The Orchestre Français des Jeunes (literal translation: ''French Youth Orchestra'', , OFJ) is the national
youth orchestra
A youth orchestra is an orchestra made of Youth, young musicians, typically ranging from pre-teens or teenagers to those of Music school, conservatory age. Depending on the age range and selectiveness, they may serve different purposes. Orchest ...
of
France
France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
. The OFJ is a member of the
European Federation of National Youth Orchestras
The European Federation of National Youth Orchestras (EFNYO) is the association of the national youth orchestras of Europe. Its mission statement is to "provide a unique platform for the exchange of experience in orchestra training". It is co-fund ...
.
History
The
French Ministry of Culture
The Ministry of Culture () is the ministry (government department), ministry of the Government of France in charge of List of museums in France, national museums and the . Its goal is to maintain the French identity through the promotion and pro ...
founded the OFJ in 1982. 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 Élysée Treaty was a treaty of friendship between France and West Germany, signed by President Charles de Gaulle and Chancellor Konrad Adenauer on 22 January 1963 at the Élysée Palace in Paris. With the signing of this treaty, Germ ...
, the OFJ performed a series of concerts together with its German counterpart, the
Bundesjugendorchester, under the direction of
Dennis Russell Davies
Dennis Russell Davies (born April 16, 1944, in Toledo, Ohio) is an American conductor and pianist. He is chief conductor of the Brno Philharmonic and of the MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra.
Biography
Davies studied piano and conducting at ...
.
Michael Schønwandt
Michael Detlev Schønwandt (born 10 September 1953 in Frederiksberg) is a Danish conductor. In Denmark, he studied piano, theory, and composition, and later continued musical studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London.
Biography
In 1979, Sc ...
served as music director of the OFJ from 2021 to the close of 2024. In September 2023, the OFJ announced the appointment of
Kristiina Poska
Kristiina Poska (born 12 July 1978, Türi, Estonia) is an Estonian conductor.
Biography
At age eight, Poska began piano lessons. She graduated from Türi Music School in piano studies in 1994, and then studied choral conducting at the Georg Ots ...
as its next music director, the first female conductor ever named to the post, effective in the summer of 2025. Poska formally assumed the post as of January 2025, ahead of the originally announced schedule.
Music directors
* Jérôme Kaltenbach (1982–1983)
*
Emmanuel Krivine
Emmanuel Krivine (born 7 May 1947, Grenoble) is a French conductor.
Biography
The son of a Polish mother and a Russian father, Krivine studied the violin as a youth. He was a winner of the ''Premier Prix'' at the Paris Conservatoire, at age 16. ...
(1984–1985)
*
Sylvain Cambreling (1986)
*
Emmanuel Krivine
Emmanuel Krivine (born 7 May 1947, Grenoble) is a French conductor.
Biography
The son of a Polish mother and a Russian father, Krivine studied the violin as a youth. He was a winner of the ''Premier Prix'' at the Paris Conservatoire, at age 16. ...
(1987–1991)
*
Marek Janowski
Marek Janowski (born 18 February 1939 in Warsaw) is a Polish-born German conductor.
Biography
Janowski grew up in Wuppertal, near Cologne, after his mother traveled there at the start of World War II to be with her parents. His father disappear ...
(1992–1998)
*
Jesús López Cobos (1998–2001)
*
Emmanuel Krivine
Emmanuel Krivine (born 7 May 1947, Grenoble) is a French conductor.
Biography
The son of a Polish mother and a Russian father, Krivine studied the violin as a youth. He was a winner of the ''Premier Prix'' at the Paris Conservatoire, at age 16. ...
(2001–2004)
*
Jesus Lopez Cobos (2004)
*
Jean-Claude Casadesus (2005–2008)
*
Dennis Russell Davies
Dennis Russell Davies (born April 16, 1944, in Toledo, Ohio) is an American conductor and pianist. He is chief conductor of the Brno Philharmonic and of the MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra.
Biography
Davies studied piano and conducting at ...
(2008)
*
Kwamé Ryan (2009–2010)
*
Dennis Russell Davies
Dennis Russell Davies (born April 16, 1944, in Toledo, Ohio) is an American conductor and pianist. He is chief conductor of the Brno Philharmonic and of the MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra.
Biography
Davies studied piano and conducting at ...
(2011-2014)
*
David Zinman
David Zinman (born July 9, 1936, in Brooklyn, New York) is a retired American conductor and violinist.
Education
After violin studies at Oberlin Conservatory, Zinman studied theory and composition at the University of Minnesota, earning his M.A. ...
(2015–2016)
*
Fabien Gabel (2017–2020)
*
Michael Schønwandt
Michael Detlev Schønwandt (born 10 September 1953 in Frederiksberg) is a Danish conductor. In Denmark, he studied piano, theory, and composition, and later continued musical studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London.
Biography
In 1979, Sc ...
(2021–2024)
*
Kristiina Poska
Kristiina Poska (born 12 July 1978, Türi, Estonia) is an Estonian conductor.
Biography
At age eight, Poska began piano lessons. She graduated from Türi Music School in piano studies in 1994, and then studied choral conducting at the Georg Ots ...
(2025–present)
See also
*
List of youth orchestras
References
Music education organizations
National youth orchestras
Francais des Jeunes
European youth orchestras
Musical groups established in 1982
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