Philharmonia Instrumental Fellowship FAQ

What’s new?

• This year the cohort has Fellowships open for Brass, Woodwind and Percussion only.
• Instrumental Fellowships for Strings, Piano, and Harp will return in 2025.
• For Brass and Woodwind only, we will now expect audio audition submissions to be made at the same time of the application. This means that the only waiting period is to hear if you are to progress to the second round. For Percussion, we will notify you of first and second round dates once we have confirmed your eligibility for the programme.
• There’s an equal opportunity form that needs to be filled in alongside the application form.
• First round audition rep will be available just before the applications open to give you enough lead in time to apply.
• The 24/25 programme will only offer Fellowships for Brass, Woodwind and Percussion.

How many Fellowships across Brass, Woodwind and Percussion are available?

The 24/25 cohort will have 3 Brass Fellowships, 3 Woodwind Fellowships and 1 Percussion Fellowship.

Will all the Fellowships run for two years?

No, we are moving to all Fellowships being offered for one year, while extending the range of activities instrumentalists can engage with both before and after the programme.

I applied last year, am I able to apply again?

Yes, of course. We welcome submissions from applicants new and returning.

Is this Fellowship for singers?

No, the Instrumental Fellowship is for Brass, Woodwind, and Percussion only.

Is this Fellowship for jazz musicians?

No, this is for emerging musicians who desire a classical orchestral career.

Can I do the Fellowship programme online?

No, the Fellowship is a programme really benefits from in-person interaction as you will have a mentor, coaching sessions, and opportunities to perform in recitals and in Learning and Engagement.

If I live abroad, am I still eligible to apply?

Maybe. If you currently reside and/or are from overseas, you will need to demonstrate that you have or will have a valid visa for the duration of the Fellowship. The Philharmonia is not able to cover the cost of overseas travel for auditions or beyond into the Fellowship.

How do I know if my visa is valid?

If you are in the UK on a Tier 4 student visa, you are responsible for ensuring that you comply with the terms of your visa i.e. you are still in education and will be for the duration of the Fellowship.

If you are not a British citizen, you will need to demonstrate that you have the right to remain in the UK throughout the Fellowship.

What will be the requirements for the audition?

For both the first and second round, you will be asked to perform solo repertoire and orchestral excerpts of the panel’s choosing. 

For first round, will I need to perform the solo rep? Can I just perform the orchestral excerpts?

You must perform the solo rep. If your instrument requires an audio submission, the panel will be expecting to hear this.

Are all the auditions in person?

All second round auditions are in person.

Brass, Woodwind and Strings have first round audio auditions, while Percussion have both in-person first and second round auditions.

What is the dress code for the auditions?

We want to ensure that you have as positive an experience as possible. Therefore, we would like you to dress smart/casual.

Will there be sight reading?

Sight reading will be at the discretion of the panel, so please be prepared.

If I am applying for Brass or Woodwind will I submit an audio audition?

Yes, you must submit a video of your audition. We will transfer this to an audio piece.

These are the formats supported by the form mp4, mov, wmv and avi. For more information, please download the audition pack here.

Do solo pieces require accompaniment?

Solo pieces can be accompanied or unaccompanied.

Should the video submissions be in one take?

This must be done in one take. It is important that we know it is you playing.

Are the in-person auditions screened?

All first round in-person auditions are screened (we remove the image for first round and only share the audio with panelists for those submitting videos, and physically screen the Percussion first round auditions).

Second round in-person auditions are not screened.

What is the timeline for the applications and the programme?

Please note that this timeline is subject to change. We will endeavour to provide updates on any changes to the timeline as soon as possible.

Will I get feedback?

Due to the high volume of applications, we are unable to provide feedback for unsuccessful candidates following the first-round auditions.