Neue Philharmonie München
Play with us
Applications open
Spring 2027
28 February – 9 March 2027
Deadline: 1 December 2026
Are you a music student or recent graduate aged 18 to 30, looking for orchestral experience in one of Germany’s best student orchestras or preparing for auditions? Neue Philharmonie München meets twice a year for an intensive rehearsal period. Together with outstanding conductors and coaches, we prepare an ambitious programme in around ten days and then perform it in concert halls in and around Munich.
How to apply
- Have a look at the upcoming projects.
- Record an audition video. You will find the requirements further down this page.
- Before the deadline, fill in the application form on the project page and add the link to your video.
- After the deadline you will hear whether you have a place. Once you have been accepted, the terms and conditions apply.
Application requirements
You apply online using the form, always for one specific project. You will need an audition video. The exception: if you took part in one of the last two projects, you count as a member of the orchestra, don’t need a video and are given priority in borderline cases. (Projects in which your instrument was not needed do not count.)
We review all applications after the deadline.
Audition video
A valid video consists of
- the specified excerpt from a concerto (see below),
- two specified orchestral excerpts (see below),
- optionally, further orchestral excerpts for doubling instruments.
The video must be no more than one year old.
Add your audition video as a link in the application form.
The usual platforms for sharing a video are YouTube and Vimeo. Please make sure the video can be watched without logging in. Services such as Dropbox or Google Drive are also fine.
Videos that have to be downloaded before they can be watched (e.g. WeTransfer) are not accepted.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to record each work in one take?
Yes, each work has to be recorded in one take. You may cut between works, and the order is up to you.
Can I cut between two orchestral excerpts?
Yes, you may cut between orchestral excerpts.
I don’t have a pianist. Can I record my concerto without piano?
Yes, that is fine and does not affect the assessment.
Can I send a different concerto from the one specified?
No, unless this is noted for your instrument.
Can I edit my video?
No. The only exception: you may record the sound with an external recorder at the same time as the picture and combine the two without editing.
Orchestral excerpts
For each instrument: the specified concerto excerpt and both orchestral excerpts.
Violin
Concerto: any classical or romantic concerto, exposition of the 1st movement
Orchestral excerpts:
- R. Strauss Don Juan (1st violin), bars 1–63
- A. Bruckner Symphony No. 9, 3rd movement (2nd violin), bars 57–64
Viola
Concerto: any classical or romantic concerto, exposition of the 1st movement
Orchestral excerpts:
- L. v. Beethoven Symphony No. 5, 2nd movement, bars 1–10, 23–37, 49–60, 98–106
- F. Mendelssohn Bartholdy A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Scherzo, bar 17 to letter D
Cello
Concerto: any classical or romantic concerto, exposition of the 1st movement
Orchestral excerpts:
- L. v. Beethoven Symphony No. 5, 2nd movement, bars 1–10, 49–60, 98–106, 114–124
- R. Strauss Don Juan, bars 1–7, letters C–D, 3 before letter G to 7 after G
Double bass
Concerto: any classical or romantic concerto, exposition of the 1st movement
Orchestral excerpts:
- W. A. Mozart Symphony No. 40, 1st movement, bars 115–138, 191–225
- L. v. Beethoven Symphony No. 9, 4th movement, bars 1–90
Flute
Concerto: W. A. Mozart Concerto in G major or Concerto in D major, exposition of the 1st movement
Orchestral excerpts:
- M. Ravel Daphnis et Chloé, figure 176 to 2 after figure 179
- F. Mendelssohn Bartholdy A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Scherzo, 2 before letter P to the end
Optional for piccolo:
- P. Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4, 3rd movement, bars 162–203
Oboe
Concerto: W. A. Mozart Concerto in C major, exposition of the 1st movement
Orchestral excerpts:
- R. Strauss Don Juan, letter L to 17 after letter M
- M. Ravel Le Tombeau de Couperin, 1st movement, beginning to figure 2, figures 8–9
Optional for cor anglais:
- A. Dvořák Symphony No. 9, 2nd movement, bars 7–18
Clarinet
Concerto: W. A. Mozart Concerto in A major, exposition of the 1st movement
Orchestral excerpts:
- L. v. Beethoven Symphony No. 6, 1st movement, bars 418–438, 474–492, and 2nd movement, bars 68–77
- C. M. v. Weber Overture to Der Freischütz, bars 96–145
Optional for E-flat clarinet:
- H. Berlioz Symphonie fantastique, 5th movement, figure 63 to 6 after figure 64
Optional for bass clarinet:
- D. Shostakovich Violin Concerto, figures 23–25
Bassoon
Concerto: W. A. Mozart Concerto in B-flat major, exposition of the 1st movement
Orchestral excerpts:
- I. Stravinsky The Rite of Spring, beginning to figure 4
- W. A. Mozart Overture to The Marriage of Figaro, bars 1–24, 101–123, 139–171, 214–236
Optional for contrabassoon:
- M. Ravel Ma mère l’Oye, figures 2–6
Horn (high)
Concerto: W. A. Mozart Concerto No. 4 in E-flat major, K. 495, exposition of the 1st movement
Orchestral excerpts:
- R. Strauss Till Eulenspiegel (1st horn), bars 6–20
- G. Mahler Symphony No. 9, 1st movement (1st horn), “Offen” after figure 16 to “Nicht mehr so langsam”
Horn (low)
Concerto: W. A. Mozart Concerto No. 3 in E-flat major, K. 447, exposition of the 1st movement
Orchestral excerpts:
- D. Shostakovich Symphony No. 5, 1st movement (2nd horn), figures 17–21
- L. v. Beethoven Symphony No. 9, 3rd movement (4th horn), bars 82–121
Trumpet
Concerto: J. Haydn Concerto in E-flat major, exposition of the 1st movement
Orchestral excerpts:
- I. Stravinsky Petrushka, Dance of the Ballerina (1911: figures 69–70, 1947: figures 134–139)
- G. Mahler Symphony No. 5, 1st movement, beginning to figure 2
Tenor trombone
Concerto: F. David Concertino, exposition of the 1st movement
Orchestral excerpts:
- W. A. Mozart Requiem, Tuba mirum, beginning to letter B
- G. Mahler Symphony No. 3, 1st movement, figures 13–17
Bass trombone
Concerto: E. Sachse Concerto, exposition of the 1st movement
Orchestral excerpts:
- R. Wagner Ride of the Valkyries, figure 4 to 2 after figure 7
- J. Haydn The Creation, No. 26, beginning to letter C
Tuba
Concerto: R. Vaughan Williams Concerto, exposition of the 1st movement
Orchestral excerpts:
- G. Mahler Symphony No. 1, 3rd movement, 4 before figure 3 to 3 before figure 5
- R. Wagner Lohengrin, Prelude to Act 3, 8 after figure 5 to figure 6
Harp
Concerto: G. F. Handel Concerto in B-flat major, exposition of the 1st movement
Orchestral excerpts:
- P. Tchaikovsky Nutcracker Suite, Waltz of the Flowers, bars 1–33
- M. Ravel Tzigane, figures 4–5
Percussion
Unlike the other instruments, percussionists do not need to play a concerto. Instead, please record all of the following:
- Timpani: F. Krüger Etude No. 45 and L. v. Beethoven Symphony No. 9, 1st movement, bars 16–23, 50–53, 297–340, 513–547
- Snare drum: roll with a steady crescendo and decrescendo (ppp – pp – p – mp – mf – f – ff – fff – ff – f – mf – mp – p – pp – ppp) and H. Knauer Etude No. 7 or J. Delécluse Etude No. 1 (from the 12 Etudes)
- Tambourine: G. Bizet Carmen Suite No. 2, No. 11 Danse bohème, 3 before letter D to 1 before letter F and letter L to 1 before letter N
- Xylophone: I. Stravinsky The Firebird (ballet), 1 before figure 47 to figure 48 and figures 127–133
- Glockenspiel: P. Dukas The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, figure 17 to 3 after figure 19, figures 22–24, figure 26 to 10 after figure 26, “Toujours plus animé” (figure 40) to figure 41, figures 52–53
Terms and conditions
Once your place has been confirmed, you are committed to taking part in all rehearsals and concerts of the project. No exceptions are made.
Once your place has been confirmed, €125 is due immediately: a €25 registration fee and a €100 deposit, which is refunded in cash after you have taken part. (If the participant cancels, the deposit is not refunded.)
Travel reimbursement
Travel costs for the journey to and from the project are reimbursed up to a maximum of €150 against receipts after the end of the project. Train, plane and long-distance bus tickets are reimbursed. Participants are asked to book the most economical travel option as soon as Neue Philharmonie München has confirmed their participation. Unfortunately, travel within the project, local public transport tickets and visa costs cannot be reimbursed. Only direct journeys to and from the project are reimbursed. The claim to travel reimbursement expires 6 weeks after the end of the project.
Accommodation and meals
Musikwerkstatt Jugend e.V. provides accommodation and meals during the rehearsal period.
During the concert days in Munich, private accommodation (bed and breakfast) is provided for musicians from out of town. Other meals are often offered as well, but this cannot be guaranteed.
Concert dress
Men: black suit, white shirt, dark bow tie, black shoes and socks
Women: black dress or black skirt (neither too short) or black trousers (no jeans), black top (shoulders covered), black shoes
Insurance
Musikwerkstatt Jugend e.V. has liability insurance. Each participant is responsible for their own health, accident, travel and instrument insurance.
Ready? Apply by 1 December 2026.
Project details and application →