The Czech Philharmonic and the Music Centre Slovakia have signed a memorandum of cooperation
On Thursday 3 September 2026, at the Rudolfinum in Prague, the Czech Philharmonic and the Music Centre Slovakia signed a Memorandum of Cooperation regarding the preparation and implementation of the Czech-Slovak Youth Orchestra project in November 2027. The memorandum was signed on behalf of the Czech Philharmonic by its Director General, David Mareček, and on behalf of the Music Centre by its Director, Igor Valentovič.
The signing of the memorandum was preceded by working meetings between Petr Kadlec and Daniela Dvořáčková, representatives of the Czech Philharmonic’s educational programmes, and Adrian Rajter and Eva Planková, representatives of the Music Education Department at the Music Centre Slovakia, which took place in Bratislava and Prague.
The Czech-Slovak Youth Orchestra will be made up of young musicians studying at conservatoires and higher music education institutions in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, as well as Czech and Slovak musicians studying at comparable institutions abroad. Members of the Czech Philharmonic, leading Czech and Slovak orchestral musicians and other invited experts will be involved in their training.
The aim of the project is to provide the next generation of professional orchestral musicians with experience of working in a demanding international environment under the guidance of a renowned conductor, tutors and other artistic figures. The project will also serve as a reminder of the cultural and historical ties between the Czech and Slovak nations and the enduring value of mutual dialogue and cooperation.
A key conceptual foundation of the project is the orchestra as a community in which the creativity, responsibility and dedication of individual musicians come together in the service of a shared artistic goal. Orchestral playing thus becomes a natural illustration of democratic collaboration – it respects the voice of the individual whilst at the same time requiring attentive listening, trust, discipline and collective action.
The project will culminate in two public concerts: on 14 November 2027 in Bratislava and on 17 November 2027 in Prague. The Prague concert will take place, symbolically, on the Day of the Struggle for Freedom and Democracy and to mark the anniversary of the Velvet Revolution. The concert programme will feature significant works by Czech, Slovak and international composers.