On Tour with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra - The Vienna Philharmonic Society

VPO Academy

The Academists have an unprecedented opportunity to experience playing with the Orchestra as substitutes both in Vienna’s Musikverein and in the great concert halls around the world. Academists have had the opportunity to play in 31 cities in 18 countries. They have performed in Austria, Belgium, China, the Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Germany, Hungary, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Romania, Slovakia, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, and the United States.

“Touring with the Orchestra was special, but New York and playing at Carnegie Hall were really very unique experiences I will remember my whole life.“ – Theresia Prinz ’23 Austria

“It was always a dream for me to go to New York and there could not be a better opportunity to travel to NYC than doing it while playing with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra at the prestigious Carnegie Hall!” – Carlos Aguilar ’23 Chile

“I was lucky enough to play on many tours. I love seeing the different cultures, cities, concert halls and their acoustics, and meeting so many new people. It Inspires me a lot for my life as a musician.” – Sandra Seržāne ’23 Latvia

“One morning concert we were playing with Christian Thielemann and Camila Nylund and during the ‘Vier Letzte Lieder’ of Strauss, I noticed people in the audience tearing up. That was a great reminder that I am part of something special.” – Traian Sturza ’23 Romania

Academists on tour In Asia

One of the most unique and unforgettable experiences offered by the Academy is the opportunity to join the Orchestra on their annual Asia Tour which has included multiple cities in China, Japan and South Korea depending on the year. The inclusion of the Academists, often just months after their matriculation in the Academy, has immersed them in the Orchestra’s community and commitment to excellence for audiences around the world.

“My first tour included a month of traveling through China, Japan and South Korea. We played Bruckner’s Eighth Symphony eight times. It never got boring because Maestro Thielemann made subtle changes to the interpretation each night to make the symphony feel spontaneous and fresh. The last performance of the tour was in Suntory Hall in Tokyo and it felt we played the most inspiring rendition yet.“ – Kelton Koch ’21 USA

“The most beautiful and impressive moment for me was the 2021 Asia Tour. We played 14 concerts and had 2 amazing programs, but every night was like we played it for the first time. Making music was all we did, and every concert had different emotions and atmospheres even with the same program. It amazed me listening to the Orchestra, creating something different every time!” – Katharina Kratochwil ’23 Austria