The RIAS Kammerchor (RIAS Chamber Choir) is a German choir based in Berlin, Germany. It receives support from the Rundfunk Orchester und Chöre GmbH Berlin ("Berlin Radio Orchestra and Choirs"), a limited-liability company owned by the public broadcasters Deutschlandradio (40%) and RBB (5%), the German Federal Republic (35%), and the State of Berlin (20%). 　　Originally known as the Rundfunkchor des RIAS, the choir was founded in 1948 by the US-run German-language radio station Rundfunk im amerikanischen Sektor ("Broadcasting in the American Sector") – hence its name, which it has retained even though RIAS itself was wound up in 1993, following German reunification. 　　Although founded as principally the choir of a regional radio station, the RIAS Kammerchor quickly established for itself a national and international reputation. Among its founders' aims was the promotion of contemporary musical composition, and besides performing the standard repertoire, the choir has premiered many works by contemporary composers, including a number specifically dedicated to the RIAS Kammerchor. The choir participated in the opening concert of the Berliner Philharmonie. 　　Between 1947 and 1952 the choir recorded works by Bach with Karl Ristenpart, 68 cantatas, the Christmas Oratorio, and the St John Passion. 　　The RIAS Kammerchor has collaborated with the Berlin Philharmonic and RIAS-Symphonie-Orchester (Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra) first with conductors such as Ferenc Fricsay, Karl Böhm, Herbert von Karajan and Lorin Maazel, later with Claudio Abbado, James Levine and Daniel Barenboim.