PEI Symphony Orchestra Hiring New Concertmaster
Job Posting: Concertmaster of the PEI Symphony Orchestra
Position: Concertmaster
Location: Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Application Deadline: January 10, 2025 by 5:00 pm Atlantic
Start Date: 2025-26 Season
Compensation: $125 per service (including concert). Reasonable travel/accommodation per diem is provided if the successful candidate resides outside of Prince Edward Island.
The PEI Symphony Orchestra (PEISO) invites applications for the position of Concertmaster. This key role will be filled by an accomplished violinist with outstanding musical leadership abilities, sensitive interpersonal skills, a passion for community engagement, and a dedication to excellence in performance. The Concertmaster will be a central figure in our orchestra, collaborating with the conductor and musicians to create exceptional and moving musical experiences for our audiences.
• Preliminary rounds will be conducted by review of audio and resume submissions. Deadline: January 10th, 2025 by 5:00 pm Atlantic
• Candidates advancing to the live semi-final rounds will be invited to audition in-person in Halifax, NS and/or Charlottetown, PE on February 2nd 2025 and February 3rd-4th, 2025 respectively. • Two finalists will lead rehearsals and one concert during the remainder of the 2024-25 season, held during the weekend of February 28-March 2, 2025 (concert on March 2nd) and April 4-6, 2025 (concert on April 6).
• The successful candidate will complete a probationary period of one concert held on the weekend of May 2-4, 2025 (concert on May 4th) after which the position will be offered to the candidate, commencing on the 2025-26 season, once the probationary concert has been successfully completed.
• This audition is open only to Canadian citizens and permanent residents. Candidates must be able to show proof of being legally entitled to work in Canada.
THE ORGANIZATION:
The PEI Symphony Society is a federally registered charity that sponsors and oversees the activities of the PEI Symphony Orchestra (PEISO). The PEISO is dedicated to bringing high quality live orchestral music to PEI, and to contributing to the artistic life of the community through live performances as well as community and educational outreach initiatives.
Every season the PEISO presents four concerts, held on Sunday afternoons in Charlottetown at the Confederation Centre of the Arts. Rehearsals take place the weekend of each performance (Friday evening, Saturday all day and Sunday dress) in Charlottetown, with approximately 16 rehearsals per season. Special projects, including small ensemble performances opportunities may be available.
The PEISO brings together players from different walks of life and experience, including professional musicians from the Island and other areas in the Maritimes as well as university professors, school teachers, students, and accomplished amateurs. Our programming is selected to engender growth in the performers while providing live music that is appealing and satisfying to the audience.
Role and Reporting Structure:
Reporting to the Music Director and the PEISO Board of Directors, the Concertmaster will be responsible for leading the string section, serving as a liaison between the conductor and the orchestra, and providing artistic leadership in rehearsals and performances. The Concertmaster will collaborate closely with the conductor and other section leaders to ensure cohesive musical interpretations and will be expected to perform with skill and professionalism. Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Lead the orchestra’s first violin section and work closely with the conductor to interpret and bring the music to life.
• Collaborate with the conductor to prepare and rehearse all repertoire, offering musical suggestions when appropriate.
• Play violin solos and lead ensemble performances as required.
• Act as the primary liaison between the conductor and the orchestra, helping to maintain effective communication and a positive working environment.
• Participate in outreach, educational, and community programs as requested by the orchestra. • Represent the PEISO at public events and in media appearances, as appropriate.
Qualifications
• Exceptional technical skill and artistry on the violin with extensive experience in orchestral performance.
• Proven leadership abilities. Prior experience as a concertmaster or in a similar leadership role in a professional orchestra is preferred.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with the conductor, orchestra members, and staff.
• A deep commitment to the mission of the PEI Symphony Orchestra and the ability to engage with our diverse community.
• Strong preparation and organizational skills, with the ability to manage rehearsals, sectionals, and performance schedules efficiently.
• Possesses inspiring instructional and mentoring skills that support effective leadership and learning. • A passion for fostering musical excellence and creating an inclusive, welcoming environment for musicians and audiences.
HOW TO APPLY:
All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply, and the PEISO thanks all applicants for their interest. This audition is open only to Canadian citizens and permanent residents. Candidates must be able to show proof of being legally entitled to work in Canada. All candidates will receive an acknowledgement of their application, however, only those selected for the live auditions will be contacted.
The PEI Symphony Orchestra is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment for all musicians, staff, and audiences. This is an open and transparent audition process, and as such, the PEISO encourages applications from musicians of all backgrounds and experiences, and we welcome candidates who can help us continue to enrich our community through music.
While the new Concertmaster may commence responsibilities as early as the 2025/26 season, the position will remain open until the ideal candidate has been found.
For more information about the PEISO and this job posting, please go to www.peisymphony.com. Please direct questions to auditions@peisymphony.com.
The following materials will be reviewed during various stages of the process. Please refer to the “Audition Procedure and Requirements” section for further information. Please prepare the following:
1. A cover letter and current resume/CV (in one PDF).
2. Electronic access to audio recordings of recent solo or orchestral performances (please refer to the Audition Procedure and Requirements section for full details).
3. Contact information for two current referees.
Please send your application materials to:
Email: auditions@peisymphony.com
Subject Line: Application for Concertmaster - PEISO
APPLICATION DEADLINE: January 10, 2025 by 5:00 pm Atlantic
Application Materials
Please prepare the following:
1. A cover letter and current resume/CV (in one PDF).
2. Electronic access to audio recordings of recent solo or orchestral performances (please refer to the Audition Procedure and Requirements section for full details).
3. Contact information for two current referees.
The above materials will be reviewed during various stages of the audition process. Please see below for further information.
Please send your application materials to:
Email: auditions@peisymphony.com
Subject Line: Application for Concertmaster - PEISO
APPLICATION DEADLINE: January 10, 2025 by 5:00 pm Atlantic
Audition Procedure and Requirements
1. Preliminary Round: Blind Audio Digital Submission
Materials reviewed for this round: Audio recordings of recent solo or orchestral performances • The PEISO will hold a call for first-round digital submissions for this role. All applicants are invited to submit a preliminary round recording to the PEISO for consideration.
First round submissions will be reviewed anonymously. The panel will review your audio recording first; full CV information will be reviewed for candidates moving onto the semi-final (live auditions) round. Please ensure that all submitted recordings meet the following requirements:
All submissions should be audio only. Video submissions that reveal any information about the cadidate’s identity will be disqualified.
Attached files as MP3, WAV, or other audio file format should be formatted to read as PEISO_concertmaster_1 for the first recording, PEISO_concertmaster_2 for the second recording, and so on. Your audio files will be assigned an anonymous identifier by the auditions manager.
Links to soundcloud, streaming accounts, YouTube music, or any other account connected, internet-based platform should be managed to ensure that the candidate’s name is not revealed.
CDs, DVDs, or physical tapes will not be accepted.
The PEISO reserves the right to disqualify any applications that reveal the identity of the candidate, whether accidentally or otherwise.
Criteria for preliminary round
• Please select repertoire of your own choosing that, in your opinion, reflects the technical and musical demands of the PEISO concertmaster position. The panel would be keen to hear submissions that reflect the musical scope of the PEISO (www.peisymphony.com)
• Performances can be accompanied or unaccompanied, in a chamber or solo setting. • Recordings can be made especially for this submission, or from recent previous audio recordings that is representative of your playing. Please only submit recordings made after January 2022. • The panel will review up to 10 minutes of music. You may submit one recording, or two recordings totaling 10 minutes. Longer recordings will be accepted but please indicate a specific 10-minute section that you wish the panel to hear (e.g. 4’-14’). Likewise, if you submit two recordings, please indicate timeframes for both, totaling no more than 10 minutes of music for consideration.
2. Semi-final Round: Live Audition and Interviews (double blind)
Additional materials reviewed for this round: 1) A cover letter and current resume/CV (in one PDF). These documents will be considered once blind performances are complete; and 2) Contact information for two current referees. References will only be contacted once evalutation of blind performances and resumes are complete.
The PEISO will hold two live auditions by invitation in 1) Halifax, NS starting on the morning of February 2nd, 2025, and 2) Charlottetown, PE starting on the evening of February 3rd through to the evening of February 4th, 2025.
Audition booklets will be made available to invited participants.
Solo repertoire:
The first movement with cadenza from one of the following Mozart violin concerti: No. 3/No. 4/No. 5 AND the exposition of the first movement of one of the following violin concerti: Bartók 2/Beethoven/Brahms/Mendelssohn/Prokofiev 2/Sibelius/Tchaikovsky
Concertmaster solos:
BRAHMS: Symphony No. 1, Mvt. 2, violin solo
TCHAIKOVSKY: Swan Lake Suite, No. 4 Pas d’action, violin solo
RIMSKY KORSAKOV: Scheherazade, Solos from mvts II-IV
Orchestral excerpts:
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 9, Mvt. 3: m. 99-115
PRICE: Symphony No. 1, mvt IV. m. 167-241
MENDELSSOHN: Midsummer Night’s Dream, Scherzo: 8 m. before reh. A to 8th m. of reh. D STRAUSS, R.: Don Juan: beginning to 14th m. of reh. C
WILLIAMS, J: Harry Potter Suite, mvt I: m. 19-58
The PEISO tunes to A-440. Excerpts and other repertoire not on this list may be requested for sight-reading. This audition round will be performed behind a screen.
3. Final Round: Orchestral Audition
On the basis of the semi-final round of auditions, selected candidates will be hired to play as guest concertmaster participating in the PEISO concerts and related rehearsal periods. These will be two concerts during the remainder of the 2024-25 season held during the weekend of February 28-March 2, 2025 and April 4-6, 2025 in Charlottetown, PE.
Finalists will be responsible for completing bowings for their respective concerts and working with other string and orchestra principals as appropriate.
Note: Any internal candidates selected in this round will be required to recuse themselves from performing for the remainder of the 2024-25 season.
Evaluation of finalists will be based on the following:
Written feedback from the orchestra musicians
Written feedback from the violins
Votes from the audition committee, comprised of the following orchestra members and staff: Music Director
Personnel Manager
Principla Viola
Principal Cello
Principla Bass
Two non-string principals
Violin section player
Longest serving PEISO member
Newest PEISO member
Musicians Committee representative
Head of Operations -- note: non-voting member/auditions manager
Each member of the committee is entitled to one vote. Eight of the eleven possible votes must be cast in favour of a given candidate for them to be named to the position of concertmaster.
Once the position is accepted, the candidate will serve as concertmaster for a probationary period of one concert, scheduled for the weekend of May 2-4, 2025 (concert on May 4th). The probationary period will serve primarily to ensure that the skills, both musical and interpersonal, demonstrated during the audition period are maintained once the position has been offered. Once the probationary concert has been successfully completed, the position will be considered permanent, subject to the mission, mandate, and bylaws of the PEISO.
The PEISO reserves the right to dismiss candidates at any time.
The PEISO reserves the right to remove any member of the orchestra, subject to its bylaws and rules and regulations, for behaviour that may violate the Prince Edward Island Human Rights codes and guidelines, the laws of the province of Prince Edward Island and the country of Canada, or the safety and dignity of any other member of the orchestra and/or society in the opinion of the board of directors and staff.
Questions
For more information about the PEISO and this job posting, please go to www.peisymphony.com. Please direct questions to auditions@peisymphony.com.
