The Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg has appointed British social media personality Daria Challah as its new Creator in Residence for the 2025/26 season. Known for her Herbert Music accounts on Tik Tok and Instagram, Challah has built an online following of more than 100,000 users with short videos that connect classical music to wider cultural references, from hip-hop to film scores.
The Creator in Residence programme, launched by the Elbphilharmonie in 2023/24, was the first of its kind among concert halls worldwide. Previous residents included pianist and YouTuber Nahre Sol and Australian music influencer Derrick Gee, whose videos attracted millions of views.
During her residency, Challah will produce a series of video posts exploring the concert hall’s architecture and programming, introduce selected artists and festivals, and appear as host in one of the Elbphilharmonie’s podcasts. She will also travel regularly from her home in London to Hamburg to attend events throughout the season.
Among the highlights she has chosen to feature are concerts by Kian Soltani, Artist in Residence, and by South African cellist, singer and composer Abel Selaocoe in the Fast Lane series. Other programmes that stand out for her include a performance by French singer Zaho de Sagazan, concerts dedicated to Arvo Pärt, and a festival celebrating Egyptian icon Umm Kulthum.
Challah has described her mission as one of opening doors: “Classical music was a world that I discovered and learnt to appreciate on my own and I want to share this world with as many people as possible,” she said in a statement. “What I want to inspire in people is the confidence that this music is theirs to discover – no matter what prior knowledge they have, how old they are or where they come from.”
Challah also shared her excitement directly with her followers. In a video on Instagram, she described the appointment as a “dream come true”.
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