University of Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra
The core of the orchestra consists of students at the two-year international master's program in symphonic orchestra performance at the Academy of Music and Drama. The education is unique in its kind and is managed in collaboration with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra and the Göteborg Opera. The orchestra projects are done in collaboration with students from the bachelor's degree in classical music. Sometimes students from other music academies are invited to participate in and complement the orchestra.
Each academic year, the University of Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra performs eight orchestra productions. Internationally renowned conductors and soloists are engaged to these performances. Recently, Simon Crawford-Phillips, Jurjen Hempel, Vince Mendoza, and Daniela Musca have visited the orchestra. Among the soloists are Christian Zacharias, piano, Amalie Stalheim, cello, and Isabelle van Keulen, violin, who was part of the Artist in Residence Program.
Every year, the orchestra also collaborates with the opera program at the Academy of Music and Drama. The University of Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra is an ambassador for the University of Gothenburg, which supports the concert and tour activities.
Orchestra projects 2025 - 2026
Project 1
17-22 September 2025 (no concert)
Sectional rehearsals with teachers
Tutti rehearsals with Alec Franc-Gemmill and Simon Crawford-Phillips
- Benjamin Britten: Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes
- Johannes Brahms: Symphony No. 4
Project 2
6-10 October 2025
Concerts on Thursday 9 and Friday 10 October
Conductor: Simon Crawford-Phillips
- Charlotte Sohy: Danse mystique
- Pyotr Tchaikovsky: Romeo and Juliet, Fantasy Overture
- Edward Elgar: Enigma Variations
Doctoral Conferment at Svenska Mässan
15-17 October 2025
Conductor: Lars Kvensler
- Joseph Haydn: Menuetto from Symphony No. 101
- Jean Sibelius: Flickan kom ifrån sin älsklings möte (Text: Johan Ludvig Runeberg)
- Ether Smyth: Serenade in D
- Georg Friedrich Händel: Hornpipe from Water Music
Project 3
26-30 October 2025
Concert on Thursday 30 October
Conductor: Maria Itkonen
- Cecilia Damström: Nixus (chamber orchestra version)
- Aaron Copland: Appalachian Spring Suite
- Felix Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 5
Project 4
1-12 December 2025
Concerts on Thursday 11 and Friday 12 December
Conductor: Simon Crawford-Phillips
- Giacomo Puccini: Suor Angelica
- Georges Bizet: excerpts from Carmen
Project 5
26-30 January 2026
Concerts on Thursday 29 and Friday 30 January
Conductor: Simon Crawford-Phillips
- Arnold Schönberg: Verklärte Nacht (directed by Øyvor Volle from the violin)
- Igor Stravinskij: Concerto for Piano and Wind Instruments (directed by Simon Crawford-Pillips from the piano)
- Claude Debussy: La mer
String Orchestra Week
9-13 February 2026
Conductor and soloist: Simon Crawford-Phillips, piano
Program to be announced.
Project 6
24-28 February 2026
Concert on Saturday 28 February
Conductor: Jurjen Hempel
Soloist: Signe Olofsson, piano
- Emilie Mayer: Faust-Overture Op. 46
- Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3
- Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 1
Project 7
8-12 March 2026
Concert on Thursday 12 March
Conductor: Martin Fröst
- Johannes Brahms: Symfoni nr 1
- Additional program to be announced.
Collaboration project with Göteborg Wind Orchestra
30 March - 2 April 2026
Concert on Thursday 2 April
Conductor and program to be announced.
Project 8
13-18 April 2026
Concert on Friday 17 April (alternatively on Saturday 18 April)
Conductor: Simon Crawford-Phillips
- Richard Wagner: Prelude and Liebestod from Tristan and Isolde
- Joseph Haydn: Symphony No. 104 (unconducted and directed by students)
- Carl Nielsen: Symphony No. 4
Project 9
Calendar week 21 or 22
Conductor: Lars Kvensler
- Sergei Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet - ballet performance
Note: This is a provisional proposal and some pieces may change.
