First Violin (5th chair, 1 position) & Section First Violin (2 positions)

The Preliminary and Semi-Final rounds of auditions are scheduled for November 1-4, 2026. The Final round is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, December 1, 2026.

Taped excerpts may be requested at the discretion of the Audition Committee and will be due Monday, September 28, 2026. Directions for submitting recordings will be communicated with the request for recording.

There are three (3) positions available: First Violin (5th chair) and Section First Violin (2 positions). Candidates do not need to let us know if they wish to be considered for the 5th chair position until the final round. Note additional tenure-track or one-year positions may be offered as the result of this audition.

Position to begin February 1, 2027, or by the mutual agreement of the PSO and winning candidate, but no later than September 6, 2027. Pay for the 2026-27 Season is at minimum orchestra weekly scale of $2,345.15, and the annual Electronic Media Guarantee is $2,072.40. The PSO schedule has ten (10) collective vacation weeks for members each season, paid at the same rate as work weeks.

Any offer of full-time employment is contingent upon the successful completion of all background checks, as required by the Pittsburgh Symphony, Inc.

Musicians hired by the PSO are responsible for having and maintaining authorization to be employed in the United States of America, and to travel on international tours as a musician with the PSO. The PSO will act as sponsor for visa petitions for musicians who are offered or have positions as members of the orchestra, however it is the musician’s responsibility to bear the costs associated with the petition and meet all required deadlines.

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra is proud to be a partner orchestra of the National Alliance for Audition Support (NAAS). You may qualify for financial assistance from NAAS for this audition. More information can be found here: https://www.sphinxmusic.org/naas-grants.