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The Czech Philharmonic, like other leading orchestras around the world, is interested in educating the next generation of top musicians who may join its ranks in the future. That is why the Orchestral Academy has been established at the Czech Philharmonic since the 2012/2013 season. Its members are involved in rehearsals, concerts, recording projects and tours of the Czech Philharmonic, playing educational and chamber concerts, learning from leading orchestra players and gaining invaluable experience for their future profession.
Members of the Orchestral Academy
About the Orchestral Academy programme
The opportunity to broaden their education and gain valuable experience in the academy of the first Czech orchestra is especially available to students and graduates of secondary and higher music schools, both from the Czech Republic and abroad.
The programme focuses mainly on orchestral playing, but also provides opportunities for development in chamber music and educational programmes.
The inclusion of young talented musicians in the orchestra of the Czech Philharmonic brings with it many new impulses for the further functioning of this musical ensemble. By founding its own academy, the Czech Philharmonic subscribes to the long tradition of high-quality music education in the Czech Republic and believes that this will contribute to its further development.
Information
Conditions of admission
The condition for admission to the Czech Philharmonic Orchestral Academy is successful completion of the audition. The Orchestral Academy is open to musicians between the ages of 18 and 26 (age on the date of the audition is decisive).
Current positions can be found in the Auditions section.
Auditions
Current positions can be found in the Auditions section.
Content of the study programme
The programme of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestral Academy is focused on intensive development in orchestral playing - members of the Academy participate in rehearsals, concerts, tours and recording projects of the Czech Philharmonic under the guidance of world-leading conductors. Academy members have the opportunity to prepare for individual projects under the guidance of Czech Philharmonic core players, who help them study parts and pass on their extensive playing experience.
In addition to participating in concerts within the Czech Philharmonic subscription series, members of the Orchestral Academy are also regularly involved in projects organized by the Czech Philharmonic's Education Programmes Department - they have the opportunity to regularly attend concerts of the Czech Youth Philharmonic, which are intended for both traditional and student audiences, and thus further deepen their orchestral practice. Development in chamber music is realized through concerts organized in cooperation with the Czech Chamber Music Society.
Duration and scope of the programme
Each member of the Orchestral Academy is expected to participate for two concert seasons, each of which usually begins in September and ends in June. The study is completed by graduation.
During each concert season, Orchestral Academy members participate in up to 100 orchestral frequencies in Prague and on tour, 1-2 Czech Student Philharmonic subscription series projects, and the Orchestral Academy Chamber Concert organized by the Czech Chamber Music Society.
Beyond these activities, members of the Academy may also participate in other projects organised by the Czech Philharmonic.
After completing two years of study at the Czech Philharmonic Orchestral Academy, each participant will receive a certificate issued by the Czech Philharmonic, which serves as proof of proper completion of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestral Academy.
Individual tuition
The members of the Academy are guided by leading players of the Czech Philharmonic in the study of orchestral excerpts and in preparation for rehearsals and concerts. Each participant is entitled to four hours of individual tuition per month.
Graduation
After completing the Academy’s two-year programme, each student will receive a certificate issued by the Czech Philharmonic, recording their graduation from the Orchestral Academy of the Czech Philharmonic.
Remuneration
Members of the Orchestral Academy are remunerated with CZK 750 per orchestral frequency played, i.e. up to CZK 75,000 per concert season, depending on the number of frequencies played with the Czech Philharmonic. Participation in educational and chamber projects is paid separately.
The rights and obligations of the members of the Orchestral Academy are regulated by the Orchestral Academy Participation Agreement. There is no employment relationship between OA members and the Czech Philharmonic. The Czech Philharmonic does not provide health insurance coverage for Orchestral Academy participants - they are responsible for fulfilling all of their tax and other similar obligations at their own expense.
The Czech Philharmonic does not provide or reimburse any accommodation in Prague or any travel expenses for members of the Orchestral Academy. Members of the Academy are also not entitled to the provision of concert attire or instruments or parts thereof.
Concerts and projects
The members of the Orchestral Academy are involved in a number of other projects and concerts in addition to regular performances at almost all concerts of the Czech Philharmonic. The most important of these are the performances of the Czech Youth Philharmonic within the subscription series of the Czech Philharmonic and the Chamber Concert of the OA members.
Thanks to the Czech Philharmonic's long-standing cooperation with the Royal Academy of Music (RAM) in London, members of the Orchestral Academy also have the opportunity to undertake short-term study placements at this prestigious educational institution in London and to meet students from the RAM at Czech Philharmonic concerts in Prague. Through these activities, the Czech Philharmonic seeks to further assist the musical development of young professionals and contribute to the quality of music education in the Czech Republic.
Cooperation with the Royal Academy of Music in London
In the 2023/2024 season, the Czech Philharmonic will launch a brand new programme with the Royal Academy of Music in London, focusing on education and cultural exchange between members of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestral Academy and students of the Royal Academy of Music. The project has been made possible with the kind financial support of the Gage Foundation under the Semyon Bychkov Educational Enhancement Fund.
This exchange programme will provide selected students from the Royal Academy of Music in London and members of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestral Academy with a unique opportunity to gain access to a completely new musical environment, make contacts and gain valuable experience that is crucial to launching a professional musical career. During the initial two-year pilot programme, eight students from the Royal Academy of Music will be sent to Prague, followed by eight members of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestral Academy coming to London a year later.
Students from the Royal Academy of Music will come to Prague in February 2024 to perform a concert programme alongside players from the Czech Philharmonic consisting of works by Gustav Mahler, Arthur Honegger and Ondřej Kukal, and will perform three concerts at the Rudolfinum on 14, 15 and 16 February 2024 under the baton of Jakub Hrůša. In the following season 2024/2025, the members of the Orchestral Academy will take part in a week-long residency at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where they will receive individual lessons from local teachers, participate in an orchestral project with local students and take part in masterclasses organised by the Royal Academy of Music.
Contact
Tereza Dudková
Orchestra Personnel Manager
The partner of the development of young talents is Bonatrans.