The OPO Academy Program
Participants in our Academy program have gone on to perform with every major orchestra in the UK and have won prizes including the Leeds International Piano Competition and BBC Young Musician.
The Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra has been dedicated to providing free, world-class tuition to young people since it was founded in 1998. The Academy Programme offers life-changing opportunities to gifted young musicians up to age 26. The programme includes the Oxford Piano Festival, our Residency Programme at the University of Oxford, and opportunities through our partnership with Oxfordshire County Music Service.
Oxford Piano Festival
The Oxford Piano Festival was established to bring the most talented young pianists and renowned teachers from all over the world to Oxford for an intensive series of masterclasses and evening concerts. In its 25-year history, the Festival has established itself as a vital destination for aspiring young musicians, piano teachers and piano enthusiasts. The Festival’s President is Sir András Schiff, while its Patron is Alfred Brendel.
To learn more about the Oxford Piano Festival, please click here or email Education Officer Lydia Bennett at [email protected].
To support the 2025 Piano Festival, please click here.
Student Fellowship
The Student Fellowship Program is the Oxford Philharmonic’s most recent education initiative, open to musicians internationally, and will be officially launched in September 2025. The program offers outstanding young musicians, in their early stages of their career, the opportunity to play full concerts with the Oxford Philharmonic, providing the invaluable experience of performing within a professional environment.
Our Student Fellowship Program was created as part of our commitment to nurturing the talent of young musicians. While many music graduates aspire to solo careers, many will also have orchestral playing in their portfolio. Our program fills the gap between student ensembles and professional orchestras, offering young musicians the chance to develop the intricate skills required for orchestral playing under the guidance of top professionals. This opportunity is special because Fellowship holders will work on par with fully fledged members of the orchestra, including receiving full renumeration and being offered consistent performance opportunities throughout the Season.
Under the Program, we expect a Fellow to participate in around 20 concerts during the 2025/26 Season.
If you would like to support our Fellowship Program, please email [email protected] for more details, or click here to make a one-time donation.
Higher Education
The Oxford Philharmonic higher education ventures include offering students unique opportunities to receive tuition from members of the Orchestra and take part in masterclasses from visiting international artists, including Lang Lang, Anne-Sophie Mutter and Maxim Vengerov.
Additionally, students benefit from paid recital performance opportunities, apprenticeships in orchestral practice, an orchestral side-by-side scheme, and the chance to premiere full orchestral works, fostering the growth of emerging composers. As the Orchestra in Residence at the University of Oxford, we work closely with the university’s Music Faculty to support their performance modules, providing coaching for student soloists and ensembles.
Oxfordshire Concerto Competition
We have forged a close partnership with the Oxfordshire County Music Service to provide secondary school-aged students with recital and orchestral side-by-side opportunities. Our annual Concerto Competition sees young musicians from across the county compete for prestigious prizes including the opportunity to perform a concerto with the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra at a Main Season concert at the Sheldonian Theatre.
Testimonials from Students
‘Side by side has been such an amazing experience- allowing me to play alongside professional musicians, enjoy performing amazing repertoire and learn so much along the way. Having one to one lessons on the music with an OPO appointed player has been really helpful as well. I would highly recommend this program to anyone!’
‘Overall, the first violins were so warm and encouraging, making me feel very much at home. This was undoubtedly one of the highlights of my term!’
More Information
For further information please contact:
Camilla G Hellman MBE
Marketing Director
American Friends of the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra
Address:
864,
Lexington Avenue,
2nd floor,
New York,
NY 10065