Orchestre Français des Jeunes

Orchestre Français des Jeunes
Youth orchestra
Short name	OFJ
Founded	1982 (1982)
Location	Paris, France
Principal conductor	Michael Schønwandt
Website	www.ofj.fr

The Orchestre Français des Jeunes (literal translation: French Youth Orchestra, French: [ɔʁkɛstʁə fʁɑ̃sɛ de ʒœn], OFJ) is the national youth orchestra of France. The OFJ is a member of the European Federation of National Youth Orchestras.[1]

History

The French Ministry of Culture founded the OFJ in 1982.[2][3] It consists of young musicians of ages 16 to 25, selected by audition.

In 2013, to mark the 50th anniversary of the Élysée Treaty, the OFJ performed a series of concerts together with its German counterpart, the Bundesjugendorchester, under the direction of Dennis Russell Davies.[4]

The current music director of the OFJ is Michael Schønwandt, since 2021. Schønwandt is scheduled to conclude his OFJ tenure in 2025.[5] In September 2023, the OFJ announced the appointment of Kristiina Poska as its next music director, the first female conductor ever named to the post, effective in the summer of 2025.[6][7]

Music directors

• Jérôme Kaltenbach (1982–1983)
• Emmanuel Krivine (1984–1985)
• Sylvain Cambreling (1986)
• Emmanuel Krivine (1987–1991)
• Marek Janowski (1992–1998)
• Jesús López Cobos (1998–2001)
• Emmanuel Krivine (2001–2004)
• Jesus Lopez Cobos (2004)
• Jean-Claude Casadesus (2005–2008)
• Dennis Russell Davies (2008)
• Kwamé Ryan (2009–2010)
• Dennis Russell Davies (2011-2014)
• David Zinman (2015–2016)
• Fabien Gabel (2017–2020)[8]
• Michael Schønwandt (2021–present)

See also

• List of youth orchestras

References

1. European Federation of National Youth Orchestras. "Members&Partners". Retrieved 9 December 2020.
2. Kubik, Suzana (18 July 2018). "À quoi servent les orchestres de jeunes ?". France Musique (in French). Retrieved 7 December 2020.
3. Orchestre Français des Jeunes. "OFJ". www.ofj.fr. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
4. "Deutsche und französische Jugendorchester beim Élysée-Jubiläum". MUSIK HEUTE (in German). 15 August 2013. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
5. "Orchestre Français des Jeunes" (Press release). HarrisonParrott. October 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
6. "Kristiina Poska appointed Music Director of Orchestre Français des Jeunes" (Press release). HarrisonParrott. 19 September 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
7. "La cheffe estonienne Kristiina Poska nommée à la tête de l'Orchestre Français des Jeunes". Radio France (France Musique). 19 September 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
8. "OFJ / Fabien Gabel, nouveau directeur musical". Association Française des Orchestres (in French). 18 October 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2020.