Founded by Claudio Abbado in Vienna in 1986/87, the GMJO is today regarded as the world’s leading youth orchestra and is under the patronage of the Council of Europe. The GMJO was the first international youth orchestra to hold open auditions in the former Eastern Bloc. In 1992, the GMJO opened up to musicians aged up to 26 from all over Europe. At the annual auditions organized in more than 25 European cities, its members are selected from over 2500 applicants. The GMJO tour repertoire ranges from classical to contemporary music with an emphasis on symphonic works of the Romantic and late Romantic periods.
Its high artistic level and international success have motivated many leading musicians to perform with the GMJO, such as conductors from Claudio Abbado to Franz Welser-Möst and soloists from Martha Argerich to Frank Peter Zimmermann. The GMJO is a regular guest at the most prestigious concert halls and festivals of the world: Vienna Musikverein, Hamburg Elbphilharmonie, Amsterdam Concertgebouw, Teatro alla Scala di Milano, Dresden Semperoper, BBC Proms and, for many years, the Salzburg Festival.
Numerous former members are now members of leading European orchestras, often in principal positions. In 2012, a partnership with the Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden was agreed and expanded in 2024 in cooperation with the Dresdner Philharmonie im Kulturpalast. On its 25th anniversary, the GMJO was appointed “Ambassador UNICEF Austria”.
Erste Group and Vienna Insurance Group – Main Sponsors of the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester