Orchestral training at Sibelius Academy cooperates closely with a number of professional orchestras. It has also played a key role in many joint projects between arts universities. The conductor class rehearsal orchestra serves as a practice instrument for orchestral and wind orchestral conducting students. Choral conducting students practice with the vocal ensemble.
Sibelius Academy Vocal Ensemble
The Sibelius Academy Vocal Ensemble, consisting of 16 singers, serves as the rehearsal and degree concert instrument for the choral conducting class. In addition to the public master's degree concerts, the Vocal Ensemble occasionally holds its own concerts outside the Academy.
Sibelius Academy Symphony Orchestra
The Sibelius Academy Symphony Orchestra offers orchestral instrument students the opportunity to perfect their skills in a full-size symphony orchestra. The orchestra is conducted by professional conductors and, once a year, by a conducting student.
In 2011, the Sibelius Academy Symphony Orchestra celebrates its 95th anniversary. In the past, the orchestra has been conducted by Jussi Jalas, Jorma Panula, Arvid Jansons, Paavo Berglund, Sir Collin Davis, Eri Klas, Leif Segerstam, Atso Almila, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Okko Kamu, John Storgårds, Osmo Vänskä, Sakari Oramo, Mikko Franck, and others. It has performed in Finland and in numerous European capitals, in Russia, in Beijing (China), and in Tokyo (Japan), as well as at Carnegie Hall in New York City and Disney Hall in Los Angeles. The orchestra belongs to the European Federation of National Youth Orchestras (EFNYO), which selects as its members the finest pre-professional symphony orchestras in the EU.
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