The COE Academy was created in 2009 in order to give a select group of exceptional students the chance to study with the principal players of COE and, importantly, to give the students the opportunity to travel “on tour” with the orchestra, to experience, understand and be inspired by the orchestra’s unique artistic and European ethos and passion for making music. COE Academy students are usually postgraduate students or young professionals who are recommended to the scheme by a member of the orchestra or are selected by audition as part of certain partnership programmes (i.e. currently with EUYO, Royal College of Music and Royal Northern College of Music). To ensure that places are offered to students on the basis of merit alone, all successful candidates receive full scholarships: tuition costs as well as travel, hotel and subsistence expenses are paid for by the orchestra. Apart from outstanding ability, the only other requirement is that they must be European citizens and resident in a European member state. Each Academy student spends 3-5 days on tour with the orchestra receiving individual lessons and coaching from COE principals. Students sometimes have the chance to play with the Orchestra during rehearsals and play chamber music with other students and with members of COE. They are made to feel as if they are a member of the Orchestra for the time they are “on tour” and can experience the idealism and unique ethos of the COE: to share the member’s passion for making music at the highest level with like-minded friends from diverse European backgrounds. The next chamber music course at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester will take place between 12 and 14 February 2019 under the guidance of Lucy Gould (violin), Richard Lester (cello) and Matthew Wilkie (bassoon). The RNCM Concert Orchestera is directed by Lucy Gould for a public performance of Mozart's "Prague" Symphony No. 38, interspersed with New miniatures for wind ensemble by Sebastian Winter and Robin Wallington. This lunchtime concert takes place on Thursday 14 February at 1:15pm. The wind players of the COE Academy are supported by the Rupert Hughes Will Trust in memory of the late Rupert Hughes.