Simon.Pickel — Project Manager
Chamber Orchestra of Europe
Allington House
150 Victoria Street
London SW1E 5AE
Tel: +44-20-7630 2900
Fax +44-20-7630 2910
E-mail Simon.Pickel@coeurope.org

1. In the first instance, please send a current Curriculum Vitae (Lebenslauf) and a cassette recording/CD of any 'Classical' repertoire preferably by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven or Schubert to the above address. Please do not send a recording of music from the 'Romantic' period or of any contemporary composer. The recording need not be made on professional equipment. Please record at least one movement of the works chosen.
2. A short-list of candidates is made, and those selected are invited to audition as is mutually convenient. You will be notified of the result of your application and yourtape/CD will be returned to you. For logistical reasons it may take some time before we are able to assess your recording. Auditions normally take place in Berlin, Frankfurt, Köln, Paris, London and Graz but other venues can be arranged depending on where the orchestra will be performing.
   
   Audition requirements are:
   
   
   • a first movement and cadenza from a Mozart concerto
   • a movement of solo Bach
   • orchestral excerpts sent in advance.
   
   Brahms Symphony No 3
   Mozart Symphonies No 39 and 41
   Schubert Symphony No 2
   Prokovief Symphony No 1
   Schoenberg Verklärte Nacht
3. The auditions are judged by the playing members of the orchestra; the members of the violin section and principal players.
4. Unsuccessful candidates will be notified by letter as soon as possible after their audition. Regrettably we are not able to advise you of the result immediately after the audition or give any feedback.
5. Successful auditionees will be advised by letter after the audition and offered an initial introductory tour with the orchestra at a mutually convenient time. This may be some time in advance - perhaps up to one year. If all goes well during this first period of work with COE, you will be offered a trial for membership or placed on our guest list (as appropriate). If the tour is not a success, we would not be able to offer you any further work.
6. Only the Leader and Principal Second violin have fixed positions. The violin group employ rotational seating.
7. Trials with COE can be lengthy due to the fact that all members of the violin section take an active part in the process. All members of the violin section have an equal vote in the final decision, including the Leader and therefore will share a stand with you at least once during the process. You must secure a high percentage of votes to be made member.
8. We do not hold auditions for specific vacancies and it may be at the time of your application that the violin section is full. However, the selection process can be quite long, and can take up to two years from tape/CD submittal to final trial. During this time it is very possible that a vacancy may arise. If this should not be the case, you would be offered the next available vacancy.
9. The COE's schedule is deliberately confined to approximately ten projects, spread throughout the year (100-110 days) in order for its members to be able to pursue parallel careers as international soloists, members of eminent chamber groups and orchestras, and as tutors and professors of music. It is a requirement of membership that at least 70% commitment be given (i.e. minimum of 63/77 days). Every member of the orchestra is paid at the same rate. Players may live anywhere in Europe. There is no written contract of membership and players are booked on a freelance basis. Pension plans, Health and Instrument Insurance, Personal tax etc. are all the responsibility of the individual.