Audition for the PSO

The Peterborough Symphony Orchestra welcomes auditions from local musicians interested in joining the orchestra. Auditions for the 2023-24 season are held on an ongoing basis. 

The PSO is made up of a mix of volunteer musicians and paid professionals. Playing as a volunteer musician is an enriching and challenging experience, with opportunities for professional mentorship and musical growth. In the 2023-24 season, the PSO will perform 5 concerts (see www.thepso.org for concert dates and details). Rehearsals for each concert are generally held on the 3 Wednesdays prior to each concert, as well as the Friday night the day before the concert, from 7:30-10:00 at the Peterborough Naval Club. Dress rehearsals are from 2:00 - 4:30 on the day of the concert at Showplace Performance Centre. In addition to regular concert series performances, as a volunteer musician with the PSO you can contribute to the community through other rewarding performance, education and mentorship programs and events. 

Candidates should be able to play at or above a Royal Conservatory Grade 9 or equivalent level.  At the audition, candidates should be prepared to play the first movement of a Mozart or Haydn concerto from the Royal Conservatory of Music list A, without the cadenza. If there is no Mozart or Haydn concerto for your instrument, you can select another concerto from the RCM Grade 9 List A for your instrument. You can find the RCM lists in the syllabus for your instrument here. You will also be asked to prepare two orchestral excerpts from a list we will send when you register for an audition time. The audition will take around 20 minutes.

The PSO is accepting auditions for all orchestral instruments. For instruments where there are currently no openings (clarinet, oboe), or if your level does not match the available opening (for example, where the only opening is for a section principal), you may be accepted as a reserve orchestra member who may play in the event one of the regular musicians is unavailable, and you will also have opportunities to play at other PSO events and performances.

Candidates will be notified of the outcome of their audition within 2 weeks. Candidates who are not accepted into the orchestra may be accepted for our new Community Connections Program, where they will have the opportunity to participate in small ensembles with professional PSO musicians, giving performances for community benefit. 

If you are interested in auditioning to become a volunteer orchestra member, contact info@thepso.org to arrange an audition time. In your email, please provide a brief outline of your musical background/experience. If you want to provide a CV of your playing experience and/or a link to a recording of your playing, it will be welcomed. Please also let us know your availability (e.g. if you are available weekdays, evenings, etc., and any specific dates you would prefer or you are not available).