.
You mentioned the importance of creating a queer community. How does the choir facilitate connections among its members?
Building connections in a 200-person choir isn’t easy, so we create opportunities for members to bond through BBQs, picnics, choir trips, and other community events.
Why do you think music, specifically choral singing, is a powerful tool for fostering community and connection among marginalised genders and orientations?
Using your own voice is both intimate and empowering. Finding your voice in harmony with others helps us collectively heal and strengthen our community bonds. Voices are identities — they can be discovered, reshaped, and reclaimed. And who better to take that journey with than other queers whose voices have too often been silenced?
What challenges have you faced in establishing the choir and its identity as a Flinta* space, and how have you navigated those?
The term Flinta is still used by some spaces that follow a cis-normative ideology, which we strongly reject. Trans* people belong in our community, and our doors remain open to everyone under the Flinta umbrella. We are also committed to making our choir more accessible for BIPOC, Flintas with disabilities, and Flintas* aged 50+, because we know our community cannot thrive without diversity and accessibility.
What has been one of the most memorable moments for you since founding the D-Dur Dykes* choir?
One of our most touching experiences is seeing people travel to Berlin just to watch us perform — sometimes standing front row with homemade signs reading: “A day without D-Dur Dykes* is a day without sunshine.”
Looking ahead, what are your aspirations for the D-Dur Dykes* choir? Are there particular projects or performances you are excited about?
We are excited to host another one-day festival on October 12th to raise funds for gender-affirming surgeries — and, of course, to perform as much as possible.
How do you see the choir evolving over time, and what role do you hope it will play within the larger queer community?
The potential for this project is limitless. We don’t yet know exactly where it will lead, but as our reach grows, we feel a tremendous leap of Dyke* renaissance is just ahead.
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