Professional Experience Scheme 25/26: Manchester Camerata (Strings)

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

Open to third and fourth year undergraduates and all postgraduates enrolled at the RNCM in 25/26 who are not on Camerata’s extras list.

Deadline for applications: 1pm, Friday 27 June 2025
Deadline for video submissions: 1pm, Thursday 18 September 2025
Live Auditions at RNCM: Tuesday 30 September
Full audition requirements: Moodle
Application form: HERE

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

Applications are now open for PES, a professional experience scheme open to third- and fourth-year undergraduates and all postgraduates enrolled at the RNCM in 25/26 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.

We are looking for musicians who:

• Would value the opportunity to play with the orchestra, with assigned mentors in a wide range of artistic projects (classical/electronic/contemporary classical)
• Would value the opportunity to gain insight and experience in our community work and other departments within the organisation.
• Would value the opportunity to learn more about the impact an orchestra can make in the community.
• Are open-minded, curious and want to learn more about how an orchestra is run in today’s society.

Please note, the Professional Experience Scheme is distinct from the Ruth Sutton Camerata 360 Fellowship

Activity and Time Commitment

We appreciate that life as a student is busy, and for that reason, we want to ensure that we don’t overload you during the experience. Below we have compiled a list of activities along with time commitment required. The following activity is mandatory:

Timeline

Application

Please complete the application form and email a CV and covering letter to [email protected]. 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 Friday 27 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

*You may also be asked to play one of the excerpts from the first-round*

The panel will invite you for a 10-minute discussion following the audition. This will be a discussion around the scheme, 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 keep copies of all Professional Experience Scheme applications (CV, covering letter and application pro forma) as you will be required to submit them at the end of the year as part of your Professional Placement portfolio.

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].