Assistant Concert Master

The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden

Music Director, Royal Opera: Jakub Hrůša

Music Director, Royal Ballet: Koen Kessels

Concertmasters: Vasko Vassilev, Magnus Johnston, Sergey Levitin

The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House is seeking to appoint to the position of:

Assistant Concert Master

We invite applications from outstanding players with considerable recent relevant professional experience. The successful candidate will be a musician of the highest calibre who is self-motivated, reliable and versatile with the ability to work under pressure as part of an established team.

The terms and conditions of employment for this position offer some flexibility in workload and schedule. This is a permanent salaried position.

We actively encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds and value the positive impact that difference has on our teams. In line with the ‘Hiring and recruitment in UK Orchestras; Good practice recommendations, 10 point action plan’ developed by Black Lives in Music, the Musicians’ Union, and the Association of British Orchestras, we will be conducting screened first round auditions to encourage and promote undiscovered talent.

A full job description and details of how to apply are available on our website Royal Opera House Careers - Vacancy List

Auditions will be held in London as follows:

First rounds: 8th, 13th & 14th October 2026

Second rounds: To be confirmed (Nov/Dec 2026)

Our preference will be to hear first round candidates in person, but should you be unable to attend on the scheduled dates we will accept a recorded audition to be submitted by 5th October 2026 (full instructions will be sent to shortlisted candidates).

Second round auditions will be in person only.

All applications will be anonymised for shortlisting purposes.

The format of the auditions will be:

First round (behind screens with piano accompaniment. RBO will provide an accompanist, but candidates should bring their own piano part).

Mozart Violin Concerto 3 or 4 or 5: 1st movement without cadenza
Excerpts as per the enclosed PDF

Second round (unscreened with piano accompaniment. RBO will provide an accompanist, but candidates should bring their own piano part).

Mozart 3, 4 or 5 – 1st movement with cadenza
1st movement of one of the following Romantic Concertos: Sibelius, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Dvorak, Glazunov, Elgar, Paganini, Prokofiev 1 or 2, Beethoven, Mendelsohn (if you would like to play a Romantic Concerto that isn't listed, please get in touch via the email address below).
Excerpts as per the enclosed PDF

We may also decide to hold a chamber music round after 2nd rounds.

The closing date for applications is: 8th September 2026

Please note we will aim to contact shortlisted candidates by the end of 11th September 2026

Should candidates who are shortlisted for trial work or offered permanent employment not have current UK work authorisation, RBO will provide support in obtaining the necessary permission to work depending on individual circumstances. Please contact us at the relevant point in the recruitment process if this applies to you.

If you have any questions regarding this position please e-mail Orchestra.Auditions@roh.org.uk.