The RSNO Audition and Trial Process Posted Fri 16 January 2026
Recruitment is one of the most important processes for an orchestra. It is vital for the life of an orchestra – an opportunity to bring stability after a prolonged vacancy or a moment to develop the sound it produces. It is also one of the most intangible. A recruitment panel is looking for someone who both brings their own musical voice while also fitting into the orchestra’s sound.
The first step is an audition. Generally, candidates prepare a mix of solo repertoire and orchestral excerpts. The latter is a unique component to orchestral recruitment. Almost all panels will draw from a pool of standard excerpts from major orchestral works, which musicians begin learning in music college. These excerpts have been used for decades because they effectively demonstrate the candidate’s range of abilities, techniques and styles to the panel.
In the UK, a major change to auditions in recent years has been the introduction of blind auditions. Originally introduced to combat teachers selecting their own students for jobs, this practice has existed in other countries for decades. Its introduction here has been much more recent, however. It has become industry practice to have at least one round of blind auditions to have a fairer process.
If a panel is impressed by a candidate’s audition, they will invite them to trial with the orchestra. A panel can advance any number of candidates to trial, but a typical job will have about five trialists. Trialists are then invited to projects with the orchestra that test them in the various aspects of the job. This can include sitting up to principal or trying a range of repertoire. Over the course of the trials, the panel will gradually winnow down the candidates until it is confident that it has seen enough to offer the job. The panel will then make a recommendation of whom to hire, which is then taken to all the section principals and the Music Director. If everyone agrees with the recommendation, an offer is made, and a new member joins the orchestra.
As you’d expect, the whole process can be quite intense and difficult. But it can also be very exciting. For one of those auditionees, this will be the culmination of years of study and hard work. What a privilege it is to see it in action!
Find out more about our current job vacancies here.