Auditions for our 2025 season are now open!

 

Deadline for January concert – 5pm, 22nd November

​

Odyssey Festival Orchestra is an orchestra designed principally for 18–30-year-olds. We aim to achieve the highest standards, presenting music in a bold and creative atmosphere to build a new, younger, more philosophically engaged audience for our musical adventures. Congratulations to all those who took part in our 2024 season, and we hope you are looking forward to our 2025 season as much as we are! 

​​

Application forms

• If you have not been involved in Odyssey before and would like to be involved in our January 2025 concert or you are a returning player who would like to re-audition, fill in both the availability form and the audition form below.

​

• If you are a returning player who would not like to re-audition, please only fill in the availability form​.

​

Please see below for further information about the audition process.

​​

​​​

​

​​​

​

​

​

​

Audition Policy

​

• Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and positions for Odyssey projects are determined through past involvement, most recent audition and confirmed availability.

 

• We continue to welcome auditions and suitable candidates to join Odyssey throughout the season. Please see below for further details and deadlines.

 

• Current Odyssey members are often invited to play without submitting another audition. However, past involvement with Odyssey does not guarantee selection.  

 

• If you have already played with Odyssey, please be aware that new members are auditioning for each course.

​

• We encourage you to re-audition if you would like to be considered for a principal position or front desk.

 

Audition Process

You can audition or re-audition throughout the year using the audition form above. Re-auditioning is optional. ​If you have not taken part in an Odyssey concert before and would like to be considered, please submit an audition by 5 pm, two months before each 2025 concert date.

​

Concert Dates and Deadlines (for further information please see our Upcoming Projects page):

• Wednesday 22nd January, 2025 – Mussorgsky (Next Audition Deadline - 5pm, 22nd November)

​

• Wednesday 7th May, 2025 – Programme TBC (5pm, 7th March)

​

• Tuesday, 16th September, 2025 – Programme TBC (5pm, 16th July)

​

We will inform you shortly after the deadline if you have been successful. Seating for each project is flexible. If you do not secure a place because the project is over-subscribed, you may be added to the pool of reserve players to be considered for the future. Please submit your audition via the Google form below.

​

Audition Requirements

• Audition form: A short paragraph detailing musical and performance experience, plus your current study or working status.

​

• Audition form: Video of two contrasting solo works (or extracts) on your main instrument - maximum five minutes. Your video should aim to display the full range of your technique with works that clearly demonstrate consistent intonation control, broad dynamic range, rhythm acuity and singing sound.

​

• Availabiliy form: Availability for the upcoming concert.

​

The panel will include Peter Ash and a specialist on your instrument. If you play a doubling instrument, please include that in your recorded performance.

​

Confirmed Availability 

You will be asked to confirm your availability for each forthcoming concert. Your availability will influence your invitation to join Odyssey. Depending on the repertoire, rehearsals are scheduled during the two or three weekends before the concert week. For our rehearsal schedule for our upcoming project, please go to the Rehearsal Dates page.

​

Further Details

Instructions on how to submit your audition video are in the audition video submission form which can also be found here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScAWFGLzTwpMaj7x5dg7_NCp19EVH_7yPBcVj0W-p--G3zTvA/viewform?usp=sf_link 

You will need to submit your audition video by recording your pieces, uploading the video to YouTube as an unlisted video and providing us with the link. 

We recommend filming in landscape, rather than portrait, as this works better with YouTube’s format. Extremely resonant acoustics are best avoided, and it is best to record in a well-lit place. Please do not worry if you cannot access professional recording equipment. A standard smart phone or tablet will be sufficient, and the panel will make allowances for discrepancies in recording quality between applicants.

​

If you have any additional questions please email auditions@odysseymusic.org

 

You can find information about how we store and process your data in our privacy policy detailed here: https://www.odysseymusic.org/privacy-policy

 

Good luck with your audition!