Orchestral Academy

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 university 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 Czech Philharmonic Orchestra 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.

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.

Content of the 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 tribal players who help them study parts and pass on their extensive playing experience.

In addition to participating in the Czech Philharmonic's subscription series concerts, members of the Orchestral Academy are also regularly involved in projects organised by the Czech Philharmonic's Educational Programmes Department - they have the opportunity to regularly attend concerts of the Czech Student Philharmonic Orchestra, which are intended for both classical 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.

Length and range of study

Each Orchestra Academy member 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 Philharmonic Orchestra.

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 Orchestra, which serves as proof of proper completion of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestral Academy.

Individual lessons

Members of the Academy are guided by leading players of the Czech Philharmonic in the study of orchestral parts and in preparation for rehearsals and concerts. Each participant is entitled to four hours of individual tuition per month.

Rewarding

Members of the Orchestral Academy are rewarded 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 Orchestra. 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.

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