The University of Bristol seeks to appoint a highly-qualified UK-based professional conductor for the University Symphony Orchestra for 2026-27. This will be on a self-employed basis.
Bristol University Symphony Orchestra
This is the university’s main auditioned orchestra. It regularly includes students who have played in National Youth Orchestras, conservatoire Junior Departments, County Youth Orchestras and similar. It is made up of players from across the entire university (not exclusively music students), and ranges from first year undergraduates to PhD students.
It is a full-sized, auditioned symphony orchestra that performs ambitious repertoire from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries to a high standard. The repertoire balances established masterworks, some less well-known pieces, and contemporary music, and the department routinely programmes one or more high-quality Bristol student works each year. Repertoire in 2025-26 included Saint-Saëns Organ Symphony, Stravinsky Symphony in Three Movements, Lim Kang Ning Oasis (world premiere), Beethoven Coriolan, Tchaikovsky Symphony No.6, Rachmaninov Second Piano Concerto, and Science/Fiction, a suite of short works by 14 current student composers (world premiere).
Rehearsals (totalling 77¾ hours)
The appointee will rehearse the University Symphony Orchestra as follows:
- Tuesday evenings during the university term, 7-915pm (including a 15-minute break): 29 September 2026 to 1 December 2026 (except for 27 October, when there is no rehearsal); 19 January 2027 to 16 March 2027 (except 23 February, when there is no rehearsal); 13 April 2027 to 27 April 2027; and 25 May 2027.
- Three Saturday rehearsals during the academic year (10-5pm, including breaks; the first will be on 26 September 2026, subject to conductor availability)
- A 3-hour rehearsal on each of the three Symphony Orchestra concert days, before the concert, plus an extra Friday evening rehearsal just before the concert (7-915pm).
- The conductor will also be required to conduct or assist at an extra Friday evening rehearsal immediately preceding the joint concert with the university choirs (7-915pm) as well as a 3-hour rehearsal on the concert day.
Auditions (totalling 10 hours)
The appointee will participate in student auditions, across two days in w/c 14 September 2026 and/or w/c 21 September 2026 (tbc, in consultation with the appointee). Instrumental family/families to be auditioned will be agreed with the music department depending on conductor’s specialism and departmental staffing constraints.
Orchestra Concerts (totalling 3 evening concerts)
Dates to be confirmed, by mutual agreement with the Music Department, avoiding clashes with other student ensembles.
One Saturday evening orchestra concert in the Autumn term, probably in mid or late November.
One evening orchestra concert in the Summer term, probably a Friday in early or mid June
One early evening Saturday orchestral concert (approximately one hour of music) in February
Workshop (totalling 2 hours)
The appointee will lead an inclusive massed orchestral workshop with university and external young musicians on the afternoon of Wednesday 21 April 2027. Details to be agreed with the Music Department in due course.
Joint concert with university choirs (one evening concert)
The conductor will prepare the orchestra for a combined concert with the university choirs, to take place in February or March. The concert will be conducted by Elinor Cooper, or shared by the orchestra conductor and Elinor Cooper; arrangements to be confirmed by the Music Department in due course, depending on conductor availability, repertoire, and level of conductor expertise in working with choirs.
Repertoire
For each of the three orchestra concerts, repertoire is to be decided by the conductor in discussion with the music department; the expectation is that the year’s repertoire will include at least one piece of music by a current University of Bristol student.
For material drawn from https://IMSLP.org and for new student works, the conductor will liaise closely with administrative staff to ensure that the printed parts are correct. For all repertoire, the conductor will devise string bowings and mark up parts as needed.
There is a separate budget for hire of in-copyright orchestral sets; costs to be agreed with departmental staff.
The repertoire for the combined concert with the university choirs will be decided by Elinor Cooper.
Repertoire for the April workshop to be decided by the conductor in discussion with the music department and external partners.
Renumeration
The appointee will be paid for this work as a self-employed supplier and will be paid via invoice. We invite applicants to offer a quote for this work; we anticipate quotes in the region of £7000-£10,000 gross for the 2026-27 season, to cover all rehearsals, concerts, auditions, preparation time (including making up parts and ensuring that parts are printed correctly), travel time and travel costs.
Application
To apply, please send to [email protected] :
- Your CV
- a covering letter that explains your reasons for applying, your intended approach to working with a high standard university orchestra, how your previous experiences and training have prepared you for this role, and your ideas for potential repertoire for the 2026-27 season.
- A 10- to 15-minute video of yourself conducting live musicians. Ideally, this will show you face-on from the players’ perspective and will include footage of live rehearsal. Sustained takes are preferred rather than edited highlights.
The closing date for receipt of applications is 15 June 2026, 23:59pm UK Time.
Longlisted candidates will be interviewed remotely. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to Bristol to audition with a small, mixed student ensemble during July 2026.
