The schedule of the lessons and artistic activities will be available soon.

Professors of the 2024/2025 Academic Year

Anton Barakhovsky – Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks

Noah Bendix-Balgley – Berliner Philharmoniker

Vesko Eschkenazy – Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra

Jiyoon Lee – Staatskapelle Berlin 

Laura Marzadori – Teatro alla Scala 

Andrea Obiso – Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia and Orchestre de Paris

Roman Simovic – London Symphony Orchestra 

John Axelrod, Kolja Blacher – conductors

The courses are open to students of all nationalities, not older than 35 at the application deadline.

Applications must be submitted online by no later than 11:59 PM on July 14, 2025, by completing the form through the button “Apply” and attaching the following documents:

• Copy of a valid ID;
• A copy of the diploma or certificate of studies;
• A curriculum vitae, preferably with a list of the studied repertoire;
• A link to the video recording (see below).

A non-refundable annual registration fee of EUR 55.00 is required when submitting the application.

Tuition fees are fully covered by the Stauffer Foundation; travel, accommodation and living expenses in Cremona are to be borne by the students.

The admission exam consists of a video audition. The candidate must create a link to a YouTube video, to be included in the application form, specifying the programme in the description of the video. The requirements for video recordings are described on this page.

Concertos:

• Exposition and Cadence of Mozart’s Concerto No. 4 or 5;
• Exposition of a Romantic Concerto.

Piano accompaniment is not mandatory but strongly recommended.

Required orchestral excerpts and solos:

• Strauss: Don Juan (First page, from the beginning to the 13th bar after C);
• Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade, mvt. II (mm 1-5).

One orchestral excerpt to be chosen from:

• Beethoven: Symphony No. 9, mvt. III (mm 99-114);
• Schumann: Symphony No. 2, mvt II (mm 1-54);
• Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker, Overture (last 49 bars, upper staff);
• Verdi: La forza del destino (mm 9 – 43);
• Verdi: Traviata, Prelude from Act III.

One solo excerpt to be chosen from:

• Haydn: Symphony No. 6 “Le Matin,” mvt II (mm 18-43);
• Brahms: Symphony No. 1, mvt II (from letter E to the end);
• Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake, Suite No. 4 (from number 26 to the end);
• Strauss: Ein Heldenleben (no. 22 – 32).

The Stauffer Academy does not provide scores; the candidate may choose the relevant edition.

The results will be communicated by e-mail by September 15, 2025.