
Apply to be the Leader of the WBYO
The Western Balkans Youth Orchestra is seeking an orchestra leader for the Orchestra’s 2025 season
​
DISCOVER. YOUR PATH.
​
Summer 2025: July 23 to August 31
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 March 31, 2025:
​
-
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 April 7, 2025. For these shortlisted candidates:
(1) For violinists already applying as part of the WBYO Summer 2025 orchestra auditions:
​
You should (additionally to the rest of the tutti orchestra extracts) prepare a one-take video of the highest technical quality to reach us by April 27, 2025, which will include,
​
-
Peter I. Tchaikovsky – Swan Lake 1st Act No. 5 Pas de deux
(2) For violinists not already applying as part of WBYO Summer 2025 orchestra auditions (concertmaster position only):
​
You should prepare a one-take video (no longer than 20 mins in total) of the highest technical quality to reach us by May 15, 2025, 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, and be sent via email to auditions@wbyo.org (Subject: Concertmaster application) by May 15, 2025. 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 September 1, 2025
-
Additionally, we will need to ensure that the successful candidate will be available during certain periods to be agreed between July 23 to 31 August 2025.