The Foundation for Success

Text: Hanno Grahl, June 2026

Many of the musicians who perform on the world’s major stages today – including at the Elbphilharmonie – gained their first formative experiences in youth orchestras. What begins here is often the prelude to international careers: from an orchestra seat to the spotlight, from the rehearsal room to the world’s great concert halls.

It is high season for these orchestras during the summer months, when schools and universities are off for the holidays. For the young musicians, that means practicing instead of vacationing, and heading for the stage instead of the beach. Since the Elbphilharmonie first opened, talented youth orchestras from all over the world have regularly stopped off here on their tours.

The summer of 2026 is no different. Two top-tier orchestras – the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra (GMJO) and the German National Youth Orchestra (BJO) – are set to perform. A number of artists whose careers began in institutions like these are also appearing in Hamburg throughout the course of the season – artists who are now at home in world-class orchestras and chamber ensembles, or have successful careers as soloists.

Mit dem Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester und dem Bundesjugendorchester trumpfen gleich zwei Klangkörper mit jungen Talenten im »Elbphilharmonie Sommer« 2026 groß auf. auf dem Programm steht unter anderem Rachmaninows Drittes Klavierkonzert und Bruckner »Romantische« Sinfonie.

For many young talents from Germany, the journey begins in the regional youth orchestras of Germany’s federal states and continues in higher-level ensembles such as the BJO or the GMJO, based in Vienna. Both are regarded as talent incubators where not only technical excellence but also artistic sensibility is cultivated.

The standards are indeed very high. Each year, around 2,500 aspiring musicians apply to the GMJO – founded in 1986–87 by conductor Claudio Abbado – for just over 100 places. What was once conceived as a bridge between East and West – with musicians from Austria, Hungary and what was then Czechoslovakia, as well as open auditions in the Soviet Union – is now one of the world’s leading international youth orchestras.

What makes it special is not only the international exchange. Supported by mentors from top orchestras such as the Berlin and Vienna Philharmonic, an ensemble of exceptional quality is formed in a remarkably short time. Conductors such as Pierre Boulez, Kent Nagano and Sir Colin Davis have stood at the podium, while soloists such as Yo-Yo Ma and Anne-Sophie Mutter have performed alongside the young musicians.

Sharing the stage with such stars is inspiring and marks an artistic turning point for some musicians. Violinist Renaud Capuçon, for example, began his international career as concertmaster of the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra and now performs as a soloist with leading orchestras. Conductor Manfred Honeck’s career also began as Abbado’s assistant at the GMJO. He is now principal conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra – with which he is opening the Elbphilharmonie’s 2026/27 anniversary season – and also performs regularly with the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra.

The BJO, founded in 1969, has already produced generations of professional musicians. Young people between the ages of 14 and 19 receive training here at the highest level and gain insight into the day-to-day life of working musicians: rehearsing, touring and performing, as well as the camaraderie within the orchestra, shape them for life. Since 2013, there has also been a close collaboration with the Berlin Philharmonic, which serves as a mentoring body for the orchestra. Initially led by permanent principal conductors, the concept was modified over time to allow for different artists to collaborate with the orchestra each year. Herbert von Karajan stood at the podium; under Kurt Masur, the orchestra crossed the Atlantic to perform in New York, Boston and Washington; and Sir Simon Rattle’s commitment to the BJO was so profound that he was eventually named its first – and to date, only – honorary conductor.

The young musicians benefit enormously from the vast wealth of experience offered by these professionals. Well-established musicians such as Christian Tetzlaff and Tabea Zimmermann demonstrate where this path can lead. Tetzlaff is regarded as one of the finest violinists of his generation and is set to perform several times during the 2026/27 season: once with the Hamburg State Philharmonic Orchestra, once with the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra and, thirdly, in a world-class trio featuring exquisite chamber music.

Younger examples include percussionist Vivi Vassileva and the Leonkoro Quartet: At age 13, Vassileva was accepted into the BJO as one of its youngest members ever and has been on a meteoric rise ever since. She performed at the Elbphilharmonie as part of the FAST LANE series and has also appeared as a soloist with several orchestras. In the 2026/27 season, she is performing at the opening concert of the »Elbphilharmonie Visions« festival.

Ensemble Resonanz, the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen – and the Leonkoro Quartet – are all examples of outstanding ensembles that were formed during their members’ time with the BJO or student orchestras such as the Junge Deutsche Philharmonie. The two Lübeck brothers, Jonathan and Lukas Schwarz, founded the award-winning string quartet after gaining orchestral experience and have been touring internationally with huge success for several years now. (On 30 November 2026, they perform works by Beethoven, Shostakovich and Schubert.)

A very recent addition to the BJO is flautist Fabian Egger, who has been playing with the orchestra since 2024. A year earlier, he was part of the Amsterdam Concertgebouw Orchestra Young. Under the Dutch programme, young people from all over Europe can apply every two years for one of the coveted places in the orchestra and take part in development programmes similar to those offered by other orchestras. As part of the »Teatime Classics« series, he is making his debut at the Laeiszhalle in February 2027 alongside pianist Simon Haje.

It is not only the opportunity to make music with their great role models that represents an artistic leap for orchestra members. The international tours, which have taken the BJO to Japan, South Africa, India and Venezuela, among other places, also provide the young musicians with a wealth of new experiences, valuable encounters and unforgettable memories.