Nevis Ensemble is thrilled to announce auditions to join the orchestra for its activities in late 2019, into 2020 and beyond.
Interested musicians are asked to complete the Application Form online by Friday 18 October 2019. We would also ask applicants to complete an Equalities Monitoring form and return by email to hello@nevisensemble.org
Auditions will take place on Wednesday 6 November 2019 in Glasgow. It is also possible to audition via Skype. Each audition will last around 20 minutes and include:
- Short programme of around 7 mins (candidate’s own choice – accompanist available)
- Two orchestral excerpts (from a list sent in advance)
- Short creative exercise (sent in advance)
- Short discussion
Applications are welcome across all orchestral instruments (including saxophone), but players on the following instruments are particularly encouraged to apply: trumpet, oboe, bassoon, viola, double bass.
Plans for the rest of 2019 and into 2020 include tours of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Ayrshire, the Scottish Borders, the inner Hebrides, and a European tour in summer 2020 taking in the Netherlands, Germany, France, Belgium and Luxembourg.
The only prerequisites of any Nevis Ensemble musician is that that they be creative, open-minded and collaborative. And above all, open to a challenge. Musicians who have not had a standard entry into the industry are particular encouraged. Applicants should be aged 18+.
Please feel free to enquire at hello@nevisensemble.org if you have any questions about your application.
WHY JOIN NEVIS?
Nevis Ensemble (Artistic Directors: Holly Mathieson and Jon Hargreaves) is different, and there’s nothing else quite like it in Scotland. Our vision is ‘music for everyone, everywhere’. Nevis musicians join as volunteers, but we provide training in working for particular groups, the opportunity to be part of an innovative, fun, musician-led ensemble, and the chance to change the face of orchestral music in Scotland.
In just one year we have given 170 performances in venues as varied as schools, prisons, children’s hospices, day centres for adults with additional needs, homeless shelters, shopping malls, airports, the summit of Ben Nevis, far-flung islands such as St Kilda, museums, and even the occasional concert hall.
The orchestra concentrates on taking music to people where they are and when they are there popping up and surprising commuters first thing in the morning; entertaining residents in oft-forgotten parts of towns and cities; guerrilla-style appearances in swimming pools; dancing with cashiers in supermarkets playing all genres of music. Running alongside this is a carefully plotted patchwork of community-based performances, in a range of contexts covering all parts of society.
Come and join us; it’s an experience you wont forget!
‘This was an incredibly rewarding experience, where I learned so much, but also got to talk and help people in everyday life through music, which is my dream. Nevis was one of the best experiences of my life.’
Olivia Tomasovic, oboe
‘Take the orchestra out of the concert hall, and that is when you will truly notice the real power and importance of music. Projects like this are rare but vital and I am so fortunate to be part of Nevis Ensemble. From my experience in the orchestra, I have learnt that the arts are special, not just to those who take part through performing, but more importantly to those communities that rarely have the opportunity to hear high quality music performed live.
Jenny Akroyd, saxophone