Banner - Vacancies

Vacancies

Applications for guest work are welcome from all instruments...

VIOLINS

The application procedure for membership and guest work with the COE is as follows:

Highly qualified candidates are invited to apply in writing, or by uploading directly onto the COE website, with their full biography and other supporting material (e.g. CD/Press reviews/MP3 files) to:

Camilla Begg
Planning & Personnel Manager
Chamber Orchestra of Europe
North House
27 Great Peter Street
London, SW1P 3LN
Tel: +44 (0)20 7070 3333
Fax: +44 (0)20 7070 3330
E-mail: camilla.begg@coeurope.org

In the first instance, please send or upload a current Curriculum Vitae (Lebenslauf) and a CD/MP3 recording of any 'Classical' repertoire preferably by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven or Schubert. Please do not send a recording of music from the 'Romantic' period or of any contemporary composer. The recording does not need to be made on professional equipment. Please record at least one movement of the works chosen. Candidates are then put on a short-list, and those selected are invited to audition. You will be notified of the result of your application and your recording 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 where the orchestra is 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
  • Prokofiev Symphony No 1
  • Schoenberg Verklärte Nacht

The auditions are judged by the playing members of the orchestra; the members of the violin section and principal players. 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. 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. 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.

Only the Leader and Principal Second violin have fixed positions. The violin group employs rotational seating.

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. 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. 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.

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.

VIOLAS, CELLOS, BASSES

The application procedure for membership and guest work with the COE is as follows:

Highly qualified candidates are invited to apply in writing, or by uploading directly onto the COE website, with their full biography and other supporting material (e.g. CD/Press reviews/MP3 files) to:

Camilla Begg
Planning & Personnel Manager
Chamber Orchestra of Europe
North House
27 Great Peter Street
London, SW1P 3LN
Tel: +44 (0)20 7070 3333
Fax: +44 (0)20 7070 3330
E-mail: camilla.begg@coeurope.org

1. In the first instance, please send or upload a current Curriculum Vitae (Lebenslauf) and a CD/MP3 recording 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. Candidates are then short-listed, and those selected are invited to audition. You will be notified of the result of your application and your recording 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 where the orchestra is performing.

Viola audition requirements are:

  • a first movement and cadenza from either the Hoffmeister or Stamitz concertos
  • a movement of solo Bach
  • orchestral excerpts sent in advance.
  • Sibelius: Symphony No 3
  • Beethoven: Symphony No 7
  • Shostakovich No 14
  • Mendelssohn Symphony 4
  • Prokofiev Symphony 1
  • Mendelssohn Scherzo from Midsummer Night's Dream

Cello audition requirements are:

  • a first movement and cadenza from a Haydn Concerto
  • a movement of solo Bach
  • orchestral excerpts sent in advance.
  • Mozart Symphony No 41
  • Schubert Symphony No 2
  • Wagner Siegfried Idyll

We do not have any vacancies for Cello at the present time but applications for guest work are welcome.

The Bass section is not holding any auditions at present, but if you are interested in the COE please send us a CV for future reference. The section occasionally reduces and enlarges depending on repertoire. All members play German bow, although this is not a precondition for any guest player. With certain conductors, the section uses gut strings and historical bows "ad libertum".

Bass audition requirements are:

  • Two movements from either the Dittersdorf, Vanhal, or Bottesini Concertos
  • a contrasting piece of your own choice
  • orchestral excerpts sent in advance.
  • Mozart Symphony 41 second and fourth movements
  • Beethoven Symphony 5 Scherzo
  • Beethoven Symphony 9 Recitative
  • Schubert Symphony 8 (C major) Scherzo
  • Schoenberg Chamber Symphony 2 second movement

3. The auditions are judged by the playing members of the orchestra; the members of the relevant section.

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 also be advised by letter after the audition and offered a trial for membership, or as a guest as appropriate. The trial process can take some time. We do not appoint directly after the audition.

6. Only the Principal players of each group have a fixed seat. All tutti members of the viola, cello and bass section rotate position in the section.

7. All members of the relevant section have an equal vote in the final decision, including the Section Leaders.

8. 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.

WIND, BRASS, TIMPANI

The application procedure for membership and guest work with the COE is as follows:

Highly qualified candidates are invited to apply in writing, or by uploading directly onto the COE website, with their full biography and other supporting material (e.g. CD/Press reviews/MP3 files) to:

Camilla Begg

Planning & Personnel Manager
Chamber Orchestra of Europe
North House
27 Great Peter Street
London, SW1P 3LN
Tel: +44 (0)20 7070 3333
Fax: +44 (0)20 7070 3330
E-mail: camilla.begg@coeurope.org

1. Candidates are then short-listed, and those selected are invited to audition. You will be notified of the result of your application and recording 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 where the orchestra is performing.

Woodwind Audition requirements are:

  • a Mozart concerto
  • a contrasting piece of your own choice
  • orchestral excerpts sent in advance.
  • chamber music with wind octet and/or quintet

2. The auditions are judged by the playing members of the orchestra.

3. 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.

4. Successful auditionees will also be advised by letter after the audition and offered a trial for membership, or as a guest as appropriate. The trial process can take some time. We do not appoint directly after the audition.

5. All members of the relevant section have an equal vote in the final decision, including the Section Leaders.

6. We have a vacancy for Timpani at the present time and we welcome applications from players of other instruments who are interested in playing as guests.