How Orpheum helps
The Orpheum Foundation offers selected young soloists a top-quality performance opportunity with a major orchestra and experienced conductors in the Zurich Tonhalle. Sponsors, agents, event organisers and the media are invited to this concert. The soloists are provided with a live recording of their concert, plus a video portrait with excerpts from the concert and interviews.
In addition to the above, the Orpheum Foundation also offers selected young soloists the opportunity to perform with a major pianist, or to participate on a CD recording of international standing. Above and beyond this, the Orpheum Foundation offers its chosen soloists individual promotional support.
Requirement profile
The Orpheum Foundation is committed to the advancement of international young soloists. Its focus is on persons who are between 18 and 26 years old. Besides exceptional musical abilities, they must already possess the potential to become an outstanding artistic personality, must have a representative repertoire (in particular including the standard works of the Classical, Romantic and Classical Modern periods) and have experience in working with orchestras and in giving solo performances.
Orpheum is not a competition and is open to applicants from all over the world, without any restrictions on language, nationality or background.
Application procedure
The Orpheum Foundation accepts two types of application:
- Young soloists are proposed by members of the Artistic Board of Trustees.
- Young soloists apply online, directly or through their agent. For an online application, the following documents must be provided:
- Personal details
- Biography
- Photo
- Repertoire list
- List of current concerts
- Audio recordings/live concert recordings (uploadsor links; not older than 1 year)
Applications may be submitted in German, French or English.
The online form will lead you step-by-step through all the necessary stages of the application.
Selection process
The definitive selection of soloists is made by the Artistic Director of the Orpheum Foundation, Howard Griffiths. Together with the Managing Director, Thomas Pfiffner, he ensures that, in collaboration with the orchestras and conductors invited, those soloists are chosen who can profit the most from the support of the Orpheum Foundation.
