Many orchestra positions remain vacant in Germany
The number of musicians in German professional orchestras is stable. However, almost one in twenty positions cannot be filled for various reasons.
In 2026, there will be 9,748 designated posts, 33 fewer than in 2024, writes the German music and orchestra association Unisono. The orchestra promoters are actually filling far fewer positions. There are currently just 9292, 456 of which are vacant. According to Unisono Co-Managing Director Robin von Olshausen, there are many reasons for this. A shortage of skilled workers, regional location disadvantages and sometimes long recruitment processes make it difficult to fill positions. The Erfurt Philharmonic Orchestra (21%), the orchestra of the Komische Oper Berlin (18%) and the Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne (14%), for example, have worryingly high vacancy rates.
Unison is particularly concerned about the increasing uncertainty surrounding funding in public broadcasting. Radio orchestras, choirs and big bands are increasingly affected by this. There are currently concrete plans at SWR and SR to cut jobs at the Deutsche Radiophilharmonie. This step would affect an excellent orchestra that is very strongly anchored in the region and is still suffering from the consequences of a previous merger.
