Bassoon Section Leader Royal Northern Sinfonia
Bassoon Section Leader Royal Northern Sinfonia
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Job Description
Royal Northern Sinfonia
SECTION LEADER BASSOON
Deadline for applications: 17.00 on Friday 25 April 2025
Department & Team: Royal Northern Sinfonia & Classical Team
Location: The Glasshouse International Centre for Music
Working Hours: The Musician shall be required to work in line with the NMT/MU agreement Royal Northern Sinfonia (RNS) Agreements Salary & Pay Rates The MU
Starting Salary: SCP
Position in Organisation: Section Leader Bassoon Royal Northern Sinfonia
Reports to: Senior Orchestra and Personnel Manager
Works in conjunction with: RNS musicians Classical Team
About the Orchestra
Principal ConductorDinis Sousa
Artistic Partner Maria Woszczowska
Principal Guest Conductor Nil Venditti
Associate Conductor Ellie Slorach
Conductor LaureateThomas Zehetmair
Internationally renowned calling Gateshead home.
Wherever the orchestra play and whoever they share a stage with every performance is a feast for the heart and mind (The Telegraph).
37 musicians at the top of their game. Electrifying music old and new. All the talent determination and creativity of the North East on a worldwide stage.From their home at The Glasshouse International Centre for Music Royal Northern Sinfonia share the joy and wonder of orchestral music with thousands of people across the North of England and beyond every year.
From symphonies to string quartets film soundtracks to choral masses and performances with awesome artists from Sheku KannehMason to Self Esteem the orchestras members have got one of the most varied jobs there is. No two weeks are ever the same.
They look for fresh new sounds from upandcoming composers invite local communities to share a stage and do everything they can to inspire and prepare the musicians of tomorrow to one day take their place. Theyre also working hard to smash the barriers that can stop brilliant people getting into classical music. Theyve teamed up with national partners to support women conductors to develop their careers to help global majority musicians get vital experience in the orchestra world and to celebrate disabled and nondisabled musicians breaking new ground together in inclusive ensemble RNS Moves.
They travel far and wide to make sure theres topnotch classical music on offer across the North. Youll find them in rural churches town halls community centres and sports halls as well as taking charge of series in Carlisle Kendal Middlesbrough and Sunderland. International tours have taken them to almost every country in Europe to Asia South America and most recently South Korea.
With 65 years of success to build on theyve signed a dynamic artistic leadership to lead the way into a bold bright future. Principal Conductor Dinis Sousa and Principal Guest Conductor Nil Venditti were both nominated in the Best Conductor category at the Royal Philharmonic Society Awards 2025. Artistic Partner Maria Woszczowska is blazing a trail directing from the violin and Associate Conductor Ellie Slorach is leading the way on concerts for schools and families.
Purpose of the Roles and Person Specification
We are looking to appoint a dynamic and enthusiastic musician of the highest international calibre to the position of Section Leader Bassoon.
As one of six wind Section Leader positions in the orchestra the Section Leader Bassoon is one of the key roles in Royal Northern Sinfonia. The successful candidate will be able to form a cohesive team with wind colleagues in orchestral programmes across repertoire ranging from the Baroque period to the music of today while also displaying soloistic virtuosity and charisma in orchestral solos and solo concertos.
They will be a keen chamber music player and excited about the prospect of performing in many different formations under the banner of Royal Northern Sinfonia taking the lead where necessary. They will be determined to play their part in audience development brimming with project ideas and be a passionate communicator about classical music to different audiences in different settings. They will be as comfortable and at home in learning and participation environments as they are on the concert stage and value both equally. They will want to play a full part in orchestral and musical life in Tyneside and see themselves as advocates for the orchestra and The Glasshouse.
Responsibilities and Duties
The role will include but is not limited to:
- Rehearsals and performances in a range of venues and formats
- Media work digital projects and commercial recordings
- Chamber music and ensemble performances in a range of formations
- Solo repertoire / formal recitals
- Working as part of a team to create new performance formats
- Section Leader meetings and other orchestral committee work
- Attending receptions and speaking to audience members individually and from the stage
Creative Learning is a vital part of The Glasshouse ICM and of the orchestras work. Duties within this area can include but are not limited to:
- Giving informal performances and recitals in the community or in schools
- Participating and leading workshops and creative composition writing sessions in schools
- Engagement with The Glasshouses Make Music programme which includes the Centre for Advanced Training two In Harmony Schools and Young Sinfonia and RNS work with young people including schools concerts
- Coaching of individuals and ensembles both adults and young people
- Participating in planning and evaluation meetings
Selection Process Submission Guidance and How to Apply
The recruitment process consists of four stages with the successful candidate being offered the position with the Orchestra. Once all four stages are complete an offer of employment will be made and will include a probation period of six months. This probation period will include regular feedback meetings with a Section Leader of the woodwind section and the Senior Orchestra and Personnel Manager.
All the information you should need to submit your application including technical guidelines and instructions on how to upload your digital submission can be found below. By submitting an application you are confirming your availability for all four stages of the recruitment process.
Stage 1 Digital Submission Closing date 17.00 on Friday 25April 2025
Please submit a video recording consisting of the following orchestral excerpts.
Excerpts
MOZART Overture to Marriage of Figaro b. 18 b. 101124 b. 156164
MENDELSSOHN Symphony No. 3 2nd Movement b. 4992 b. 104118
TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 4 1st Movement b. 3536 letter E to two bars before Moderato assai 13 bars before Letter R; 2nd Movement (b. 274end)
NIELSEN Wind Quintet Variation VII
Excerpts for Stage 1 can be found in the attachment above.
Your submission needs to be recorded live in one take and without any editing. Please note the panel will only hear the audio of your submission.
We will aim to notify successful candidates from Stage 1 by Friday 2nd May 2025 at the latest.
Stage 2 In Person Live Audition Tuesday 10 June 2025
Your audition will take place in the Sir Neville Marriner Room at St MartinintheFields Trafalgar Square London WC2N 4JJand will consist of two parts.
Part A) Screened audition of Mozart Bassoon Concerto 1st Movement (exposition only) and orchestral excerpts.
An accompanist will be provided but do bring your own should you wish.
Part B) Unscreened audition of orchestral excerpts. The repertoire for Stage 2 part A&B is listed below.
Excerpts
MOZART Overture to Marriage of Figaro b. 18 b. 101124 b. 156164
MENDELSSOHN Symphony No. 3 2nd Movement b. 4992 b. 104118
BRAHMS Symphony No. 3 4th Movement b. 116
NIELSEN Wind Quintet Variation VII
BEETHOVEN Violin Concerto in D Major 2nd Movement b. 2031
STRAVINKSY Pulcinella Suite Variation II fig. 8185
TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No.4 1stMovement b. 3536 Letter E to two bars before Moderato assai 13 bars before Letter R and 2nd Movement (complete)
RESPIGHI Trittico Boticelliano II LAdorazione dei Magi b.115
Excerpts for Stage 2 will be emailed to shortlisted candidates.
We will aim to notify successful candidates from Stage 2 by Friday 13th June 2025 at the latest.
Stage 3 Audition with Royal Northern Sinfonia Thursday 3rd July 2025
Your audition will take place at The Glasshouse ICM St Marys Square Gateshead NE8 2JR and will consist of a whole orchestra audition with Royal Northern Sinfonia conducted by Principal Conductor Dinis Sousa.
The repertoire for Stage 3 will be drawn from the following:
MOZART Overture to Marriage of Figaro
HAYDN Symphony No. 6 MenuetTrio
STRAVINKSY Pulcinella Suite Variation II fig. 8185
BRAHMS Symphony No. 3 3rd Movement letters FH; 4th Movement beginning to letter A
SIBELIUS Symphony No. 2 2ndMovement b. 4056
We will aim to notify successful candidates from Stage 3 by Friday 4th July 2025 at the latest.
Stage 4 Trial (Paid work Chamber Music and Interview) Dates from September 2025 onwards
The final stage in the recruitment process will involve the successful candidates undertaking paid work with the orchestra in line with the NMT/MU Freelance Agreement. This will consist of four patches of paid work at least one of which will be centred around our core classical repertoire conducted by Principal Conductor Dinis Sousa. Stage four will also include a chamber music rehearsal with members of the panel and an interview with the Leader (or appropriate Section Leaders) and the Senior Orchestra and Personnel Manager.
An additional patch of work may be offered to all candidates if the panel fail to reach a consensus about one or more candidates.
Candidates will be requested to provide their availability for Stage 4 by Friday 25 July 2025
How to Upload your Digital Submission
Here is a short guide for uploading your Stage 1 Digital Submission video to YouTube. This will be a private submission and will be heard by the panel only.
Smartphone/Tablet
Step 1: Open the YouTube app (Downloaded from your app store of choice if you dont already have it) and sign in to your account. Press the video button in the top right corner of your screen.
Step 2: This will bring you to a menu to select your video select your chosen video taking you to a trim screen. Press next (Top right).
Step 3: Name your video. The video name should be the following format: Initials position applied for.
Step 4: At this point you should select the option Unlisted for your privacy settings. This will allow you to share the URL link so the Audition Panel can view your video it still shows that this video is not public and cant be seen by anyone that doesnt have the link. Press upload (Top Right). Once this has finished processing it will appear in the menu.
Computer/Laptop
Step 1: Go to . Make sure you are signed in to your YouTube account. In the top right corner you will see Create. Press upload video.
Step 2: This brings you to an upload screen press Select files. This will bring up your file menu; navigate to the file and select choose or done.
Step 3: After you have selected the video and uploaded it it will bring you to the Video details screen where you can name and describe the video. Please create the video name using the following format: Your initials Position Applied for.
Step 4: Press Next until you are on the Visibility screen. At this point you should select the option Unlisted from the list. This will allow you to share the URL link so the Audition Panel can view your video submission it still shows that this video is not public and cant be seen by anyone that doesnt have the link.
Technical Guidelines
The final submission should be recorded as live in one take and be unedited. Please use your smart phone camera with the internal microphone and no additional audio or visual enhancement equipment. Please do not include any talking in your submission.
Your video should be landscape and you and your instrument should be face on and central to the camera. The panel will only hear the audio of your submission.
Please label your submission as outlined in the How to Upload your Digital Submission section above.
Working in the UK and Eligibility Criteria
It is a criminal offence to seek employment and certain voluntary work if not legally eligible to work in the UK. Under the Asylum and Immigration Act it is a criminal offence to employ a person unless they are British citizens Commonwealth citizens with right of abode in
the UK citizens of any country in the European economic area or a person with current and valid permission to be in the UK or who qualifies for a category specified by the Home Secretary where employment is allowed.
Successful applicants will be asked to present the relevant documents to demonstrate their eligibility to work in the UK.
More information can be found at
Safeguarding children young people and vulnerable adults
The Glasshouse is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children young people and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. For posts where there is contact with children young people and vulnerable adults the job advertisement and person specification will specify that a check is a requirement.
Equal Opportunities Monitoring
The Glasshouse aims to be an equal opportunities employer and it is our policy all applicants and employees receive equal treatment regardless of sex race disability sexual orientation religion or belief age marital status or civil partnership pregnancy/ maternity or gender reassignment. Recruitment and selection procedures will be monitored to ensure that individuals are selected and treated based on their relevant merits and abilities.
For any queries regarding out recruitment process please contact Isabella People Coordinator .
Employment Type
Full-Time
