Internship with OSI -Pilot project supporting young talents' artistic and professional growth

Young musicians at the beginning of their careers have successfully completed a year-long professional internship with the Orchestra della Svizzera italiana (OSI), gaining hands-on orchestral experience, refining their artistic and technical skills, and developing the interpersonal and organizational competencies needed for a sustainable career in music. Thanks to this structured transition from academic training to the professional world, participants are better positioned to enter the highly competitive job market and contribute actively to the cultural landscape in Switzerland and abroad. In the long term, the project helps ensure the vitality and continuity of musical excellence in Switzerland by strengthening the professional integration of emerging talents. It also contributes to cultural enrichment and intergenerational exchange within the musical community.

Young musicians face a critical challenge after completing their academic studies: entering a highly competitive job market where talent alone is not enough. Despite years of intensive training, the transition to professional life often lacks structured support. Graduates must compete in demanding auditions with limited openings and face international competition—some OSI auditions attract over 250 applicants per position. Opportunities to work alongside seasoned professionals are rare, making it harder to gain practical experience and develop key skills. This gap between training and real-world practice risks discouraging talented individuals and weakening the cultural sector’s renewal. With its international reputation and commitment to young musicians, OSI is ideally positioned to bridge this gap through a targeted orchestral traineeship.

The urgency to act lies in the growing mismatch between the high number of conservatory graduates and the limited pathways to professional employment. The lack of practical opportunities slows down their artistic and professional development and weakens the generational continuity essential to the music ecosystem. By offering a structured, high-level traineeship, OSI enables young musicians to acquire crucial experience, refine their artistic voice, and prepare for a career in top-level orchestras—thereby ensuring long-term impact on the classical music sector in Switzerland and beyond.

2025 marks the pilot year of OSI’s orchestral traineeship programme. Each year, OSI launches a call for a 50% internship position (e.g., tutti violin). Candidates apply via an online platform; selection is based on documentation, live audition, and interview. The selected trainee joins OSI for one concert season, taking part in approx. 140 services. Activities take place in Lugano and during tours in Switzerland and abroad. The programme includes: – Full immersion in a professional orchestra – Individual mentoring by principal players – Regular one-to-one lessons – Access to a quality instrument The structure ensures guided artistic growth and practical experience, supporting the transition from studies to a musical career.

For this project, there are no existing or planned collaborations with other partners.

This project effectively bridges the gap between academic training and professional careers, empowering young musicians with essential resources and opportunities to successfully establish themselves in the international music industry. Output: – Practical orchestral experience – Artistic and technical refinement – Organisational and teamwork skills – Intergenerational exchange and mentoring Outcome: – Stronger preparation for a professional career – Enhanced interpretive and interpersonal skills – Increased visibility through collaboration with a leading orchestra Long-term impact: – Promotion of musical culture and education – Support for sustainable music careers – Greater social cohesion through shared artistic practice – Renewal and continuity of orchestral tradition

This project is unique in the Swiss Italian region offering a rare, structured internship that bridges academic training and professional orchestral experience. It combines high-level artistic development with practical work alongside OSI’s seasoned musicians, fostering essential skills for a successful career. The Orchestra della Svizzera italiana (OSI) has the expertise, experience, and personnel to deliver this project, thanks to its long-standing tradition of excellence and strong international reputation. OSI’s deep network and proven ability to support young talent make it the ideal organization for this initiative. Foundations can trust OSI’s reliability and effective management to ensure the project’s cultural and social impact, supporting the sustainable growth of the next generation of musicians.