We are looking to appoint dynamic and enthusiastic musicians of the highest international calibre to join both violin sections.
The Principal Violin 1 sits at Number 3 in the section, and supports the Leader and CoLeader, playing a crucial role in the communication with the rest of the Violin 1 section. This position will be expected to sit-up to No. 2 in the section when either of the Section Leaders are absent; opportunities for leading the orchestra for certain projects may be possible.
The Principal Violin 2 sits at Number 2 in the section, and will be expected to sit up when the Section Leader is absent.
Sub-Principals are one of 4 in each section, and will rotate around the section, sitting-up to Principal when required.
Sub-Principal Violin 1 (Job Share) will share the seat with a current member of Royal Northern Sinfonia and will divide the work load equally between them.
Position in Organisation
Deadline for applications: 9am, Friday 14 April
Department & Team: Royal Northern Sinfonia & Classical Team
Location: Sage Gateshead
Working Hours: The Musician shall be required to work in line with the NMT/MU agreement
Starting Salary: Principal positions, £37,357 per annum
Sub-Principal positions, £34,842 per annum
How to apply
Our audition process follows the European style of recruitment with the successful candidate winning a probationary period with the Orchestra.
Please find all the information about each stage in our recruitment pack; this should give you everything you need to submit your final application.
Based at Sage Gateshead, Royal Northern Sinfonia is the orchestra of the North East of England and Cumbria.
Principal Conductor: Dinis Sousa
To appropriately serve audiences across this large and diverse region, which incorporates urban centres as well as sparsely populated rural areas, the orchestra has developed a unique flexibility in scale. Whilst all the musicians play together regularly, performing formations can range in size from chamber music groups to full symphonic ensemble.
As a full-time orchestra, the musicians of RNS are deeply rooted in their local communities in the North, and care passionately about making all music they perform accessible to the widest possible audiences. This increasingly is evolving into more participatory and co-created projects, and digital work. They also regularly take part in creative learning and schools projects, and have a special relationship with both Sage Gateshead’s Centre for Advanced Training for Young Musicians, and the two ‘In Harmony’ Schools in Tyneside.
At the heart of the orchestra’s work sits the music of Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert, but RNS are keen explorers of many other musical worlds, across periods of music history and genres. A recent addition to the orchestra, is its inclusive ensemble RNS Moves, comprised of disabled and non-disabled musicians, which even uses some digital instruments. What defines all RNS performances, whatever the notes, is a spirit of joy and infectious enthusiasm coupled with a deep desire to communicate.
RNS has been a key part of the cultural landscape of the North East for over 60 years, with past musical leadership including such luminaries as Ivan Fischer, Richard Hickox, Heinrich Schiff, Lars Vogt and Conductor Laureate Thomas Zehetmair. The orchestra has developed a distinctive tradition of working with play-directors, and in previous years has toured extensively internationally, flying the flag for Tyneside and the North East.