Häufig gestellte Fragen zum Probespiel

Vacancies

All free places in the Karajan-Akademie der Berliner Philharmoniker e.V. are announced on our website. If an instrument is not mentioned, there is currently no vacancy for it.

Application

You may send your application materials either by post or email. Please note that we will process only complete applications. These must include:

  1. Cover letter
  2. Copy of conservatory diploma/post-secondary music degree or certificate of registration/enrolment/matriculation
  3. Passport photo
  4. <link file:59 download>Application form

An automatic confirmation of receipt will be sent for email applications. No confirmation of receipt will be provided for postal applications.

Application deadline

Applications will be accepted up to six weeks before the audition. The exact date is given in the Internet. Later applications can only be processed if there is an opening left to be filled.

Language

You may apply to the Karajan Academy in German or English. German is generally spoken in the orchestra.

Invitation

Once the application deadline is past, the participants in the audition will be selected by the Berliner Philharmoniker. Invitations or rejections will then be sent by post as well as email. (It will unfortunately not be possible to deal with enquiries before the application deadline.) Invited applicants must notify the Karajan Academy no later than a week before the audition if they will be taking part; otherwise they will not be included in the list of participants.

Alternative dates

It will not be possible to arrange an alternative date for individual candidates.

Audition pieces

  1. Set pieces: The prescribed works listed in the announcement and invitation are to be prepared completely.
  2. Pieces of your choice: The Karajan Academy must be notified of your choice of pieces no later than a week before the audition.

Piano accompaniment

All auditions are accompanied by a répétiteur engaged by the Karajan Academy. If you would prefer to bring along your own accompanist, please let the Karajan Academy know this in advance.

Piano pitch

The piano is tuned to 443 Hz.

Parts

Music for the set pieces is available to the piano accompanist. Please bring music for the pieces of your choice in internationally familiar, standard editions.

Warm-up opportunities

The possibilities for warming up in the Philharmonie are limited. Break-out (group) rooms will be made available no later than an hour before the audition begins. Room allocation is handled by the porter. The auditoriums are available only during the actual audition.

Procedure

The Karajan Academy’s auditions last roughly three to four hours and are divided into at least two rounds. In the first round, portions of the set piece are performed. Following a meeting by the jury, the participants in the second round will be announced.

Video recordings/Audio documentation

Audio-visual recordings may not be substituted for participation in the audition.

Auditors

It will not be possible to bring auditors/guests.