Professional Experience Scheme 23/24: Opera North (Woodwind)

Applications are now open for the Orchestra of Opera North (Woodwind) Professional Experience Scheme.

Open to: third and fourth year undergraduates and all postgraduates enrolled at the RNCM in 2023-2024 who are not on the Orchestra of Opera North’s extras list. You can not re-apply if you have completed the Scheme in any previous years.

Deadline for application: 1pm, Thursday 29 June 2023
Classes at RNCM: Monday 16 October
Auditions at RNCM: Autumn Term 2022
Full details: Moodle
Application form: Moodle

Our Professional Experience Scheme with the Orchestra of Opera North is designed to give RNCM Wind, Brass and Percussion students first-hand experience as an orchestral musician in professional opera productions.

The Scheme

All applicants will receive an audition at the RNCM early in the Autumn Term which will take place at RNCM on Monday 16 October.

The audition requirements are:

Set piece

• Flute Paganini Caprice No 5
• Oboe W Ferling Famous 48 Studies: Nos. 2,4,6 and 14 played one after the other at tempo.
• Clarinet Exposition of first movement of: Mozart Clarinet Concerto OR Weber Clarinet Concerto 1 OR Weber Clarinet Concerto 2
• Bassoon Popper No 2

Orchestral excerpts can be found here.

No accompanist will be provided or expected at the audition.

All applicants are expected to present a short prescribed piece (unaccompanied) and selection of operatic excerpts at audition, details of which can be found on Moodle.

Following audition, selected students will take part in a side-by-side workshop with the Orchestra’s full wind section, conductor and repetiteur. This provides an opportunity to look at a wide range of operatic repertoire, and to gain immediate invaluable feedback and guidance from professional players.

A small number of students are subsequently invited to join the entire Orchestra of Opera North, taking part in and observing rehearsals in Leeds in preparation for their Spring production:

Flute, Clarinet and Bassoon will be invited to their rehearsals for Mozart’s Così fan tutte

Oboe will be invited to their rehearsals of Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana and Rachmaninov’s Aleko.

Students who make sufficient musical progress during this time may then be invited to take the seat of a player for one full performance.

Key information relating to all RNCM Professional Experience Schemes, is outlined within this document. If you require additional support or guidance, please email Abby Flood, RNCM Ensembles Administrator.

M 07976 556983
E [email protected]

Overview

Stage 1

Monday 16 October
Auditions at the RNCM.
Students will receive written feedback from these auditions.

Stage 2

Thursday 16 November, 1000-1300
Side-by-side workshop at the RNCM for those students invited after audition – with full Opera North Woodwind section, conductor and pianist.
Students will receive verbal feedback during this session.

Stages 3 & 4 (Flute, Clarinet and Bassoon)

Opera North’s Spring Opera Production (Mozart Così fan tutte)

Stage 3

Orchestra-alone Rehearsals and Sitzproben (during period 16-31 January 2024)
RNCM students who have been successful at Stage 2 will listen and play alongside ON players in the Orchestra-alone and Sitzprobe rehearsals of Così fan tutte.

Please note: dates and times are subject to possible alteration, and all successful students may not be required for all dates.

Stage and Orchestra and Dress Rehearsals (during period 16-31 January 2024)
RNCM students will play in place of ON players in the Stage and Orchestra rehearsals. This is done on a rotational basis and ON players will observe from the pit or auditorium.

The Dress Rehearsal and First and Second performances will be performed by ON players. After this, students may be chosen to undertake performance later in the run.

Stage 4 (Flute, Clarinet and Bassoon)

RNCM students who are selected will be asked to play in one performance in either Leeds (Grand Theatre) or Salford (The Lowry). This will take place during the period 2 February – 23 March 2024 (exact date TBC).

Stage 3 (Oboe only)

Opera North’s Spring Opera Production (Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana and Rachmaninov’s Aleko double-bill)

Orchestra-alone Rehearsals and Sitzproben (during period 1-13 February 2024)
RNCM students who have been successful at Stage 2 will listen and play alongside ON players in the Orchestra-alone and Sitzprobe rehearsals of Cavalleria Rusticana and Aleko.

Please note: dates and times are subject to possible alteration, and all successful students may not be required for all dates.

Stage and Orchestra and Dress Rehearsals (during period 1-13 February 2024)
RNCM students will play in place of ON players in the Stage and Orchestra rehearsals. This is done on a rotational basis and ON players will observe from the pit or auditorium.

The Dress Rehearsal and First and Second performances will be performed by ON players. After this, students may be chosen to undertake performance later in the run.

Stage 4 (Oboe only)

RNCM students who are selected will be asked to play in one performance in either Leeds (Grand Theatre) or Salford (The Lowry). This will take place during the period 15 February – 22 March 2024 (exact date TBC).

Professional Experience Scheme: Key Information

• You can apply and audition for multiple RNCM Professional Experience Schemes and all applicants are guaranteed an audition.
• You can not re-apply if you have completed it in any previous years.
• If you are on an orchestra’s extras list, you cannot apply to take part in their Professional Experience Scheme.
• You will not receive any payment for involvement in RNCM Professional Experience Schemes.
• Successful auditionees cannot undertake freelance work with the orchestra until all Professional Experience Scheme dates have been completed.

Auditions
Auditions are a key part of Professional Experience Schemes and it is considered unprofessional to cancel at short notice. As such, any applicant withdrawing at less than 72 hours’ notice prior to audition will be ineligible to apply to that orchestra again.

Accompanists
Orchestras within the Professional Experience Schemes vary in their provision of accompanists at audition. All Opera North auditions are unaccompanied.

Postgraduates Only
If you intend to use the Professional Experience Scheme for the Professional Placement module, please complete your application and attach a CV and covering letter (where appropriate). The covering letter should give reasons for your application and summarise previous experience (unless requested on the actual application form) and should be no longer than one sheet of A4. Please keep copies of all applications (CV, covering letter and application pro forma) as you may be required to submit them at the end of the year in a portfolio as part of your assessment.

You can choose to use the Professional Experience Scheme for the Professional Placement module (dependant on reaching the appropriate stage) but you do not have to choose the module in order to undertake the Professional Experience Scheme.

For questions about Professional Placement modules, please contact Andrea Vogler [email protected].