Theresia Orchestra is a prominent international youth orchestra specifically addressing the Classical repertoire on period instruments. Named after the Austrian empress Maria Theresia, the orchestra was founded in 2012 at the instigation of a group of patrons. It brings together musicians under the age of 28 who specialise in historically informed performance practice at the leading European music institutions, accompanying them on their journey into professional life.
The orchestra meets several times during the year for residency periods under the guidance of internationally renowned artists and star-system conductors. It performs at prestigious venues, theatres and festivals throughout Europe. In parallel, the project offers its participants a tailormade capacity building programme to enable the acquisition of new fundamental professional assets and skills. Theresia also includes an Ambassadorship Programme to disseminate classical music and its historic interpretation among new and young audiences in several European countries, fostering integration and dialogue between cultures.
The orchestra’s musicians come from more than 40 different countries from all over the world, holding residencies and concerts throughout Europe in Italy, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Spain, Slovenia and Poland. Theresia has recently started a long-term collaboration with the German CD-label CPO for the publication of several CDs including works by Mattheson, Kraus, Eichner, Cimarosa, Traetta, Witt and many others.
In 2022, Theresia entered the group of the leading European youth orchestras co-funded by the European Commission alongside EUYO (European Union Youth Orchestra) and a few other talent development orchestral projects.
A member of the European Early Music Network (REMA), Theresia Orchestra is currently supported and managed by the Italian foundation ICONS and by the European Commission through the project EMPOWER funded by the Creative Europe Programme.