associate concertmaster position
Position effective for the 2022-23 Season
One-page resume must be received on or before Friday, May 20, 2022
All audition rounds will be screened, and are to be held Saturday, June 18, 2022 in Tacoma, WA.
Northwest Sinfonietta (NWS) is the premier professional chamber orchestra of the greater Puget Sound area. We are committed to deepening our community engagement, and offer ongoing professional development to our members to expand awareness and abilities to serve this goal. Our mission is to inspire people through music and invigorate the concert experience. Currently, the orchestra performs regular season concerts in Tacoma and Puyallup venues, and run-out concerts in other Puget Sound venues.
NWS works with Artistic Partners, who share leadership with the orchestra members and board in steering the ensemble. This makes us uniquely flexible to respond to the needs of our artists and our community. The artistic mission of the ensemble is designed and developed by Artistic Vision and Artistic Personnel Committees, which comprise Artistic Partners, orchestra members, NWS staff and board, and community members. Our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force works seamlessly with these committees, to inform choices about repertoire, performers, community engagement and more. The orchestra’s regular season includes un-conducted concerts led by the NWS concertmaster and principal players. Members are encouraged to actively participate in promoting the artistic growth and vitality of the organization.
About the position: NWS is a per-service orchestra, with rehearsals during daytime hours the week of each concert performance. Compensation and working conditions are defined by a Master Agreement negotiated with an Orchestra Committee of three representatives elected by NWS members. If a NWS member auditions and wins this position, a temporary section violin position may be offered to the runner-up.
For the 2021-22 season, principal player pay was $156.00 per service, and string players are offered an average of 30-35 services during the season. Our region is rich with musical opportunity in the many ensembles and educational institutions here, and our members are able to perform and teach in a broad range of settings. (See http://www.classicalseattle.com/ensembles/)
If offered employment for this position, you must be prepared to show your eligibility to work in the United States no later than September 9, 2022. If you are not authorized to work in the U.S., NWS cannot assist with obtaining the necessary visa or authorization, or the cost of doing so.
Audition Repertoire:
The following list represents all materials which could be requested in any round of audition. The committee may also request sight-reading in the final round. This list is subject to change. (All rounds of the audition will be screened.)
Solo Repertoire
One movement of solo Bach
Mozart Concerto 3, 4 or 5, 1st movement (no cadenza)
Romantic-era concerto of your choice, 1st movement exposition
Orchestral Excerpts
Bach: St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, No. 47 Aria “Erbarme dich, mein Gott”
Brahms: Symphony #1 in c, Op. 68, 2nd movement, mm. 90-end
Brahms: Symphony #4, 4th movement, mm.33-80
Frank, Gabriela Lena: Leyendas: An Andean Walkabout, 6th movement, mm.52-end
Mendelssohn: Scherzo from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, mm.17-99
Mozart: Symphony #39, 1st movement, mm.26-142
Prokofiev: Classical Symphony, 1st movement beginning to letter H, 2nd movement letter A to letter C
Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake Suite, Op. 20a, #4 Scene – entire movement
Walker: Lyric for Strings
Chamber Music
Montgomery: Strum, mm.99-116, 172-198 (2nd violin part)
To Apply:
A one-page resume must be received no later than Friday, May 20, 2022 at 5:00pm at the e-mail address or physical address below. All applicants must include their full name, address, e-mail address and phone number.
Applicants selected for live audition will receive further instructions including: a pdf of the orchestral excerpt selections no later than Friday, May 27, 2022 and location and time information. If you are unable to travel to Tacoma, but would like to be considered for an audition, please indicate that by e-mail to office@nwsinfonietta.org.
By e-mail: office@nwsinfonietta.org
By mail: Northwest Sinfonietta P.O. Box 1154 Tacoma, WA 98401