Academy of the Concertgebouw Orchestra enters twentieth season

The Academy of the Concertgebouw Orchestra is celebrating its twentieth anniversary. Since the 2002–3 season, the Academy has successfully moulded talented young musicians into orchestral players of the highest calibre. Most of the now 106 former Academy students have gone on to join professional orchestras. Indeed, no fewer than fourteen of them are now fully fledged members of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. The twentieth anniversary is being celebrated this season with events including a concert in the Recital Hall of The Concertgebouw featuring this season’s participants performing alongside former students. 

In recent years, the number of Academy students has increased each season. This year, twelve talented young musicians have embarked on their season as Academy students with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra:   

Nadia Ettinger - violin 

Pablo Flores Regidor - violin 

Cord Koss - violin 

Michael Nodel - violin 

Noemí Fúnez Palencia - viola 

Francisco Javier Rodas Sánchez - viola 

Izak Hudnik – cello 

Marie Velin Langlamet - cello 

Sasha Witteveen – double bass 

Maria Muñoz Zaragoza - oboe 

Emile Souvagie – clarinet 

Gerard Sánchez Safont – French horn 

  

The Academy of the Concertgebouw Orchestra 

Academy students take part in orchestral productions and are supported by members of the orchestra for an entire concert season (from September to June). They also take lessons, participate in workshops and training courses (including training in audition techniques) and give chamber music concerts at various venues. Further, the Academy students learn to apply their knowledge and skills during a three-day education project at the VISIO School for children who are partially sighted or blind. 

By the end of the Academy season, participants will have built up extensive knowledge and experience working as orchestral musicians. 

The Academy is the Concertgebouw Orchestra’s bridge between the conservatory and the professional music world, while also serving as a pool from which the Concertgebouw Orchestra itself can draw. The students are initiated into, and trained in the tradition of, the orchestra’s culture and master the very specific ensemble playing required, which involves taking responsibility, having confidence, listening to one another and taking risks. 

 

Support 

The Academy is fully funded by Foundation Concertgebouworkest, which sources donations from such entities as Ammodo, the Dutch Masters Foundation, the Swiss Friends of the Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Don Quixote Foundation, De Salon, private donors and a number of commemorative funds.