Insula camerata – Open call

Insula camerata is launching its call for applications for its second cohort, which will span the 2027-2028 and 2028-2029 seasons. During these two seasons, the academy musicians will deepen their historically informed approach to the great symphonic works of Schubert, Brahms, Berlioz and Schumann, and, as an independent ensemble, explore the Baroque and Classical repertoire.

Insula camerata is intended for young instrumentalists at the start of their careers, graduates of European conservatoires or recognised international institutions, who already have experience on period instruments.

The second cohort of Insula camerata will bring together 26 string and wind players – violins, violas, cellos, double basses, flutes, oboes, clarinets, bassoons, horns and trumpets – as well as additional musicians on a waiting list for occasional engagements.

The academy musicians will be recruited for two seasons, 2027-2028 (from January 2028) and 2028-2029 (until the end of June 2029), and will take part in 3 or 4 projects each season.

• Hold a degree, or be about to graduate, from a European conservatoire or a recognised international institution. All applicants must have graduated before 11 January 2028.*
• Be born after 11 January 1998 and be of legal age (18) on 12 January 2028.*
• Already have experience on period instruments.
• Not have taken part, as an academy musician, in the previous edition of Insula camerata.
• Confirm priority availability for Insula camerata’s activities throughout the two seasons of the academy programme (three or four projects per season).

*Exemptions may be granted in exceptional cases, upon written request to production@insulacamerata.fr.

• artistic development and in-depth experience of orchestral playing in a professional setting, to the highest standards;
• a double-orchestra cycle built around symphonic masterpieces by Schubert, Berlioz, Brahms and Schumann, with some concerts recorded or filmed;
• 2 to 4 concerts, in France and abroad, as Insula camerata, an independent ensemble, mentored by the principals of Insula orchestra;
• participation in Insula orchestra’s tours and recordings;
• the opportunity to engage in musicological research, essential to historically informed performance;
• an introduction to audience engagement and outreach, an important part of a musician’s work;
• opportunities with the orchestra’s partner institutions to support the next steps in the academy musicians’ careers.

• Pablo GUTIÉRREZ RUIZ – violin
• Emmanuel JACQUES – cello
• Jean-Marc PHILIPPE – oboe
• Georg KOEHLER – horn

Each academy musician will be mentored by their section leader during the sessions with Insula orchestra.

The planned repertoire for the two seasons will include works by Schubert, Berlioz, Brahms, Schumann and Vivaldi, among others. Full details can be found in the complete call documents, available to download below.

Please refer to the documents below for the repertoire for each selection round and full practical details of the application process.

From 13 November 2026 to 11 January 2027
Application period and submission of video recordings.

Documents required:

• completed application form;
• photo ID;
• CV;
• short cover letter;
• diploma or proof of enrolment;
• links to recent videos of the applicant playing on period instruments.

The repertoire is described in the complete call documents.

Application fee: €30 (thirty euros), payable when applying, by PayPal, credit card or bank transfer. Payment instructions are provided in the application form.

From 18 January 2027
Publication of the first-round results on the Insula camerata page, for applicants based in North America.

From 28 January 2027
Publication of the first-round results on the Insula camerata page, for applicants auditioning in person in Europe.

26 January (USA) and 4 February 2027 (Europe)
Publication, on the Insula camerata page, of the list of audition venues and times assigned to each applicant admitted to the second round.

4 to 6 February 2027
Live auditions in New York (USA)*.
* Online auditions are being considered, exclusively for residents of North America.

1 to 7 March 2027
Live auditions in Paris, Geneva and other European cities (under consideration), according to the audition schedule published on 4 February on the Insula camerata page. The list of audition cities will be published from 26 January 2027.
The organisers reserve the right to cancel or change the auditions in one or more of the planned cities.

From 23 March 2027
Final results: announcement of the academy musicians selected for Insula camerata.

12 January 2028
First meeting of Insula camerata at La Seine Musicale (1 île Seguin – 92100 Boulogne-Billancourt, France) and start of activities*.
*Probationary period until 2 February 2028.

Rehearsals, concerts and recordings will be paid in accordance with the French collective agreement for public performing arts companies (IDCC 1285).

Financial and/or logistical assistance with accommodation and travel costs to take part in the academy’s productions may be considered upon request. Details in the complete call documents.

Insula camerata
La Seine Musicale, 1 île Seguin, 92100 Boulogne-Billancourt – France

contact@insulacamerata.fr