Summer Academy

The Angelika Prokopp Summer Academy of the Vienna Philharmonic promotes the training of young orchestral talent.

After the academy is before the academy! We're already looking forward to 2027!

About the Summer Academy

The Angelika Prokopp Summer Academy of the Vienna Philharmonic promotes the training of young orchestral talent.

For more than fifteen years, the Angelika Prokopp Summer Academy of the Vienna Philharmonic has been held in Salzburg during the Salzburg Festival. Playing in an orchestra of the highest quality is related to listening to each other, to interact with each other and to the flexibility between the musicians - this is to be learned and sharpened in the musical work with members of the Vienna Philharmonic and renowned conductors ranging from chamber music in small groups to the large orchestra within the framework of the Summer Academy.

Artistic direction

Tamás Varga, Solocellist

Zoom © Jun Keller

Orchestra

One of the focal points is the orchestra module.

During an intensive week of rehearsals, a demanding orchestral program is rehearsed with memebers of the Vienna Philharmonic and under the direction of a renowned conductor, and subsequently performed in several concerts.

Zoom © Martin Kubik

Chamber Music

In the chamber music module, selected chamber music works in various smaller and larger ensembles are worked on in class with members of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and performed in various concerts.

The pieces to be prepared for summer will be announced in May.

Zoom © Michael Maritsch

Opera for children

Since the summer of 2025, the Summer Academy has provided the orchestra for the respective children's opera of the Salzburg Festival.
Upon invitation by the jury, Summer Academy participants will have the opportunity to take part in this project.

Zoom © Michael Maritsch

Stage music

Upon invitation by the jury, depending on the programme of the Salzburg Festival, participants of the Summer Academy have the opportunity to participate in the stage music of opera productions of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in Salzburg.

Zoom Bühnenmusik Wozzeck, Salzburger Festspiele 2017 © Ruth Walz

That was the Summer Academy 2026...

The 2026 Summer Academy spanned a period of approximately three weeks.

During this time, there was plenty to do and even more to experience.
After an intensive rehearsal period with our conductor Martin Rajna, we embarked on a highly successful tour, performing in Kassel, Berlin, Eisenstadt, Gmunden, and Tamsweg.
Our six orchestra concerts were extremely well attended! We were thrilled to play to sold-out audiences at the Konzerthaus Berlin and the Mozarteum Salzburg.

Our soloist, Anneleen Lenaerts, enriched this year’s Summer Academy with her seemingly inexhaustible good humour and infectious creative energy — and, of course, with her wonderful harp playing!

The world premiere of Konrád Varga’s 3 Paranoide in Gmunden was very well received. The second performance of the work in Berlin was a great success, and we also received enthusiastic feedback from the audience in Tamsweg.

Our chamber concert in the Great University Hall of the University of Salzburg also attracted an audience of 450!

We had the opportunity to attend two dress rehearsals together: we cheered on the cast of Così fan tutte, as well as the incomparable Augustin Hadelich and Christian Thielemann.

As was already the case last year, the production of the children’s opera King Arthur Junior brought the eleven musicians who made up the orchestra together as a happy and close-knit group!

All participants received individual lessons and chamber music coaching from members of the Vienna Philharmonic.

Course location

Classes and rehearsals take place at the Musikum Salzburg, Schwarzstraße 49.

The building has sufficient rehearsal and practice rooms, a large concert hall with around 200 seats and a small chamber music hall, is acoustically appealing, offers a lot of comfort and is open daily for the academy orchestra period.
Accommodation

In the Kolpinghaus Salzburg in 2-bed rooms with bath/WC incl. breakfast

Address:
Adolf-Kolping-Straße 10
5020 Salzburg

For the time of the Academy Orchestra period, one meal per day (2 courses, main course optionally vegetarian) is provided at the Musikum (excluding concert days, if applicable).
Course fee

Course fees per participant

€ 600,-

The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra will contribute to the costs of accommodation and meals (breakfast and one other meal).