Ever since its founding in 1987 by Leonard Bernstein, the international Orchestral Academy of the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival has enjoyed a superb reputation world-wide. It forms the centrepiece of the educational work performed by the great classical music festival held in the north of Germany. However, with the concerts of its Festival Orchestra it does not only delight audiences in Schleswig-Holstein, but also on concert tours to Europe's musical centres.

The Musical Work

Every year, an international youth orchestra is formed by the Orchestral Academy: Young musicians from all over the world are given the opportunity to study and perform great works from the orchestral literature with famous conductors. The works are first read in section rehearsals under the guidance of experienced teachers (e. g. from the Munich Philharmonic, the NDR Symphony Orchestra and the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra) and then studied intensively with the current conductor in two or three rehearsals a day with the entire orchestra.


Rendsburg

This lively old town is situated one hour north of Hamburg between the river Eider and the Kiel Canal (Nord-Ostsee-Kanal). The “Nordkolleg Academy” with its beautiful gardens and perfect facilities for accommodation and sectional rehearsals offers an ideal situation for a lively campus atmosphere. The tutti rehearsals will take place in the inspiring surrounding of the “Nord Art”, one of Europeans biggest exhibition for contemporary art.
In Rendsburg, young people from around the world not only grow together as an orchestra, but they also form a social community. The experience of mutual understanding, the basic attitudes of respect and tolerance and the awareness that the world has become smaller in more ways than simply in terms of music – all these lie close to the heart of the Orchestral Academy.


The Grant

For the Orchestral Academy 2011, excellent young musicians are again being encouraged to submit applications for participation. After a successful audition, each musician will receive a grant to cover travel*, bed and board and tuition expenses.

*Travel expenses will be paid from and to the place of study. The lowest rates for rail travel will be paid for travel from within Germany and from the immediate European surroundings. The Orchestral Academy will book flights on Lufthansa for travel from and to other countries.