Orchestra Academy: Promoting young talent

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Patron Sir Simon Rattle about the BRSO Academy

“It’s just one of those perfect ideas,” says Simon Rattle and laughs. He is referring to the Academy of the BRSO, whose patronage he is taking over at the same time as he takes up his post as chief conductor. It is the in-house training centre of the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks and essential for the promotion of young musicians – not only in Rattle’s eyes.

Herbert von Karajan developed the concept in Berlin, and it has also been a tradition in Munich for a long time: the Academy was founded in March 2000, and the first musicians began their training here in September 2001. Since then, 23 years have passed and the Academy can proudly look back on more than 200 graduates from over 30 countries.

There is a lot of gifted talent out there. But in the end, it comes down to understanding the ethos of an orchestra.

Sir Simon Rattle

An orchestra, this unique organism, each of which has its own special way of playing, sounding and acting. Moreover, the time spent at the academy shapes young talents into brilliant instrumentalists: “You can’t read about how that works in a book. You have to experience it in the group!” Only then can you really understand what such an ensemble is all about.

It’s a bit like in sport, each generation achieves far more than its predecessors. That is extraordinary because the level is constantly rising, from year to year.

Sir Simon Rattle

Of course, artistic development is never really complete, because as a musician you continue to learn every day. But the foundation is laid here. As a base camp for advancement.

Changing programmes, a multi-faceted repertoire of orchestral and chamber music works, intensive rehearsal periods, concerts and tours characterise the everyday life of a top orchestra. This not only requires mastery of one’s instrument; an essential part of the training is also dealing with performance pressure and demands for perfection through a special form of mental coaching and body work. Teamwork in a group of individual characters also has to be learned.

So what does it mean to the new patron to work with these young musicians from now on? First, he laughingly states: “We are all young musicians, aren’t we?” In Rattle’s eyes, this generation is not only characterised by extraordinary skill – they also bring with them an incredible idealism. And they should keep this: “They infect all those who have been doing this for years. And we need that!” Idealism can suffocate over time (not only in an orchestra, by the way). Orchestral work is generational work. And the Academy, as an integral forge for young talent, brings new energies into such an established structure as the BRSO. For Simon Rattle, it is therefore a “no brainer”.

A group like this academy is the future of music. There is no question for me to want to be part of it.

Sir Simon Rattle

(Excerpt from the BRSO 2023/2024 season brochure)

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