European Youth Orchestra
Academy
Under the patronage of the European Parliament
Where Europe’s brightest young musicians connect, create, and break boundaries. Ready to join the journey?
The talents of youth – the voice of Europe
Europe grows where young people meet – and music is the language that connects them.
The European Youth Orchestra Academy, or EYOA, is more than an orchestra: it is a place for friendship, exchange, and a vibrant Europe. Every year, we bring together highly talented young musicians from all over Europe to Mannheim. Here, where the Mannheim School once made history with its sound, a new school of European togetherness is emerging.
Our Mission: to use music as a universal language to overcome borders, foster friendships, and make Europe tangible. Alongside intensive rehearsals and concerts, young participants experience political and cultural inspiration, discuss Europe’s future, and learn to embrace diversity as a strength.
Our Vision: a Europe that resonates through the voices of its youth – harmonious, courageous, and full of ideas.
Be bold! – Apply now for 2026!
Mannheim School
Mannheim – UNESCO City of Music – and once the epicenter of a musical revolution. The Mannheim School of the 18th century shaped the orchestral sound of the Viennese Classical era and even inspired Mozart himself. At the beginning of the 18th century, Elector Carl-Theodor maintained his own court orchestra. To express his power and wealth, he brought the finest violinists to his court. Among them were Johann Stamitz, Ignaz Hofbauer, Christian Cannabich, the Toeschi brothers, and Joseph Vogler. They established the Mannheim School as a school for violin and orchestral playing, and increasingly as a school of composition, laying the foundation for the Viennese Classical style. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart visited Mannheim four times. Here, he heard the finest orchestra of his time and formed friendships with the musicians of the Mannheim School. Most importantly, he met his first great love – the singer Aloisia Weber. In no other city did Mozart feel as at home and understood in his musical genius as he did in Mannheim. He expressed this in a letter to his father: “In a word: As I love Mannheim, so does Mannheim love me.”
EYOA continues this tradition: Mannheim remains a place where musical excellence and European exchange come together.
From Application to Festival
Europe comes alive on stage:
Once a year, we invite around 50 young, talented European musicians aged 14 to 18 to Mannheim. From several hundred applicants, a renowned expert jury selects the best of the best.
For the first time, our alumni can also apply, regardless of age, for our two new ensembles – String Quartet and Wind Quintet.
During the Academy period – under the direction of the renowned conductor Jan Paul Reinke and in collaboration with the Mannheim Municipal Music School – participants engage in 10 days of intensive rehearsals, complemented by workshops, political insights, and cultural encounters.
The highlight of the EYOA in 2026 will be our multi-day Young European Music Festival for the first time, featuring four different ensembles:
# Symphony Orchestra
# Big Band Jazz
# String Quartet
# Wind Quintet
Venues in the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region include Mannheim and Ludwigshafen, as well as Heidelberg, Schwetzingen, and Worms.
Application Period: October 1, 2025 – December 31, 2025
Jury Announcement: February 2026
Academy: September 3–13, 2026
Concerts: September 10–12, 2026
European Youth Orchestra Academy – Moments That Last
Focused tutti and lively discussions, quiet moments and vibrant evenings – EYOA is more than rehearsals and concerts.
Here, you experience Europe on a small scale: encounters, friendships, and special moments full of energy, music, and like-minded people.
The most beautiful moments from 2019 to today, captured in pictures.
Jan Paul Reinke – Artistic Director & Conductor of the EYOA
I am simply convinced that change must start in one’s own environment. Music is a medium that needs no words, and through it, one can begin to convey ideals and perhaps even bring them to life, at least in part.
Jan Paul Reinke is the director of the Stamitz Orchestra and the Mannheim Municipal Youth Orchestra. With his extensive pedagogical experience, Reinke is able to unite the participants of our academy into a remarkable ensemble in just a few days. His focus is not solely on technical brilliance.
We are looking for young people for the Young European Music Festival who enjoy making music together, who want to grow as a collective within the orchestra, and who see Europe as a living project.
You don’t need to be a “child prodigy,” but you should be open, curious, and ready to engage with questions about our shared future.
Apply now for the European Youth Orchestra Academy 2026
Show us your talent – and become part of EYOA 2026!
Are you between 14 and 18 years old? Then apply for the Young European Symphony Orchestra or our Young European Jazz Big Band.
EYOA alumni can apply regardless of age for our Young European String Quartet or the Young European Wind Quintet.
For your application, you will need:
# a short application video
# a parental consent form (if under 18)
# a confirmation from your teacher
All further information, application forms*, sheet music, and upload options can be found under the individual application sections.
*Please make sure to use the correct form for the ensemble of your choice.
Young European Symphony Orchestra
Do you love playing in a large orchestra and becoming part of a full, symphonic sound? Then this is the place for you! In the Symphony Orchestra, you will work together with around 50 other young musicians on an exciting program and bring it to the stage in Mannheim.
Period: September 3–13, 2026
Young European Big Band Jazz
Do you enjoy groove, improvisation, and creating an energetic sound together as a team? The Jazz Big Band gives you the chance to share your joy of playing with others and to explore new sound worlds within the ensemble.
Period: September 3–13, 2026
Young European String Quartet
(Alumni Only)
Have you already participated in the EYOA and want to challenge yourself musically even more? In the String Quartet, you will experience what it means to grow together in a small ensemble at the highest level – precise, sensitive, and full of expression.
Period: September 3–13, 2026
Young European Wind Quintet
(Alumni Only)
As an EYOA alumnus or alumna, you can embark on the adventure of making music in a small ensemble. In the Wind Quintet, you will learn how close collaboration, timbre, and team spirit are interconnected – an experience that will advance your musical skills tremendously.
Period: September 3–13, 2026
What Our Alumni Say
Review – Behind the Scenes & Final Concerts
From digital academies during the pandemic to grand anniversary concerts in Mannheim’s Rosengarten – the history of EYOA is young, yet already rich in highlights. It tells a story of passion, talent, and the power that emerges when Europe’s youth make music together.
Concert Recordings
Photo Books
Supporters & Sponsors
The heart of our foundation beats for young talent, art, and culture – and with the EYOA, this comes alive: E stands for European unity and diversity, Y for young musical talent, O for orchestral collaboration, and A for Academy, representing support and education. The academy provides young people with a stage to showcase their skills and gives the audience the chance to experience the world-famous Mannheim musical tradition.
Patronages
Shareholders
