About the OFJ
Founded in 1982 as a French Ministry of Culture initiative, the National Youth Orchestra of France (OFJ) trains young musicians from all over France in the orchestral professions. It picks out promising young artists, bringing them together in intensive sessions and giving them the opportunity to work with accomplished international conductors and world-famous soloists. The OFJ performs in France, at the Philharmonie de Paris, Lille and Dijon, and at leading festivals as well as abroad on summer tours. Every year, three sessions gather together around one hundred musicians from music academies. These sessions offer a chance to study emblematic orchestral works from the 18th century to the present day alongside seasoned professionals.
Background
Since it was set up in 1982, the OFJ has had plenty of adventures! Find out about the conductors, highlights and residencies that have marked the life of the orchestra.
1982
The orchestra’s 1st residency at the Saline Royale d’Arc-et-Senans
Musical Director Maurice Fleuret sets up an “orchestra school” to train young French instrumentalists in the profession of orchestra musician in response to demand from French orchestra communities that are struggling to recruit locally. The first orchestra conductor is Jérôme Kaltenbach, and the students are supervised by musicians from the Orchestre de Paris.
September 5th, 1st Parisian concert:
Great success in the Salle Pleyel!
1987
Greek and Israeli Tour
1989
The OFJ’s Indian Tour
with the Orchestre de Paris Choir
1993
Residency at the Opéra de Vichy
With its German and Italian counterparts, the OFJ creates the European Federation of National Youth Orchestras (EFNYO)
1995
On Marek Janowski’s initiative, a shorter interim session is launched, more similar to the rhythm of a professional orchestra
1996
15 YEARS!
1st concert at Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw to celebrate the orchestra’s 15th anniversary
1998
Polish Tour in collaboration with Polskie Radio
2000
1st concert at the Konzerthaus Berlin as part of the first edition of the Young Euro Classic Festival, set up on the initiative of the EFNYO
2001
Residency at the Auditorium de Dijon
2002
20 YEARS!
20 concerts in 24 hours, and 300 musicians on stage at the Auditorium de Dijon
2006
Creation of the OFJ Baroque
Up to 2018, its conductors have included Christophe Rousset, Paul Agnew, Leonardo Garcia Alarcon and Rinaldo Alessandrini
2007
Residency at the Grand Théâtre de Provence in Aix-en-Provence
2009
Kwamé Ryan conducts the OFJ performing Rachmaninov’s Symphony N° 2 for an audience of 30,000 at the Fête de l’Humanité!
The European programme Musxchange is set up
The Cultural Outreach training programme is launched
2012
30 YEARS!
Concerts at the Théâtre du Châtelet, Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord and Salle Pleyel
World première of Philip Glass’ Symphony N° 10
2017
Residency in the Hauts-de-France region
2018
Romanian Tour
2019
L’OFJ Baroque prend la forme d’une session consacrée au jeu et répertoire classiques
The OFJ organises the 1st edition of the CEREX (European Centre of Resources and Excellence), designed to train young European musicians in cultural outreach
2020
The OFJ is the first national orchestra to adopt an Eco-responsible Charter
2022
40 years!
World première of Suzanne Giraud’s “Liesse”
Anniversary concert at the Philharmonie de Paris
Romanian Tour
2023
Residency at the Saline Royale d’Arc-et-Senans and the Opéra de Dijon
Musical direction
Kristiina Poska
Musical director
Acclaimed for her artistry and versatility, Kristiina Poska stands among the most sought-after conductors on today’s international music scene. She serves as Music Director of the Orchestre Français des Jeunes since 2025, and as Principal Guest Conductor of the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra since the 2021/22 season. Previously, she held the position of Chief Conductor of the Flanders Symphony Orchestra from 2019/20 through 2024/25.
This season, Poska debuts with Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Lucerne Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Essen Philharmonic, Sinfonia Varsovia, Orquesta Sinfónica del Principado de Asturias, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. She also returns to the Orchestre National de Metz, Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, and Minnesota Orchestra. Her final performance as Chief Conductor of the Flanders Symphony Orchestra will feature Beethoven’s Symphony No. 4 and Mahler’s Symphony No. 4. As Music Director of the Orchestre Français des Jeunes, she leads two European tours, with performances at the Opéra de Dijon, BOZAR Brussels, and Philharmonie de Paris, including a special concert for the Biennale des Quatuors à cordes.
Equally prolific in the operatic repertoire, Poska’s current season features a return to the Norwegian National Opera with Barrie Kosky’s production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute.
Her previous appointments include Chief Conductor of the Flanders Symphony Orchestra (2019/20–2024/25), Principal Conductor of Cappella Academica (2006–2011), Kapellmeister at Komische Oper Berlin (2012–2016), and Music Director for Theater Basel (2019/20). With the Flanders Symphony Orchestra, Poska continues her recording of the complete Beethoven symphony cycle for the Fuga Libera label.
Guillaume Chilemme
Conductor of the classical session
Starting in November 2026, violinist Guillaume Chilemme will be the guest conductor for the autumn classical music season, dedicated to 18th-century repertoire.
First prize winner at the Swedish International Duo Competition and third prize winner at the Marguerite Long-Jacques Thibaud International Competition, Guillaume Chilemme is among the most renowed violinists of his generation.
His passion for chamber music, that he had shared for many years with pianist Nathanaël Gouin, led him to form the Dutilleux Quartet in 2020 alongside Matthieu Handtschoewercker, Thomas Duran, and David Gaillard. He also performs regularly with Renaud Capuçon, Edgar Moreau, and Adrien La Marca around the world. Guillaume Chilemme has been concertmaster of the Orchestre National d’Auvergne since 2016 and is also a guest concertmaster with prestigious European orchestras, including the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse, the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra, the Gulbenkian Orchestra of Lisbon, and the Camerata Salzburg.
A sought-after soloist, he has performed with the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse under the baton of Tugan Sokhiev, the Orchestre Victor-Hugo Franche-Comté, the ensemble Les Dissonances, the Orchestre National de Bretagne, and the Orchestre National d’Auvergne. He teaches at the International Menuhin Music Academy (Switzerland). Guillaume Chilemme plays a magnificent violin by Nicolas Lupot, the Château Pape Clément Quartet from 1795, generously loaned by Bernard Magrez.
The musical directors of the OFJ symphony orchestra since 1982
1982 – 1983 Jérôme Kaltenbach / 1984 – 1997 & 2001 – 2003 Emmanuel Krivine
1986 Sylvain Cambreling / 1992 – 1997 Marek Janowski
1998 – 2000 & 2004 Jésus Lopez Cobos / 2005 – 2007 Jean-Claude Casadesus
2008 & 2011 – 2014 Dennis Russell Davies / 2009 – 2010 Kwamé Ryan
2015 – 2016 David Zinman / 2017 – 2020 Fabien Gabel
2021 – 2024 Michael Schønwandt
2025 – Kristiina Poska
The soloists
Beth Taylor
Mezzo-soprano
Beth Taylor is one of today’s most electrifying young mezzo-sopranos.
In the 2025/26 season, she is set to make a number of notable debuts and returns. She will make her Carnegie Hall debut in May 2025 with the English Concert and Harry Bicket, performing her acclaimed interpretation of Cornelia in Handel’s Giulio Cesare on tour across the US and UK. She will also make her debut with the LA Philharmonic in Mahler’s 2nd Symphony tour in LA, Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei and Tainan, conducted by Gustavo Dudamel.
Over the last several years, the mezzo has made a number of important debuts. In summer 2022, Beth made her acclaimed debut at the Glyndebourne Festival as Bradamante in a new production of Alcina and as Cornelia in the well-loved revival of Giulio Cesare. Her recent debut in the title role of Cenerentola with the Opéra de Lorraine received huge accolades for her “bold, unique and polished interpretation of an otherwise not immediately obvious role for her voice-type” and “radiant coloratura”.
She is a grand finalist of the 2023 BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition, the winner of the 2022 Elizabeth Connell Award, 3rd prize winner of the 2019 Wigmore Hall Competition and the winner of the 2018 Gianni Bergamo Classical Music Awards. She was shortlised for the “Newcomer” award at the International Opera Awards 2023.
Matthew Cairns
Tenor
One of CBC’s 2019 ‘30 Hot Classical Musicians Under 30,’ Canadian Matthew Cairns is making a name for himself as one of the most exciting tenors on the rise.
In the 2025/26 season, Mr. Cairns makes his role debut as Cavaradossi (Tosca) with National Arts Centre Orchestra under the baton of Alexander Shelley, and his house debut at Seattle Opera in the role of Don José (Carmen) under Ludovic Morlot.
Last season, Mr. Cairns returned to the Canadian Opera Company as Ismaele (Nabucco) and Tambourmajor (Wozzeck). He made his Paris Opera debut as Froh (Das Rheingold) and sang Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with Orchestre Métropolitain and Vancouver Symphony. He also sang Messagero (Aida) and Shepherd/Sailor (Tristan und Isolde) at Festival International de Lanaudière. In 2023/24, Mr. Cairns covered Leonard (The Hours) at the Metropolitan Opera and made his France debut in Thaïs (Nicias) with Opéra de Toulon.
Sandrine Piau
Soprano
Sandrine Piau, who first became famous through her performances of Baroque music, now has a wide repertoire and stands out as an exceptional figure un the world of opera.
She performs regularly in concert, from New York to Paris, London, Tokyo, Munich, Zurich, Salzburg and Hambourg,and has performed numerous roles at the Paris Opera, the Salzburg Festival, La Monnaie, the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Covent Garden and the Festival d’Aix- en-Provence. She continues to collaborate with renowned conductors such as William Christie, Philippe Herreweghe, Christophe Rousset, Gustav Leonhardt, Ivor Bolton, Ton Koopman, René Jacobs, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Laurence Equilbey, and Klaus Mäkelä. In recital, she performs with pianists Alexandre Tharaud, Christian Ivaldi, J. Van Immerseel, Susan Manoff, Eric Le Sage, and David Kadouch, with whom she is embarking on a new collaboration.
In recent seasons, she has appeared in notable productions, including Così fan tutte at the Bayerische Staatsoper, the world premieres of Marc-André Dalbavie’s Melancholie des Widerstands (Madame Pflaum) at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden and Kaija Saariaho’s Innocence (Mother-in-Law) at the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, as well as William Christie’s anniversary concert with Les Arts Florissants at the Opéra de Bordeaux. She has also performed with leading ensembles such as Il Pomo d’Oro, the Ensemble Pygmalion, and Les Talens Lyriques.
Sandrine Piau has an extensive discography and currently records exclusively for Alpha Classics. Sandrine Piau was named a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters in 2006 and was named “Opera Singer of the Year” at the Victoires de la Musique Classique in 2009.
Edgar Moreau
Cello
Voice – Soprano Discovered at the Rostropovich Competition in 2009 and the Tchaikovsky Competition in 2011, Edgar Moreau is now one of the most renowned cellists of his generation. The winner of major awards, he has won two Victoires de la Musique Classique and an ECHO Classik. He performs in the world’s greatest concert halls and regularly collaborates with prestigious conductors. Edgar Moreau also works with orchestras around the world, such as the New York Philharmonic, the London Symphony, and the Royal Philharmonic.
His discography reflects his great artistic diversity, exploring a wide repertoire in collaboration with various artists. He combines Baroque concertos, French works, original programs, and chamber music, reflecting his constant musical curiosity. His latest release in November 2024 on Warner Classics is a disc entitled “Rococo,” featuring Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations with the Luzerner SinfonieOrchester and Michael Sanderling, and works for cello and piano with David Kadouch (Prokofiev, Rachmaninov, Dvorak, Shostakovich).
Since 2023, he has been teaching cello at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris.
Residency
Since the summer of 2023, the orchestra has been in residence in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, at the Saline Royale d’Arc-et-Senans and the Opéra de Dijon. The August and autumn sessions are to be held in the Saline Royale (royal salt works), a UNESCO World Heritage site, its principal residence. The Opéra de Dijon will be hosting the winter session. This residency is accompanied by a number of projects and partnerships designed to bring the orchestra to the attention of all kinds of audiences, providing training in an essential aspect of the orchestral musician’s profession.
The OFJ and Europe
The OFJ’s European influence is essential: every year, the orchestra tours Europe, showcasing “French sound” and introducing young people to other professional cultures. In parallel, the OFJ is an active member of European projects for orchestral training: it participates in EUYO (European Union Youth Orchestra) auditions (taking responsibility for the first round of auditions), and is a member of the EFNYO, the network of European youth orchestras. In this capacity, it takes part in the musXchange project, which enables countries to offer immersive sessions in other youth orchestras (e.g. a Dutch trumpeter joined the OFJ for the summer session, while a French cellist is joining the JONDE, Spain’s youth orchestra, for one of its sessions).
During lyrical session dedicated to Le Château de Barbe-Bleue, four musical european students came from Portugal, Malta and Italy have joined their french colleagues.
Are you interested in the EUYO?
An Eco-responsible Orchestra
Back in 2020, the OFJ adopted an eco-responsible charter, which commits it to reducing waste, limiting air travel and encouraging short distribution channels for its catering. The orchestra is deeply committed to this approach: in 2025, one out of every two meals served to students is vegetarian, and the orchestra chose to travel by train and coach and did not fly on its annual tour.