Professional Experience Scheme 23/24: Manchester Camerata (Strings)

Applications are now open for the new Manchester Camerata 360 Professional Experience Scheme (Violin, Viola, Cello and Bass).

Open to third and fourth year undergraduates and all postgraduates enrolled at the RNCM in 23/24 who are not on Camerata’s extras list.

For full details of what is involved in this new Professional Experience Scheme please click here.

Deadline for applications: 1pm, Thursday 29 June 2023
Deadline for video submissions: 1pm, Friday 22 September 2023
Live Auditions at RNCM: w/c Monday 2 October (dates TBC)
Full audition requirements: Moodle
Application form: Moodle

Key information is outlined below, but if you require additional support or guidance, please email Abigail Flood, Ensembles Administrator, or call 0161 907 5275 / 0797 655 6983.

The Scheme

For full details of this exciting new scheme please click here.
Applications are now open for Camerata 360, a professional experience scheme open to third- and fourth-year undergraduates and all postgraduates enrolled at the RNCM in 23/24 and who are not on Camerata’s extras list. Our scheme will recruit up to two violins, one viola, one cello and one double bass student.

Camerata’s vision is to create a pathway for students of the Royal Northern College of Music that will see them experiencing our organisation as a whole, from performing diverse repertoire on the platform, experiencing our community work and understanding the challenges within the sector.

Application
Please complete the application form and attach a CV and covering letter. The covering letter should give reasons for your application and summarise previous experience but should be no longer than one page. Your CV and covering letter will only be shared with the panel in advance of the second-round live audition.

Audition

First Round – video submission:

• Orchestral excerpts can be found here

Candidates are required to submit an audio-visual recording of the first-round orchestral excerpts.

Audio will be extracted from the video before being presented to the panel to ensure candidates remain anonymous.

The video must be submitted as an mp4 file, recorded in one take, not edited in any way and clearly labelled with your name and instrument.

Once you have applied by Thursday 29 June, Abby Flood will be in touch with further details about the video submission process.
Successful students from the first-round video submission will proceed to the second-round live audition.

Second Round – live audition:

• Violin: first movement of a Mozart or Haydn Concerto with cadenza, plus piece of own choice
• Viola: first movement of Stamitz Concerto, Hoffmeister Concerto or Bach and piece of own choice
• Cello: exposition and development from a Classical or Baroque Concerto, plus piece of own choice
• Double Bass: two contrasting pieces of own choice

The panel will invite you for a 10 minute discussion following the audition. This will be a discussion around Camerata 360, where you will be given the opportunity to ask any questions you may have.

An accompanist will be provided for live auditions.

CV and covering letter feedback session:
All applicants will have the opportunity to request an online feedback session with Jo Watson, Manchester Camerata’s Orchestra Personnel Manager.

Key information
For full details of the scheme please click here.

The primary contacts for this Scheme are:

Royal Northern College of Music
Abigail Flood
Ensembles Administrator
E: [email protected]

Manchester Camerata
Jo Watson
Orchestra Personnel Manager
E: [email protected]

• Strings can apply for and audition for multiple RNCM Professional Experience Schemes but cannot accept more than one.
• All applicants are eligible to submit a first-round video submission.
• If you are on Manchester Camerata’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.
• Late applications will not be accepted, and individual receipt of auditions will not be acknowledged.

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.

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]