The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra plays a leading musical role in society at both a national and international level. Worldwide, the Orchestra ranks among those few leading institutions that set an example in the areas of performance and programming, recently reaffirmed by the announcement of the respected magazine Gramophone of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra as The World’s Greatest Orchestra.
The Orchestra acts as the main cultural ambassador for the Netherlands and sets much of the global cultural agenda with the performances it gives at the famous Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, its home base, as well as with some 40 yearly concerts at the most prestigious concert halls all around the world. Yearly the Orchestra performs at the world famous festivals of Salzburg, Lucerne and Berlin. Besides that the renowned halls of Vienna (Der Musikverein), Paris (Salle Pleyel), Brussels (BOZAR), Tokyo (Suntory Hall) and New York (Carnegie Hall) are visited frequently. The Orchestra has recently signed Residency agreements with the cities of Paris, London and Brussels from which will develop a series of annual concerts and educational projects and master classes with local schools and audiences.
The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra has had only seven principal conductors since it was founded 122 years ago: Willem Kes, Willem Mengelberg, Eduard van Beinum, Bernard Haitink, Ricardo Chailly, Mariss Jansons and from the 2016-2017 Danielle Gatti is the seventh chief conductor.
Premium quality continues to be the principal value of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, reflected in its world-class musicians, instruments, conductors, performances and audiences. The Orchestra has gained its unique international position with its ‘velvet’ strings, ‘golden’ brass and the exceptional and personal timbre of the woodwinds. The musicians are the guardians of the playing culture that gives the Orchestra its unique sound and flexibility. The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra consists of 120 virtuosos and top talents from over 25 nationalities who perform together at the highest level.
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra Academy
The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra Academy gives gifted young musicians, regardless of background or personal circumstances, the opportunity to participate in an orchestral training programme with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. The Orchestra is committed to giving young talented musicians from across the globe a life changing opportunity to realize their full potential through its Academy.
During this special course, Academy students a minimum of twelve weeks in the Orchestra alongside professional musicians, they are given one-on-one guidance on orchestral playing by orchestra members and in addition to that they receive private lessons from one of the principals. They also receive audition training, mental and physical training.
The Orchestra Academy was launched in 2003 and is the only course of its kind in the Netherlands. Apart from the unique experience of receiving intensive training and coaching from experienced musicians of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, the course gives young participants the precious opportunity to prepare themselves for the demanding profession of a performing musician. Furthermore, Academy students having successfully completed the course receive a certificate stating that they will be given priority at Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra auditions for a three-year period.
Academy students are not are not charged tuition fees and are paid a wage equal to that of substitute players. It is only with the support of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra’s generous supporters that the Academy is able to nurture the talent of future generations. The orchestra thanks the Dutch Masters for helping to support its Academy – the students of which contribute to our enjoyment of music across the world.
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