Currently Akademiska Orkestern consists of 50-60 musicians and its base is at Sibelius Museum, where the rehearsals are taking place. In addition to weekly rehearsals the orchestra has weekend and section rehearsals.
Akademiska Orkestern gives several concerts every year. In addition to these concerts, its traditions consist of academic festivities of Åbo Akademi University and the Christmas concerts together with the student choirs Florakören and Brahe Djäknar. Akademiska Orkestern also performs annually contemporary music including first performances. Akademiska Orkestern has a very close connection to the music of Jean Sibelius. Besides the classical repertoire, the orchestra has performed film music, tangos and folk music.
Orchestra’s tours have always been great experiences to everyone. One of the absolute all-time highlights has been the tour to Slovakia and Austria, where the concert was sold out in Vienna. On this tour Akademiska Orkestern performed concertos of Grieg and Sibelius. Same kind of musical euphoria has been possible to feel in concert with Finnish bass Matti Salminen. Orchestra has had a great pleasure to have many great artists as its soloists, among others pianist Folke Gräsbeck, cellist Andreas Helling, violinist Christoph Ehrenfellner, soprano Camilla Nylund, soprano Therese Karlsson, mezzo-soprano Monica Groop, tenor Dan Karlström, entertainer/actor Viktor Klimenko, cellist Christoph Habicht, and mandolin player Dorina Frati. Furthermore, Akademiska Orkestern has given soloist possibilities to many young artists who study at Sibelius Academy.