The Bundesjugendorchester (BJO), founded in 1969 by the German Music Council, is a central institution for the promotion of music. Young musicians between the ages of 14 and 19 inspire audiences with their talent, skills and passion for music. With concerts worldwide the BJO acts as a cultural ambassador for Germany. 

Many of the more than 2,500 former members now work as orchestral musicians, lecturers or professors. Eighteen former members play with the Berliner Philharmoniker alone. International soloists such as Sabine Meyer (clarinet) and Tabea Zimmermann (viola) gained their first experience in the National Youth Orchestra.

Since 2018, Deka has been supporting the BJO and facilitating musical education at the highest level. It enables young people whose families need financial support to take part in concert tours and supports the orchestra in the purchase of instruments, which are given to the young members.

The partnership complements the long-standing tradition of the Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe, which has been supporting “Jugend musiziert”, the most important competition for young classical musicians in Germany, since 1969.

Since 1986, the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival (SHMF) has been held every summer at various venues in Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg, southern Denmark and northern Lower Saxony. With around 200 concerts, the SHMF brings music directly to the people in over 90 places: magnificent manor houses, historic stables, picturesque churches, imposing shipyards and industrial plants are brought to life with music. 

The SHMF is one of the largest classical music festivals in Europe. This festival summer, Istanbul is the city focus. Further information and the full program can be found on the SHMF website. Its sponsorship is a joint effort by institutions of the Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe, including Deka since 2020.

A highlight for young, internationally acclaimed musicians is the Leonard Bernstein Award, which is presented by the Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe since 2002. Most recently, the Japanese pianist Hayato Sumino received the Leonard Bernstein Award. The young musician not only impresses with his brilliant technique, but also with his great expressiveness.

The Zukunft Klassik e.V. association, founded in 2021, is specifically committed to providing up-and-coming musical talent with regular performance opportunities as part of the Rheingau Music Festival. The association supports concert organizers from the field of classical music in the realization of such projects. These projects supported by Zukunft Klassik e.V. also include the BJO of the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival and a series of selected music education performances for children and families.

Deka has supported Zukunft Klassik e.V. every year in the festival season since 2022. The association sponsors numerous concerts by youth orchestras and independent ensembles during the Rheingau Music Festival.