Apply to be the Leader of the WBYO

The Western Balkans Youth Orchestra is seeking an orchestra leader for the Orchestra’s 2024 seasons (Summer 2024: July/August) (Winter 2024-2025: December/January)

The WBYO is offering a life changing opportunity to a rare violinist who can inspire the Orchestra through the highest levels of instrumental playing, musicianship and leadership. You should show a real balance between technical ability, heart, head and gut, and a natural capacity to inspire and command with ease through combining strengths in all of these differing characteristics.

Application Stage

All applicants must submit by email to auditions@wbyo.org the following information by 15 January 2024:

Your CV, giving details of experience in all fields, but with an emphasis on orchestral and leadership experience, and solo performance.
A statement describing why you think you should be considered for this role. What is it that YOU have that we are looking for?
Optional: weblinks to any current recorded solo performances

Shortlisting Stage

A list of candidates to go forward to the shortlisting stage of auditions will be announced by 31 January 2024. For these shortlisted candidates:

(1) For violinists already applying as part of the Summer & Winter 2024 auditions to the join WBYO 2024 Orchestra:
You should prepare a one-take video of the highest technical quality to reach us by 29 February 2024, which will include,
Peter I. Tchaikovsky – Swan Lake 1st Act No. 5 Pas de deux

(2) For violinists not already applying as part of the Summer & Winter 2024 auditions to the join the WBYO 2024 Orchestra:

You should prepare a one-take video (no longer than 20 mins in total) of the highest technical quality to reach us by 29 February 2024, which will include,

An excerpt of a romantic concerto, or substantial solo work, with accompaniment (between 4-8 minutes)

The following four orchestral excerpts;

(i) an orchestral violin solo of your choice (maximum of 2 minutes)
(ii) Giacomo Puccini – La Bohème – 1st Act – Andantino
(iii) Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov – Scheherazade – Movements 1-3
(iii) Peter I. Tchaikovsky – Swan Lake 1st Act No. 5 Pas de deux

All shortlisting videos should be uploaded to YouTube as an “unlisted” video – do not choose the “private” or “public” setting - by 29 February 2024. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted about how and where to submit their videos. The audition repertoire sheet music can be found here.

We welcome all applications, but please be aware that the following conditions apply:

You should be no more than 30 years of age on 31 January 2025.
Additionally, we will need to ensure that the successful candidate will be available during certain periods to be agreed between 22 July to 31 August 2024 and 25 December 2024 to 10 January 2025.