Bundesjugendorchester

When Germany’s finest young musicians pick up their instruments, they delight critics, soloists, conductors and audiences alike: they combine a captivating energy and impressive professionalism to create the globally unique sound of the 14 to 19-year-old musicians of the German National Youth Orchestra.

The German National Youth Orchestra is Germany’s youngest major orchestra. It was founded by the German Music Council (Deutscher Musikrat) in 1969 and is composed of the country’s finest young musicians between the ages of 14 and 19. In addition to Sir Simon Rattle, the orchestra has also been directed by renowned conductors such as Herbert von Karajan, Kurt Masur, Gustavo Dudamel and Kirill Petrenko since being founded; soloists who have worked with the orchestra include Christian Tetzlaff, Tabea Zimmermann and Fazil Say, as well as rock musicians such as Sting and Peter Maffay. In 2013, the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra assumed the role of patron orchestra to the Bundesjugendorchester and mentors it through joint rehearsals, master classes and concerts.