Joint Orchestra of Music School Pupils and the Czech Philharmonic Musicians

The joint orchestra of pupils from elementary schools of the arts and players from the Czech Philharmonic is a project with over a decade of tradition. It takes place each year through cooperation between the Czech Philharmonic and the Association of Elementary Schools of the Arts. The climax is the concluding concert, which is the culmination of half a year of intense work by the pupils, the philharmonic players, and the pupils' teachers. The orchestra consists of sixty pupils from all around the Czech Republic - the pupils on stage this year are from the Ústí nad Labem, Karlovy Vary, South Bohemia, and Olomouc regions. Under the leadership of the conductor Petr Altrichter and his assistant Dominik Pernica, the young musicians will discover not only the world of music, but also work in a collective that will be solidified outside of rehearsal time as well. During the project, their guides are not only the experienced players of the Czech Philharmonic, but also their teachers, who offer them great support throughout the project.

What experiences did participants get from the project in past years?

"When they told me I was chosen for the project, I was overjoyed, but then came worries over whether I could handle it. I had never played in a symphony orchestra before, and I knew the parts would definitely be hard to play. And they really were, at first! But actually, before tomorrow's concert, I can now say that I am ready, and I hope I will bring it off. I'm sure my younger self definitely would not have said that back in October. I also met great people here, and everything was even better with them!"

"The first time the conductor stood in front of the orchestra, it took my breath away. There was a hurricane of incredible energy spreading all over the place. I hope I'm not the only one who noticed that Mr Altrichter has angel's wings instead of hands. What gestures! The orchestra blossomed fully under his leadership. It's the best event that elementary music school pupils can experience. Even I, an introverted person, was able to make new friendships during the project."