AUDITIONS FOR OUR 2027 SEASON ARE NOW OPEN!
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’ve taken part in our previous seasons, and we hope you are looking forward to our future concerts as much as we are!
Concert dates and application deadlines
Concert: Monday 25th January, 2027 – Chopin, Stravinsky, Weber and Borodin
Deadline: Please complete the availability form below by 5pm on Wednesday 25th November, 2026
Forms for completion by everyone involved
AUDITION FORM
We request all applicants for the January concert to submit an audition form, a five minute audition tape and a completed availability form.
There are two options for the audition tape. EITHER two contrasting works of your own choice OR two or more of the orchestral extracts, which can be accessed via the AUDITION MATERIALS button below.
Current members, please be assured that our aim is to maintain fairness to new applicants as well as honouring those who have committed previously to Odyssey.
AVAILABILITY FORM
This should be completed for each project. Future rehearsal dates and times to reserve in your diaries are listed at the bottom of this page.
Audition Policy
All Odyssey members should submit an audition
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.
Although Odyssey continues to welcome applicants from abroad, we are unable to provide any accommodation or travel stipends beyond the modest £100 honorarium.
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 5pm, two months before each concert date.
Please scroll down for more details on rehearsal times.
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.
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. Our detailed rehearsal schedule is at the bottom of this page.
Further Details
Instructions on how to submit your audition video are in the audition video submission form.
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.
GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR AUDITION!
Rehearsal Dates for upcoming concerts:
Monday 25th January 2027 - Cadogan Hall
Chopin, orchestrated Glazunov: Ballet Music, Les Sylphides
Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring
Weber, orchestrated Berlioz: Invitation to the Waltz
Borodin: Polovtsian Dances
Rehearsal dates, January 2027:
Fri 15 January - 18.00-21.00 (tutti)
Sat 16 January - 10.00-13.00 (five string sectionals) and 14.00-17.00 (string orchestra)
Sun 17 January - 10.00-13.00 (string orchestra and woodwind sectional) and 14.00-17.00 (tutti)
Fri 22 January - 18.00-21.00 (tutti)
Sat 23 January - 10.00-13.00 (five string sectionals) and 14.00-17.00 (string orchestra and three separate wind, brass and percussion)
Sun 24 January - 10.00-13.00 (tutti) and 14.00-17.00 (tutti)
CONCERT DAY
Mon 25 January - 15.00-18.00 (tutti dress reh) and 19.30 Concert
Tuesday 20th April, 2027 - Cadogan Hall
Schubert: Symphony No. 6
Schubert: Symphony No. 9
Fri 9 April- 18.00-21.00 (tutti)
Sat 10 April- 10.00-13.00 (five strings sectionals) and 14.00-17.00 (tutti)
Sun 11 April - 10.00-13.00 (string orchestra) and 14.00-17.00 (tutti)
Fri 16 April - 18.00-21.00 (tutti)
Sat 17 April- 10.00-13.00 (five string sectionals) and 14.00-17.00 (string orchestra)
Sun 18 April - 10.00-13.00 (string orch and three separate wind, brass, percussion sectionals) and 14.00-17.00 (tutti)
Mon 19 April - 18.00-21.00 (tutti) - Henry Wood Hall
CONCERT DAY
Tues 20 April - 15.00-18.00 (tutti dress reh) and 19.30 Concert
Tuesday 14 September, 2027 - Cadogan Hall
Proposed programme:
Berlioz: Harold in Italy
Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique
Fri 3 September 18.00-21.00 (tutti)
Sat 4 September- 10.00-13.00 (five strings sectionals) and 14.00-17.00 (tutti)
Sun 5 September - 10.00-13.00 (string orchestra) and 14.00-17.00 (tutti)
Fri 10 September - 18.00-21.00 (tutti)
Sat 11 September - 10.00-13.00 (five string sectionals) and 14.00-17.00 (string orchestra)
Sun 12 September - 10.00-13.00 (string orch and three separate wind, brass, percussion sectionals) and 14.00-17.00 (tutti)
Mon 13 September - 18.00-21.00 (tutti) - Henry Wood Hall
CONCERT DAY
Tues 14 September - 15.00-18.00 (tutti dress reh) and 19.30 Concert