# Orchestra ## General Info - **Year Published**: 2026 - **BGG Rating**: 9.1 - **BGG Rank**: — - **Players**: 2-4 - **Duration**: 90-180 min - **Weight**: 3.00 / 5 - **Designers**: João Toledo, Rogério Lourenço - **Artists**: Rogério Lourenço, Weberson Santiago - **Publishers**: Board Game Bureau - **Categories**: Music - **Mechanics**: Area Majority / Influence, Contracts, End Game Bonuses, Set Collection, Stat Check Resolution, Tech Trees / Tech Tracks, Worker Placement, Worker Placement, Different Worker Types ## Verdict Perfect for those who love complex management games with a sophisticated and elegant theme. The musician evolution system is the highlight.Very satisfying character progressionImmersive and original musical themeDiverse strategies to score pointsRefined visual componentsSteep initial learning curveGames can be quite longRECOMMENDED ## Description Ever dreamed of leading the world's most renowned music academy? In Orchestra, you take charge of an artistic institution with one clear goal: turning promising students into virtuosos and achieving ultimate prestige. It's not just about hiring; you must manage the evolution of your musicians, guiding them from beginners to specialists so they can shine in the grand finale concert. The gameplay unfolds in rounds split between allocation and resolution phases, where you deploy your staff to upgrade your academy, fulfill performance scenarios, and fight for influence within the concert hall. The strategy runs deep. You'll need to balance money and prestige while deciding who to send to the orchestra. Having a virtuoso is a massive advantage, but they are rare and hard to get. On top of that, secret objectives and end-game bonuses can completely shift the leaderboard. You'll compete for area majority to ensure your academy takes center stage. If you enjoy games where resource management meets character progression, Orchestra delivers this with an elegant and challenging theme. The final goal is to accumulate the highest mastery score, proving your academy is the only one capable of delivering the most unforgettable performance of all time. Get your baton ready, organize your musicians, and make sure your maestros aren't performing in random subway stations—glory awaits those who can orchestrate every detail with precision. ## How to Play Goal of the Game In Orchestra, you are the conductor of a music academy, competing to become the most prestigious institution. Your goal is to accumulate mastery points by evolving musicians, fulfilling Scenario Cards, occupying spaces in the Orchestra, and filling the Audience. The game ends when one of the end-game conditions is met (such as filling all Audience areas or reaching a minimum number of musicians in each section of the Orchestra). The player with the most mastery points at the end wins. Setup Place the Theater Board in the center. Distribute one Academy Board to each player. Give 3 specialty banners to each player, ensuring they have access to all Sections (Strings, Woodwinds, Percussion, and Brass). Distribute the Musicians (4 Beginners, 4 Professionals, 4 Instrumentalists, and 4 Virtuosos) and the Audience Pieces of corresponding colors to each player. Position the score markers, the Column Track, and the Conducting Track on the Theater Board. Place the PCR Pieces on the corresponding banner on the Theater Board. Shuffle the Scenario Cards by level (I, II, III, and ★) and reveal 3 cards (4 in 4-player games) from levels I and II. Position the Freelance Musicians in the indicated spaces on the Theater Board. Shuffle the Social Media Cards and form a draw pile. Give each player 3 Money coins (value 1) and 2 Prestige coins (value 1). Organize the Performance Poster pieces next to the board. Distribute 2 Theater Cards to each player; each player will choose one as a secret objective. Determine the first player (whoever recently attended a concert or randomly) and hand them the First Player Marker. Gameplay Flow The game is divided into rounds, each consisting of two phases: Allocation Phase: In clockwise order, players place their musicians on action spaces (such as evolving the academy or fulfilling Scenario Cards). Resolution Phase: Players resolve the effects of the allocated actions in any order they prefer. After these phases, there is a Check Step to verify end-game conditions and a Maintenance Step to prepare for the next round. If an end-game trigger is activated, a Special Round occurs before final scoring. Actions and How to Play Main Actions Evolve your Academy: Allocate musicians and pay costs to add specialty banners, gaining benefits such as ignoring "closed eyes" on Social Media Cards. Evolve your Musicians: Transform Beginners into Professionals, and these into Instrumentalists, by paying the indicated costs. Move on the Column Track: Advance your marker on the track, jumping over occupied spaces, and receive bonuses when passing or landing on specific columns. Go Viral on Social Media: Draw Social Media Cards to gain bonuses, but beware of "closed eyes" (lack of engagement). Exchange Currency: Trade Money coins for Prestige or vice versa. Fulfill Scenario Cards: Allocate musicians to cards to gain points and bonuses. Some require two musicians (one can be a Hired Freelancer). Complementary Actions Build an Audience: Use 3 fulfilled Scenario Cards with identical or different audience icons to advance on the Conducting Track. Perform a Brilliant Show: Use a ★ Scenario Card to advance on the Conducting Track. Send Musicians to the Orchestra: Place Instrumentalists or Virtuosos in the Orchestra, gaining bonuses and placing pieces in the Audience. End of Game and Scoring The game ends when: All Audience areas (A, B, C, and D) are filled; There is a minimum number of musicians in each section of the Orchestra (4 for 3-4 players, 3 for 2 players); A Scenario Card pile runs out without replacement. During Final Scoring, players sum points for: Orchestra: Area control by section (12/8/4/2 points per position). Audience: Pieces in areas A (3 pts/piece), B (2 pts), C (1 pt), and D (0.5 to 3 pts, depending on PCR Pieces). Theater Cards: 1 pt per occupied white space (25 pts if all are filled). Coins: 1 pt for every 5 unused values in Money/Prestige. Tips for Winning Focus on Academy evolution: Having more banners allows you to allocate more musicians to the Orchestra and ignore "closed eyes" on social media. Prioritize ★ Scenario Cards: They offer multiple rewards and can be used to advance on the Conducting Track. Control Audience areas: Filling strategic areas (like A or B) yields more points at the end. ## FAQ ### Is the game too hard for beginners? It has a 3/5 weight, making it an 'expert' game. If you're used to Eurogames, you'll be fine, but it might be intimidating for total newcomers. ### How long does a game take? Expect anywhere from 90 to 180 minutes. It depends on the group's experience and how much time you spend planning your moves. ### How many players can play? The game supports 2 to 4 players. It works well across all counts, but the influence battle is more intense with 4 players. ### Is the music theme just cosmetic? Not at all! The mechanic of evolving musicians from beginners to virtuosos reflects the musical learning journey, integrating the theme into the gameplay. ### Do I need musical knowledge to play? Not at all. The game teaches all the rules, and the theme is there for immersion; you don't need to know how to read sheet music.