Violin open auditions

7 January 2026

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Open auditions

Aurora Orchestra is seeking to recruit violin players to join our regular roster of violinists on a freelance basis. Our repertoire is extremely broad, with projects ranging from small, unconducted chamber work to large-scale symphonic projects.

The ambitious nature of Aurora’s artistic output means that musicians are frequently offered performing opportunities that may be unusual elsewhere in the UK orchestral sector. These include performing chamber repertoire within orchestral concerts, performing entire symphonies from memory, collaborating with artists such as choreographers and directors, and engaging in a distinct theatrical approach to rehearsal and performance.

Successful auditionees will be invited to join the pool of extra players from which Aurora engages violinists as required for its projects.

The audition will comprise:
– One five minute piece (or extract of a piece) of your choice, to be performed unaccompanied
– Three unaccompanied orchestral extracts. Download the orchestral extracts (PDF, 816KB)

There will be no accompanist provided or required. The audition panel will consist of a selection of Aurora Orchestra’s Principal string players. Full audition details, including time and venue, will be shared with successful applicants in advance.

We aim to offer successful candidates work within 12 months of their audition. However, this is dependent on the scale and nature of the upcoming season, and due to the variable and project-based nature of our work, we cannot guarantee engagement within this timeframe.

How to apply

To apply, please fill out the form below by 5pm Wednesday 11 February 2026. You may upload a CV, please anonymise it by removing any personal identifiers. Applications will be anonymised as part of the shortlisting process to support fairness and reduce the potential for unconscious bias. All identifying information will be removed before applications are reviewed by the panel.

You are invited to also complete an Equal Opportunities monitoring form. Completion of this form and individual questions is not mandatory; if you prefer not to complete the form or any of the questions this will not prejudice your application.

This information is collected anonymously, stored securely, and is not shared with the audition panel or used in selection decisions. Applicants are strongly encouraged to include a link to a video or audio recording of your playing.

Aurora open auditions

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Full name*

Email Address*

Phone number*

Instrument*

Below are the instruments we are currently holding open auditions for. We will not look at applications for any other instruments.

Violin

Relevant professional performance experience*

Do you have experience of working with young people? If yes, please tell us more about that here.*

Please upload your anonymised CV, removing any personal identifiers

Accepted file types: doc, pdf, Max. file size: 100 MB.

This application is the first audition round and will be screened. Applicants are strongly advised to include a link to a video or audio recording of your playing. Please ensure this link is downloadable. If you are unable to do this, please email your video or audio to auditions@auroraorchestra.com

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Aurora Orchestra is committed to advancing equality, diversity, and inclusion across all areas of its work. We recognise that structural barriers have historically limited access to opportunities within the classical music sector, and we actively seek to address these barriers through our recruitment and engagement practices.

We welcome applications from musicians of all backgrounds and particularly encourage applications from individuals who are currently underrepresented in the UK orchestral profession, including but not limited to musicians from the Global Majority, those from lower socio-economic backgrounds, disabled musicians, and musicians of all gender identities.

Selection for audition and engagement is based solely on musical ability and the requirements of each project.

About Aurora

Since its creation in 2005, Aurora Orchestra has rapidly established itself in the front rank of European chamber orchestras. Under the musical direction of Principal Conductor Nicholas Collon, it combines world-class performance with adventurous programming and concert presentation. Recent seasons have seen the orchestra work with artists ranging from Patricia Kopatchinskaja, Ian Bostridge and Nicola Benedetti to Max Richter, Wayne McGregor and Björk.

Aurora is based in London as Resident Orchestra at Southbank Centre and Resident Ensemble at Kings Place. The orchestra tours widely throughout the UK and internationally, with recent seasons including appearances in Singapore, Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, Italy and Spain. It has attracted particular attention for its adventurous ‘Orchestral Theatre’ work, with innovative cross-art form projects incorporating memorised performance, staging, design and other theatrical elements. An award-winning creative learning programme comprises a host of creative workshops and storytelling concerts for families, schools and young people, including children with special educational needs and disabilities.

The orchestra maintains a strong commitment to contemporary repertoire, with current and recent seasons including premieres by composers including Julian Anderson, Benedict Mason, Missy Mazzoli, Anna Meredith, Nico Muhly, Max Richter, Caroline Shaw, Martin Suckling and Judith Weir. Aurora is the recipient of a number of major awards including three Royal Philharmonic Society Music Awards, a German ECHO Klassik Award and a Classical:NEXT Innovation award. It has recorded for labels including Warner Classics, Decca Classics and Deutsche Grammophon.

Recent Aurora projects:

Excerpt from Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique performance at the BBC Proms 2019

Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 9 in rehearsal