Any experience in period instrument playing?
Interested in ensemble playing as well as the large scale orchestra?
Ready for a new artistic development?
Keen on discovering the firmament of the musical sector?
If so, follow the new star that rises in 2025:
With Balthasar NOVA, we offer young professional musicians from all over Europe the opportunity to develop as independent musicians in a profound, resilient, and future- oriented way. NOVA is a career training programme, specialized in period instrument playing for musicians who share our perception of music as a source of storytelling. It is designed for musicians who want to know what they play and why. Programme participants (“NOVIs”) will explore the meaning of each work through the lens of authentic and historically informed performance practice.
We, the Balthasar Neumann Orchestra (BNO), formed 1995 in Freiburg by Thomas Hengelbrock, are one of the world’s leading historically informed orchestras. We create free spaces for radical interpretations and outstanding artistic experiences. To ensure that passion, knowledge and enthusiasm are carried forward to the next generation, we train gifted young musicians. With support from the European Union, we have now founded the first long-term academy programme for period instrument playing: Balthasar NOVA.
Projects and courses:
Teaching and workshops:
From March 2025 until August 2026, monthly individual online teaching and online workshops are held whenever no course/project takes place. In addition, 8 Salons will be planned and organized in individual agreement with the NOVIs and external experts.
Tutors and Mentors are members of the Balthasar Neumann Orchestra and long-standing external tutors of the Balthasar Neumann Academy. All names will be announced until the start of the programme. The workshops will be held by external specialists of the respective fields, the Salons will be organized and developed by NOVIs together with external experts.
For onsite activities (courses, projects, workshops), 150,00 Euro per day plus accommodation and travel costs will be paid.
If you are
you are warmly invited to apply.
Round 1 will be held online (video); rounds 2 & 3 will be held onsite in various European cities:
Percussion auditions will be offered in some of the mentioned cities above depending on the applicant’s choice.
Please apply before December 1st via muvac or email () with:
a link to the video(s) with the required repertoire
a motivation letter (of about half a written page)
your CV, referring also your experience in period instrument playing
your full contact (name, address, email, mobile number, birthday, address/university/etc. to show in which way you are European based)
your preferred city for the live audition (2nd + 3rd round) and two alternative options.
Detailed information regarding the repertoire and the video requirements can be found here.