Summer Academy

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

The application for the Summer Academy will open in December!

Application deadline: until March 9, 2026

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.

In 2026, the orchestra, under the direction of Martin Rajna and with Vienna Philharmonic solo harpist Anneleen Lenaerts as soloist, will perform the following program:

Richard Wagner: Siegfried-Idyll in E-Dur WWV 103
Reinhold Glière: Konzert für Harfe und Orchester in Es-Dur, Op. 74
Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphonie Nr. 4 in B-Dur, Op. 60
Béla Bartók: Rumänische Volkstänze

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 2026 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.

There will be no stage music in 2026.

Zoom Bühnenmusik Wozzeck, Salzburger Festspiele 2017 © Ruth Walz

Summer Academy 2026

The Summer Academy 2026 will take place over a period of approximately three weeks. After the selection process, the participants will be assigned to the individual modules by the jury.

All summer academy participants take part in the orchestra module and in the chamber music module. With the exception of the musicians of the children's opera: they play chamber music but NOT in the orchestra.

All participants will receive individual lessons.
Joint participations in the general rehearsals of the Salzburg Festival are planned.

Orchestra and chamber music: July 30 until August 24, 2026
Opera for children: July 18 until August 24, 2026

The dates correspond to the respective arrival and departure days.

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).