The orchestra, which previously performed as the University of Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, is once again officially known as the Swedish National Orchestra Academy at the University of Gothenburg. This change will strengthen the orchestra's profile as a professional training environment for future orchestral musicians.
"By reinstating the name 'Swedish National Orchestra Academy', we want to clarify the professional environment that potential students will be part of every day. We work with an advanced repertoire, professional musicians, and working methods that reflect the realities of today's orchestral world. This is made clearer by the name change, especially for prospective applicants," says Simon Crawford-Phillips, Artistic Director of the Master's program in Symphonic Orchestra Performance.
A learning environment with strong professional foundations
The Swedish National Orchestra Academy is the name used when students on the Master's program in Symphonic Orchestra Performance and the Bachelor's program in Classical Music at the Academy of Music and Drama perform. The orchestra plays a central role in the students' education, providing them with advanced orchestral experience in close collaboration with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra and the Gothenburg Opera Orchestra.
Students work alongside renowned conductors, soloists and teachers who are active orchestral musicians themselves. This gives them valuable practical experience and a clear connection to the professional music world while preparing them for an international career.
A clearer public profile
The name change concerns the orchestra's public identity - that is, the name used when it performs on stage. While it does not affect the formal names or content of the degree programs, it strengthens the orchestra's visibility and highlights the high artistic level made possible through collaborations with some of the country's leading orchestras.
This change was recognised during a ceremony at the concert in Gothenburg Concert Hall on 28 February 2026. In attendance were Honorary Doctor Sture Carlsson and Simon Crawford-Phillips, Artistic Director of the Master's program in Symphonic Orchestra Performance. The evening featured music by Emilie Mayer, Ludwig van Beethoven and Gustav Mahler, performed by the Swedish National Orchestra Academy under the direction of Jurjen Hempel, with Signe Olofsson on piano.
