Section Leader 2nd Violin

Deadline for applications: 17.00 on Friday 4 December 2026Department & Team: Royal Northern Sinfonia & Classical TeamLocation: The Glasshouse International Centre for MusicWorking Hours: Members of Royal Northern Sinfonia work in line with the North Music Trust / Musicians’ Union agreement 
https://musiciansunion.org.uk/working-performing/orchestral-work/orchestral-agreements-and-rates-or-pay/orchestral-agreements/royal-northern-sinfonia

Position in organisation and starting salary: Section Leader 2nd Violin £48,570 (SCP 23)

Reports to: Senior Orchestra & Personnel Manager 

Works in conjunction with: Royal Northern Sinfonia musicians and the Classical Team 

We welcome applications from all nationalities. Successful applicants will be asked to present the relevant documents to demonstrate their eligibility to work in the UK or asked to apply for a visa granting permission to work. If you don’t currently have the right to work in the UK, we can discuss your longer-term options and help support with visa applications where necessary.

We appreciate people have busy diaries, so if you find yourself unavailable for one of the stages outlined below, we still encourage you to apply and follow up with an email to Tom Hickman (Senior Orchestra & Personnel Manager) at [email removed] 

Stage One – Digital Submission Closing date: 17.00 on Friday 4 December 2026

Please submit a video recording which contains the following excerpts by 17.00 on Friday 4 December 2026:

Excerpts:

Wolfgana Amadeus Mozart Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, Romanza b.1 – 15 (no repeats)

Felix Mendelssohn Symphony No.4, 1st mvt b.1 – 110 

Johannes Brahms Symphony No.2, 1st mvt letters A – B & D – F 

Excerpts for Stage One 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 One by the end of Friday 11 December 2026 at the latest.

Stage Two – In Person Live Audition – Monday 18 and Tuesday 19 January 2027 

Your audition will take place at The Warehouse, 13 Theed Street, London, SE1 8ST and will consist of two parts:

Part A: A screened audition consisting of the first movement of a Mozart Concerto (exposition only) and a contrasting Concerto (exposition only)

An accompanist will be provided but do bring your own if you wish.

Part B: An un-screened audition consisting of orchestral excerpts and a pre-selected movement of chamber music with members of the panel. The repertoire for Stage Two, Part B is listed below.

Excerpts:

Wolfgana Amadeus Mozart Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, Romanza b.1 – 15 (no repeats)

Felix Mendelssohn Symphony No.4, 1st mvt b.1 – 110 

Johannes Brahms Symphony No.2, 1st mvt letters A – B & D – F 

J S Bach St. Matthew Passion, No.42 b.1 – 51 (top line)

Michael Tippett Corelli Fantasia, figs. 22 – 31; figs. 79 – 83; figs. 89 – end 

Chamber Music

Joseph Haydn String Quartet Op.76, No.4 ‘Sunrise’ 1st mvmt

We will aim to notify successful candidates from Stage One by the end of Friday 22 January 2027 at the latest.

Stage 3 – Auditions with Royal Northern Sinfonia – Monday 01 March 2027

An orchestral audition with Royal Northern Sinfonia playing pre-selected repertoire, conducted by Music Director Dinis Sousa. This will take place at The Glasshouse ICM, St Mary’s Square, Gateshead, NE8 2JR.

Excerpts:

J S Bach St Matthew Passion, Gebt mir meinen Jesum wieder (whole aria)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Symphony No.41, 4th mvt b. 1 – 120

Ludwig Van Beethoven Symphony No.1, 2nd mvt b. 1 – 64

Johannes Brahms Piano Concerto No.1, 4th mvt b.238 – 262

Béla Bartók Divertimento for Strings, 1st mvmt b. 1 – 73

Royal Northern Sinfonia play at A=440

We will aim to notify successful candidates from Stage Three by the end of Friday 05 March 2027 with candidates being asked to provide their availability for Stage 4 by Friday 19 March 2027.

Stage 4: Trial (Paid work, Chamber Music, and Interview) 

Dates from April 2027

The final stage in the recruitment process will involve the successful candidates undertaking paid work with the orchestra in line with the North Music Trust/Musicians’ Union Freelance Agreement.

For Section Leader positions this will consist of four patches of paid work, with one patch centred around our core classical repertoire conducted by Music Director Dinis Sousa. You’ll also take part in a chamber music rehearsal with members of the panel and an interview with the Leader (or appropriate Section Leaders) and the Senior Orchestra & Personnel Manager.

An additional patch of work may be offered to candidates if the panel fail to reach a consensus.

About the Orchestra 

Music Director Dinis Sousa 

Artistic Partner Maria Włoszczowska

Principal Guest Conductor Nil Venditti 

Associate Conductor Ellie Slorach 

Conductor Laureate Thomas 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, live-to-film blockbusters and performances with pop superstars, to headlining BBC Proms in the North East, the orchestra’s 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 up-and-coming 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. They’re also working hard to smash the barriers that can stop brilliant people getting into classical music. They've teamed up with the Royal Philharmonic Society to champion conductors who have encountered barriers to progress through their lived experience, background and personal characteristics, Black Lives in Music to help global majority musicians get vital experience in the orchestra world, and celebrate disabled and non-disabled musicians breaking new ground together in inclusive ensemble RNS Moves.

They travel far and wide to make sure there’s top-notch c