National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Germany

The Bundesjazzorchester is the top young jazz orchestra in Germany. Together with renowned conductors and lecturers, outstanding young musicians form an orchestra with the highest musical standards. Founded in 1988 by Peter Herbolzheimer, the Bundesjazzorchester is now recognised as an excellent talent factory for future jazz musicians.

Prof Niels Klein and Theresia Philipp are closely associated with the orchestra as artistic directors. Together with them and changing guest conductors, the young talents aged between 17 and 24 - almost all of whom are students at German and international music academies - regularly develop new programmes and present them in subsequent concerts at home and abroad. They are accompanied by an international team of teachers and professionals who support them musically and offer them a professional environment and optimal conditions.

After passing the audition, each member is accepted into the Bujazzo programme for a maximum of two years. The 900 or so graduates include such outstanding musicians as Till Brönner, Roger Cicero, Tom Gaebel, Julia Hülsmann, Frederik Köster, Robert Landfermann, Matthias Schriefl, Sebastian Sternal, Peter Weniger, Nils Wogram, Michael Wollny and Nils Wülker.

The Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, Westdeutscher Rundfunk, Gesellschaft zur Verwertung von Leistungsschutzrechten (GVL) and Mercedes-Benz Group AG are sharing the funding for the project. The participants also contribute to the funding with their own contributions.

The Bundesjazzorchester won the Frankfurt Music Prize in 2018 and the ECHO JAZZ Prize in 2012. In 2010, the ensemble received the Westdeutscher Rundfunk Jazz Prize and in 1997 the German Music Prize.

Since 2010, the WDR Big Band has served as a mentor ensemble to the Bundesjazzorchester. Since 2014 and 2016, Bujazzo has been collaborating with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra (England) and the Nationaal Jeugd Jazz Orkest (Netherlands).