Application Requirements

Gustav Mahler Academy 2025/2026

1. Participation is open to music students born between January 1, 1999 and July 21, 2007.

2. All nationalities are eligible for application.

3. Applications are open for the following instruments: violin, viola, cello, double bass, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet and trombone.

4. Participants should be enrolled in a conservatory or university. Applications of musicians already under permanent employment cannot be accepted.

5. Registration requests must be made electronically by logging onto our website under Application form.

6. Application Deadline: February 27, 2025.

7. Participants will be chosen by a jury of highly respected teachers and performers. Audition results will be communicated exclusively by e-mail no later than March 24, 2025. Results cannot be contested. Due to the high volume of applications the jury will not be able to give individual feedback.
Musicians will have until March 31, 2025 to confirm their participation in an email to caramaschi@busoni-mahler.eu.  If no confirmation is received by that date, the candidate’s place in the Gustav Mahler Academy will go to the first applicant on the reserve list.

8. The application must be accompanied by:

• scan of valid piece of identification (PDF)
• CV in English (PDF)
• link to audition video (specifications below)
• proof of paid registration fee (€ 30,-)

Only applications that are accompanied by all the required documentation will be considered.

9. New and returning applicants are required to submit a link to their audition video. Links to YouTube, Videmo or similar streaming platforms are welcome, videos that have to be downloaded will not be considered. Recordings made with a smartphone are also permitted. Piano accompaniment is desiderable but not an exclusion criterion.

10. Audition repertoire: 
Violin – any Mozart concerto (exposition 1^st mvt.)
Viola – Hoffmeister or Stamitz concerto (exposition 1^st mvt.)
Cello – Haydn concerto D-major (exposition 1^st mvt.)
Double bass – Dittersdorf or Vanhal concerto (exposition 1^st mvt.)
Flute – any Mozart concerto (exposition 1^st mvt.)
Oboe – Mozart concerto (exposition 1^st mvt.)
Clarinet – Mozart concerto (exposition 1^st mvt.)
Bassoon – Mozart concerto (exposition 1^st mvt.)
Horn – any Mozart concerto (exposition 1^st mvt.)
Trumpet – Haydn concerto (exposition 1^st mvt.)
Trombone – Prelude of any Bach Suite (entire movement), Excerpts: Tuba Mirum, Bolero, Walküre

11. Fees:

• Registration fee: € 30,- to be paid at the time of application (see application form for payment instructions)
• Participation fee: € 150,- to be paid upon admission

12. Compensation:
All students are entitled to an annual lump-sum cost compensation to cover their travel expenses to and from the Gustav Mahler Academy of € 500,- for 2025 and € 500,- for 2026, which will be paid by bank transfer at the end of each period, if the student has competed that year’s Gustav Mahler Academy.
On tour all students receive a lump-sum reimbursement of expenses of € 100,- for each day on tour. This amount will be added to the € 500,- cost compensation mentioned above.

13. Room and board will be covered by the Gustav Mahler Academy. Accommodation will be in double rooms, in exceptional cases in triple rooms.

14. Each student will receive an individual timetable, based on the presence of the relevant faculty member and production requirements. Dates of arrival and departure may vary for different instrument groups.

15. Attandance of all lessons, rehearsals and concerts on the student’s personal schedule is compulsory.

16. Course language is English.

For any further questions regarding the Gustav Mahler Academy please write to Alessandra Caramaschi (caramaschi@busoni-mahler.eu).