The Berliner Philharmoniker’s Karajan-Akademie enables musically talented young musicians to perfect their training together with members of the Berliner Philharmoniker. Since it was founded in the 1970s by Herbert von Karajan, who gave it its name, the academy has been supporting young orchestra musicians from all over the world. In individual lessons, orchestra rehearsals and concerts, the scholarship holders gain indispensable experience for their careers and learn professional discipline and concert routines in the best sense of the word. Career preparation seminars and their own concerts complement the training at the Karajan-Akademie.
For the Berliner Philharmoniker, the members of the Karajan-Akademie are a great asset: when applying for a position in their orchestra, it is not only instrumental ability and musicality that are decisive, but also a sound that fits in with the Berliner Philharmoniker. The scholarship holders are optimally prepared for this by the orchestra members and can thus become young professionals of the Berliner Philharmoniker who will continue the musical tradition. Around a third of the Berliner Philharmoniker’s musicians have emerged from the academy.
What does it mean to play in an orchestra? What skills do professional musicians need to learn?
The two-year training at the Karajan-Akademie, which is both a postgraduate course and an internship, teaches close listening and permanent and critical self-reflection. Inspired by the philharmonic pentagon, the training is based on five pillars:
The five pillars of our education programme
Regular individual lessons, mainly with the concertmasters of the Berliner Philharmoniker, convey the orchestra’s philosophy in addition to the special Philharmoniker playing style and sound ideal. Scholarship holders are encouraged to take responsibility for themselves and are motivated to set and achieve their own goals.
In the Carte blanche concert series, scholarship holders are given the opportunity to present themselves as soloists or in chamber music formations with a program of their choice and to expand their instrument-specific repertoire.
By regularly attending rehearsals and concerts of the Berliner Philharmoniker, the young musicians gain an insight into everyday life in the orchestra and experience first-hand what it means to be part of the orchestra collective. In addition, throughout the year, the Karajan-Akademie performs several concerts with renowned conductors. During the projects, the musicians work on the great standard repertoire of the Baroque, Classical, Romantic and Classical Modern periods.
As part of their training, the young musicians are prepared for upcoming auditions. This includes studying the literature as well as mentally preparing them for the challenging conditions of an audition situation.
In the Monday seminars, the scholarship holders are taught content from the fields of physio- and psychoprophylaxis, music philosophy, music law, marketing and dance, which prepares them for the challenges of a long and fulfilling life as a professional musician.
Free scholarships
Free scholarships are regularly advertised on our website.
Prerequisites
- Admission to the Karajan-Akademie usually takes place on September 1st, if necessary also during the concert season.
- The duration of training is two years, the first six months being a probationary period. The training ends early if a permanent position in an orchestra is taken up.
- Scholarship holders receive a scholarship of 1,100 euros per month.
- Each scholarship holder is responsible for their own health insurance.