About Us

Dear Friends,

I’d like to introduce you to the Vienna Philharmonic Society which works to advance and celebrate the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in the United States and to support important Orchestra initiatives globally.

We share the Orchestra’s belief that they, and music in general, can act as a bridge between people. We believe that music is an experience that can transport us across our many differences to make us more aware of what we share than what divides us, and our efforts are made with this continuously in mind.

A brief overview of the timeline of the Society:

  • 2016 - The Vienna Philharmonic Society (VPS) was founded as a 501c3 non-profit.
  • 2017 – The first of annual Master Classes with VPO musician instructors for members of the National Youth Orchestra were offered in partnership with the Weill Music Institute at Carnegie Hall.
  • 2017 – The first annual VPS Benefit Concert and Dinner Gala was held to support our efforts.
  • 2018 – The VPS became a founding and sustaining donor of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Academy in Vienna.
  • 2019 – VPO Academy opened in Vienna to train the next generation of excellent concert musicians.

As the Vienna Philharmonic has long been known for excellence in all its endeavors, it is of little surprise that the Academy has quickly exceeded our expectations. We have been delighted to witness the personal and professional growth of these young musicians as they improve through individual lessons and master classes; play with the Orchestra and in chamber music concerts in Vienna and on tour; and learn from, and be inspired by, world-famous conductors. Upon graduation, Academists are winning auditions to join the best orchestras around the world, including 6 who have won auditions to join the Vienna State Opera Orchestra. After 3 years, provided their probationary period is successful, they will be considered for membership in the Vienna Philharmonic.

As the Orchestra searches the world for the most talented musicians for each Academy class, five Americans have won the opportunity to join the 40 Academists in the first three classes.

Two American Academists have won full membership in the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra:

  • Trombonist Kelton Koch ’21 of Lake Jackson, TX; and
  • Violinist Lucas Stratmann ’23 of New York City, NY.

The other three American Academists are:

  • Hannah Cho ’21 of New York City is a probationary member of the Vienna State Opera Orchestra/Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra;
  • Academist Annette Jakovčić ’24, from Columbus, GA is a third-generation cellist in her family; and
  • Violinist Robert Sanders ‘23, of Skokie, Illinois is continuing his studies at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna.

We encourage you to read more about the Academy and these talented young musicians.

We also offer Master Classes with principal musicians of the Vienna Philharmonic. In a short period of time, the VPO musicians are able to clearly articulate impactful changes to the students who are immediately able to improve their level of play.

We hope you will join us in our efforts to grow and to share the commitment of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra to help music continue to make a positive impact on the lives of others.

Warmest Regards,
Marifé Hernández