The Australian National Academy of Music has announced that violinist Johnny van Gend will join the Bavarian State Opera’s Orchestra Academy in Munich, as part of a new partnership between the two organisations.

Johnny van GendJohnny van Gend. Photo: supplied

The partnership will see the prestigious Orchestra Academy provide a dedicated position for ANAM musicians or alumni in its two-year residency program, in which students participate in countless orchestral performances and chamber music concerts as well as receiving weekly instrumental instruction, mentorship and workshops. The residency is made possible by the support of The Hansen Little Foundation.

“I’m very excited to work with and learn from one of the greatest opera orchestras in the world, and especially to catch the last year of the great conductor Kirill Petrenko, before he takes up the position of Chief Conductor with the Berlin Philharmonic,” Van Gend said. “I’ve heard it said that every good musician needs to have a time in which they are obsessed with opera, so I’m looking forward to starting mine soon!”

“The Bavarian State Opera is the source of incredible masterpieces, with world premiere performances across its history of operas by the likes of...