Orchestrální akademie
Orchestral Academy — adventurous, challenging, for life!
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The project is implemented with the financial participation of the EU through the National Restoration Plan and the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic.
History
The Prague Philharmonia Orchestral Academy was founded in 2008 as the very first project of its kind in the Czech Republic. Each year, the orchestra welcomes 12 to 14 young, talented musicians into its family. The players help them gain quality orchestral experience and enthusiastically pass on the fundamentals of the playing philosophy: precision, a sense of teamwork and detail, artistic humility, friendship, and respect.
From the very beginning, members of the Orchestral Academy are involved in artistic projects. They perform concerts not only in the Czech Republic but also abroad, have the opportunity to perform in chamber music series, and participate in recording projects.
The very first year of the Orchestral Academy was met with a huge wave of interest. Just a year later, in 2009, several of its members took part in the unique YouTube Symphony Orchestra project. Two of them – Jakub Fišer and Ondřej Martinovský – performed under the baton of conductor M. Tilson Thomas together with ninety other selected musicians from around the world at Carnegie Hall in New York.
In 2023, many of the participants of the Orchestral Academy took part in the recording project of Krzysztof Penderecki's compositions with flutist Stathis Karapanos (Warner Classics). In the same year, they also participated in the album The Great Puccini by tenor Jonathan Tetelman for Deutsche Grammophon, which was enthusiastically received by both experts and the general public. The students of the Orchestral Academy are a new influx of energy for the orchestra and a guarantee that the Prague Philharmonia will remain a symbol of youth and enthusiasm for music.
Accept our challenge …
Become a member of the Orchestral Academy! Read more about the terms and conditions of study below.
We look forward to seeing you!
For whom is the project intended?
Students of secondary and higher music schools and graduates whose attained music education is completed with a secondary school or university level graduation or absolutorium, from the Czech Republic, EU states, and other countries, aged 18 to 30 years. The basis for a successful audition is the artistic prerequisites for performing in the Prague Philharmonia or another orchestra of similar quality.
Project organiser
The Orchestral Academy is organized by PKF - Prague Philharmonia, o.p.s.
The project is supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic.
Members of the Orchestral Academy 2023-2024
Michaela Blažková - flute, Klára Dohnalová - French horn, Martin Dostál - violin, Natálie Hrdová - clarinet, Jakub Hřebíček - percussion, Veronika Hubinová - clarinet, Jakub Janíček - double bass, Iva Jindřišková - trumpet, Štěpán Jinek - bassoon, Klára Klánská - violin, Kamila Kolářová - French horn, Marie Krämerová Hynková - viola, Andrej Lekeš - cello, Vít Rafael Matyska - percussion, Arseny Menkov - oboe, Eliška Michálková - flute, Sofia Mikula - violin, Riko Nakagawa - violin, Tomáš Pavíček - trombone, Šimon Pudlovský - trombone, Antonín Soukup - bassoon, Barbora Sulková - violin, David Ševčík - trumpet, Milada Šulcová - violin
Lecturers
Jiří Ševčík - flute, Zdeněk Vašina - French horn, Romana Špačková - violin, Jindřich Pavliš - clarinet, Ivan Hoznedr - percussion, Pavel Klečka - double bass, Svatopluk Zaal - trumpet, Václav Fürbach - bassoon, Stanislav Svoboda - viola, Lukáš Pospíšil - cello, Jan Adam - violin, Miloslav Vrba - violin, Stanislav Penk - trombone, Jan Souček - oboe
Scholarship and other benefits
Scholarship
Membership in the Orchestral Academy is free of charge for students; the orchestra covers the students' tuition fees and grants a scholarship. In the 2024–2025 season, the total scholarship amount for one student is 40,000 CZK / 10 months (divided into monthly payments); the orchestra has the right to change the amount of the scholarship for serious reasons. The payment of the scholarship is conditional on active participation in the course and the orchestra's terms and conditions.
Other Benefits
The orchestra may offer students the opportunity to participate in studio recordings; in such cases, the student is entitled to a fee. The participation of an orchestral academy member in other projects (e.g., concerts of subscription series K or S) is also remunerated. Beyond the scope of mandatory orchestral practice and upon meeting the artistic standard, an academy member may be approached for further cooperation as an extra.
We do not provide accommodation in Prague for orchestral academy students, nor do we cover any costs associated with it or expenses for individual transportation to the orchestra's headquarters. Membership in the academy also does not include the right to free entry to the orchestra's premises, provision of concert attire or financial compensation for the use of one's own attire, provision of an instrument or its parts owned by the orchestra (or the PKF Foundation), or financial compensation for the use of one's own instrument.
Membership Terms and Conditions
Qualifications
Musicians from the Czech Republic, EU states, and other countries who have reached the age of 18 and have not exceeded 30 years of age as of September 1 in the year of the course commencement, and whose attained music education is completed with a secondary school or university level graduation or absolutorium in the Czech Republic or abroad, can apply for the audition. The orchestra does not arrange residency and other formalities associated with the artist's participation in the course.
Selection process
Applicants have the opportunity to perform in the Prague Philharmonia Orchestral Academy and receive a one-year scholarship based on an audition announced by the Prague Philharmonia. The orchestra decides on the admission of members to the Orchestral Academy. It is not obliged to fill the position for which the audition is announced, nor is it obliged to implement the OA project.
Applications
The Prague Philharmonia informs about auditions for the next year on its website and Facebook page. There is no specific form issued for applying to the Orchestral Academy audition.
Study Program
During the course, students go through a comprehensive educational program that includes 2× 45 minutes of individual part instruction per month under the guidance of concertmasters and leading players of the Prague Philharmonia. At the same time, the players undergo orchestral practice in the form of artistic participation in Prague Philharmonia projects on domestic and international stages, in chamber and contemporary music concerts, and are involved in recording projects and a number of other activities, such as seminars with soloists, conductors, or other internationally renowned guest artists.
Termination of Membership
The course may be terminated by the orchestra if the student's lack of interest becomes apparent or if it comes to light that the student does not meet the artistic criteria. If the applicant has already completed the OA course and if a vacancy for the given instrument is announced for the following season, they may apply for the selection process (the OA can be completed a maximum of three times). The upper age limit also remains a restriction for entering the academy.
