Professional Experience Scheme 25/26: Opera North (Brass)

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

Open to: third and fourth year undergraduates and all postgraduates enrolled at the RNCM in 2025-2026 who are not on the Orchestra of Opera North’s extras list. You cannot re-apply if you have completed the Scheme in any previous years.

Deadline for application: 1pm, Friday 27 June 2025
Auditions at RNCM: Tuesday 7 October
Full details: Moodle
Application form: HERE

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 take place at RNCM on Tuesday 7 October 2025.

The audition requirements are:

Set piece

• Horn Concone: Study No. 25
• Trumpet Brandt: No. 4 (From 34 studies for Trumpet)
• Tenor Trombone Bach: Cello Suite No. 1 – Minuet 1
• Bass Trombone Hartley: Sonata Breve (1st movement)
• Tuba Muczynski: Impromptus No. 1 and 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 for the audition, details of which can be found on Moodle.

Following the audition, selected students will take part in a side-by-side workshop with the Orchestra’s full brass 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 production of Britten’s Peter Grimes. 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, Ensembles Administrator.

M 07976 556983 / E [email protected]

Overview

Stage 1

Tuesday 7 October
Auditions at the RNCM.
Students will receive written feedback from these auditions.

Stage 2

Monday 27 October, 1100-1400
Side-by-side workshop at the RNCM for those students invited after audition – with full Opera North Brass section, conductor and pianist.
Students will receive verbal feedback during this session.

Stage 3

Opera North’s Opera Production (Britten’s Peter Grimes)

Orchestra-alone Rehearsals and Sitzprobe (during period 19 January – 03 February 2026)
RNCM students who have been successful at Stage 2 will listen and play alongside ON players in the Orchestra-alone and Sitzprobe rehearsals of Peter Grimes.
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 09-11 February 2026)

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 a performance later in the run.

Stage 4

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 13 February – 13 March 2026 (exact date TBC).

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE SCHEMES: KEY INFORMATION

• You can apply and audition for multiple RNCM Professional Experience Schemes and all applicants are guaranteed an audition.
• You cannot 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 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].