Auditions for our 2024 season are now open. The deadline for auditions is 1st November. 
 

Click here to sign up and for information on audition requirements, which can also be found below: 
 

Odyssey Festival Orchestra is a new 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 2023 season!

 

Our 2023 season saw two hugely successful concerts at Cadogan Hall and a sell-out concert at the Queen Elizabeth Hall with narration from extraordinary actors including Sir David Suchet, Alexander Macqueen and Kathryn Hunter. We are beyond thrilled to be going into our second season which will include three major London concerts. See below the repertoire plan and concert dates for 2024.

 

Odyssey Festival Orchestra 2024 Season

Thursday 11th January 2024 - Cadogan Hall - Every Tree Speaks to Me! How the Natural World influenced composers

Beethoven- Symphony No 6

Wagner- Forest Murmurs from Siegfried

Janáček- Suite from The Cunning Little Vixen

 

Thursday 2nd May 2024 - Queen Elizabeth Hall - Lollipops and Blood - An Evening with Sir Thomas Beecham

Mozart- Overture to Der Schauspieldirektor

Sibelius- Valse Triste

Handel- The gods go a-begging Suite arr. Beecham

Delius- La Calinda from Koanga

Smyth- Overture to The Boatswain’s Mate

Saint-Saëns- Bacchanale from Samson and Delilah

Strauss- Salome’s Dance and Closing Scene from Salome

 

Thursday 19th September 2024 - Cadogan Hall - Mahler Symphony No 5

 

Audition Requirements

Main instrument: Two contrasting solo works (or extracts) - maximum five minutes. 

 

Solo works are not mandatory from tutti string applicants but three or more orchestral excerpts are required from all applicants.

 

N.B: 

• Violins: Please prepare either violin 1 or violin 2 excerpts. You will have the option to choose which section you prefer.

• Percussion: No excerpts are required from percussionists. 

 

Audition excerpts for each instrument can be found here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1BFHWiVRDXTPPrsh-TmBpQp5SzpZpXc9K?usp=sharing

 

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

 

In order to participate in the January concert, you must send us your audition video along with your availability by 1st November. You will need to submit your audition video by recording your excerpts, uploading the video to YouTube as an unlisted video and providing us with the link.

 

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.

 

We would prefer a commitment now to all three concerts. Seating throughout the year will be flexible and we will continue to welcome auditions and suitable candidates to join Odyssey throughout the season. Audition results for the January project will be published by 10th November.

 

Rehearsal Schedules

Thursday 11th January 2024 - Cadogan Hall - Every Tree Speaks to Me! How the Natural World influenced composers

 

• Friday 1st December 18.00-21.00 tutti

• Sunday 3rd December 10.00-13.00 and 14.00-17.00 strings only

• Friday 8th December 18.00-21.00 wind/brass only

• Sunday 10th December 10.00-13.00 tutti - wind/brass/percussion plus 5 string sectionals and 14.00-17.00 tutti (except harps)

• Saturday 6th January 10.00-13.00 strings only and 14.00-17.00 tutti (without harps and percussion)

• Sunday 7th January 10.00-13.00 (string orchestra and separate 4 wind, brass, perc and harps (nb: Janacek at 11.30 for wind and brass) and 14.00-17.00 tutti

• Wednesday 10th January 18.00-21.00 tutti

 

Concert Day: Thursday 11th January 15.00-18.00 dress rehearsal, 19.00 tuning backstage, 19.30 concert

 

Thursday 2nd May 2024 - Queen Elizabeth Hall - Lollipops and Blood - An Evening with Sir Thomas Beecham

 

• Friday 12th April 18.00-21.00 tutti

• Sunday 14th April 10.00-13.00 and 14.00-17.00 strings only

• Friday 19th April 18.00-21.00 wind/brass/percussion only

• Sunday 21st April 10.00-13.00 tutti - wind/brass/percussion plus 5 string sectionals and 14.00-17.00 tutti (except harps?)

• Saturday 27th April 10.00-13.00 strings only and 14.00-17.00 tutti (without harps and percussion)

• Sunday 28th April 10.00-13.00 (string orchestra and separate 4 wind, brass, perc and harps) and 14.00-17.00 tutti

• Wednesday 1st May 17.30-21.00 tutti

 

Concert Day: Thursday 2nd May 15.00-18.00 dress rehearsal, 19.00 tuning backstage, 19.30 concert

 

Thursday 19th September - Cadogan Hall - (Mahler Symphony 5)

 

• Friday 30th August 18.00-21.00 tutti

• Sunday 1st September 10.00-13.00 and 14.00-17.00 strings only

• Friday 6th September 18.00-21.00 wind/brass/percussion only

• Sunday 8th September 10.00-13.00 tutti - wind/brass/percussion plus 5 string sectionals and 14.00-17.00 tutti (except harps?)

• Saturday 14th September 10.00-13.00 strings only and 14.00-17.00 tutti (without harps and percussion)

• Sunday 15th September 10.00-13.00 (string orchestra and separate 4 wind, brass, perc and harps) and 14.00-17.00 tutti

• Monday 16th September 17:30-21:00 tutti run-through with actor

 

Concert Day: Thursday 17th September 15.00-18.00 dress rehearsal, 19.00 tuning backstage, 19.30 concert

 

If you have any additional questions or if you would like to be taken off our mailing list please email info@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!