The Academy of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra marked its 25th anniversary on 29 October. The training institute gives young musicians the opportunity to rehearse and perform with the orchestra for a season. Current and former Academy members were preparing an anniversary concert at the Q-Factory in Amsterdam’s Oost district, under Finnish conductor Klaus Mäkelä, ahead of the concert at the Concertgebouw. About 100 musicians were involved, including former Academy members who had come to Amsterdam from across Europe. The concert was due to be attended by Queen Máxima, patron of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.

Among the participants were cellist Tom van Lent, one of the Academy’s first two students, and 24-year-old Belgian flutist Teresa de Broeck, one of 14 musicians admitted for the current season after a blind audition. De Broeck’s mentor is principal flutist Emily Beynon. Van Lent said the Academy offered young musicians the chance to learn to play with a professional orchestra at the highest level.