BERLIN OPERA ACADEMY

BERLIN OPERA ACADEMY ORCHESTRA

Led by world-class conductors from major opera houses, The Berlin Opera Academy Orchestra –a chamber orchestra- comprises some of the industry's most promising and upcoming instrumentalists.

Our Early Application Deadline for our upcoming summer season is Friday, November 17th, 2023

ABOUT THE PROGRAM:

With the goal of introducing performers to Europe's largest music market and providing the necessary skills needed to audition and flourish there, participants will look forward to a four-week immersive experience, including:

- A place in Berlin Opera Academy Orchestra playing for our summer opera festival: OpernFest

- Participation in a chamber music concert where the orchestra present chamber music pieces of their choosing

- German language class

- Audition training

- Career workshops and roundtables

- Daily access to practice rooms

- Auditing access to all BOA activities

- Conducting workshops

- Masterclasses

Click here to read about a typical orchestra day at the Berlin Opera Academy summer program

CONDUCTORS

SEBASTIAN MUELLER

String Masterclass Instructor

Principal Study Violin Teacher at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna

PETER LEONARD
Conductor

Guest conducted the NY Philharmonic, Former artistic director and GMD of German opera houses

TOM SELIGMAN

Conductor

Conductor at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden in London since 2010 and heard on BBC

MATTHEW TOOGOOD

Conductor

Most Recently Music Director ad Interim of the Opera at the Konzert Theater Bern, Switzerland

LUTZ DE VEER

Conductor

General Music Director at the Plauen-Zwickau Theater

CARLOS SPIERER

Conductor

Guest Conductor and Teacher at renowned opera houses such as San Francisco Opera, Frankfurt Opera & Komische Oper Berlin

DOMINIC WHEELER

Conductor

Head of Opera Studies at Guildhall School of Music

ALESSANDRO POLEGGI

Conductor

Assistant Conductor at Teatro dell'Opera di Roma

DOMINIC WHEELER

Conductor

Head of Opera Studies at Guildhall School of Music

AUDITION REQUIREMENTS:

We ask that you upload two recordings that best display your musical abilities. We recommend one excerpt from an operatic or symphonic work and one solo or piano-accompanied piece, however, you may submit any recordings that you feel showcase your playing. The recordings do not need to be professional nor from a performance. Video is preferred, but audio-only is also accepted. Recordings must be submitted via link (eg: Youtube, Vimeo, Soundcloud etc). If using Youtube, please ensure your videos are uploaded as either Unlisted or Public videos (not Private).

TUITION:

Berlin Opera Academy strives to guide young musicians on the next steps towards a career in Germany. The program entails 4 or 8 weeks in summer.

€500: Single Session BOA Orchestra Tuition

€1000: Double Session BOA Orchestra Tuition

TRANSPORTATION & ASSISTANCE PACKAGES:

• Explore Berlin & Transport Package: 500€ Airport Transfer between BER Airport and your independently booked accommodation at the start and end of your session
• Monthly transit pass delivered to you at pick-up
• Tour of Berlin focused on Berlin’s culture and musical history, especially for BOA’s participants
• Visa Application Consultation Package: 500€ Two 30-minute Residency Permit Application consultations, 1-on-1
• Video call with Insurance Agent to find the best medical insurance for your personal situation
• Provided templates for all residency permit application documentation requirements
• One 30-minute follow-up consultation in 3 months’ time
• Please note: the Visa Application Consultation Package is relevant to any participant who is interested in living in Berlin on a permanent basis and is not intended for those who require a visa to attend BOA.
• Local Assistance Package: 750€Airport Transfer between BER Airport and your independently booked accommodation at the start and end of your session
• Assistance booking, traveling to and from, and translating during medical appointments
• Assistance with bureaucratic processes (eg: loss of your passport while in Berlin)
• Access to a 24/7 Staff Contact for round-the-clock assistance in the event of emergency

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Scholarships are also available, with details available in the application form. Please note, scholarships are only available for course tuition, not accommodation.

All orchestra members are required to submit a refundable deposit of 500€ to hold their place at BOA . This will be refunded after the summer ends. (BOA will begin processing all refunds in September 2023.)

At BOA you will experience one of the world's most amazing cities, work under top conductors, and gain the skills necessary to work in a professional orchestra, all while enjoying some of operas’ greatest masterpieces.

"Is it any surprise that audiences for classical music are holding up better in Germany than anywhere else? Agents and music administrators whose work takes them from country to country report half-empty halls, shortened seasons and restricted budgets — but not in Germany. Home-grown excellence attracts the crowds and funding remains on a scale that attracts envy elsewhere."

- Financial Times, 2017

...It was a truly rewarding musical experience but I also had a great time exploring the fascinating city of Berlin!...I thoroughly enjoyed working on the two masterpieces that are 'Le Nozze di Figaro' and 'Die Zauberflote' [by] two very different conductors, with different approaches to the music and rehearsal style. It was great to be able to understand the differences in style between the two operas, despite both being composed by Mozart and having been premiered only 5 years apart...

- Ellen Porter's (Cellist Alumna) experiences at Berlin Opera Academy's summer program is detailed in her blog. Click here to read more.




PARTNER ACADEMY:

Your BOA application includes gratis consideration for our sister academy: Saluzzo Opera Academy.