JOB DETAILS
Continuing Contracts ( 1 x Tutti Viola 40% and 1 x Tutti Viola 70%)
Applicants may indicate their preference on the Musicalchairs website
Location: The Studios, BBC MediaCityUK, Salford
We Offer
* Excellent career progression – the BBC offers great opportunities for employees to seek new challenges and work in different areas of the organisation.
* Unrivalled training and development opportunities – our in-house Academy hosts a wide range of internal and external courses and certification.
* Benefits - We offer a competitive salary package, a flexible 35-hour working week for work-life balance and 26 days (1 of which is a corporation day) with the option to buy an extra 5 days, a defined pension scheme and discounted dental, health care, gym and much more.
Please Note
In order to apply for this position, Candidates will need to apply via the 'Apply via musicalchairs' button to complete a short information form. Candidates will then follow the below application and audition process: The deadline to complete the form on is
Sunday 14th September 2025.
JOB INTRODUCTION
One of the most celebrated broadcast ensembles in the world, the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra's distinctive energy, lightning speed, and iconic musical character has moved and inspired audiences for over 100 years. Founded in 1922 as the 2ZY Orchestra, the Philharmonic has played an essential part in shaping the Greater Manchester region into an unmissable cultural destination and a hub for world-class talent in orchestral music.
Outside of the Philharmonic Studio, their broadcast home at MediaCityUK, the orchestra presents a flagship series at Manchester's Bridgewater Hall as well as live concerts recorded in venues across the country, at the BBC Proms, and on tour. Whether encountered in the concert hall, heard on the air, seen on television, or streamed on BBC Sounds and iPlayer, the work of the orchestra is enjoyed by millions of listeners every year.
The orchestra's Chief Conductor is John Storgårds, an inspiring musical leader who has built a close relationship with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra over many years and Anja Bihlmaier is the Principal Guest Conductor. The trailblazing musical storyteller Julia Wolfe is the Orchestra's Composer in Residence for 2025/26.
Artistic innovation and the development of a new audience for classical music has been a keen focus of the orchestra for many years. In June 2024, the Philharmonic gave the world premiere of Huang Ruo's City of Floating Sounds, an immersive symphonic experience, at the cutting-edge Aviva Studios in Manchester. In March 2025, the Orchestra followed up with its latest collaboration with Aviva Studios, Philharmonic Sessions: The Augmented Orchestra, featuring the UK premiere of Anna Clyne's PALETTE. Upcoming UK and world premieres in the 2025/26 season include music by Laura Bowler, Edmund Finnis, Gabriella Smith, Julia Wolfe, and the UK premiere of Angel's Bone, the Pulitzer Prize-winning opera by Du Yun, produced in collaboration with English National Opera and Factory International.
Engagement work for children and young people continues to be a vital part of the orchestra's work. At the end of 2023 CBeebies broadcast Musical Storyland, a 10-part television series produced by the Philharmonic, featuring the musicians of the orchestra. The series brings to life famous stories from around the world using the power of music. This was the first time an orchestra has been commissioned to make a series of films for UK network television. To date, Musical Storyland has been requested over thirteen million times on BBC iPlayer.
PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
Key Responsibilities
* To sit as a tutti member of the viola section, stepping up to no.4 tutti as required
* To demonstrate excellent orchestral and solo playing abilities, maintaining the highest musical standards.
* To support and develop positive working relationships with conductors, freelancers and all members of the orchestra.
* To play a key role in the life of the BBC Philharmonic – to be a passionate team player with a commitment to maintain and enhance the reputation of the orchestra.
Knowledge & Experience
* Outstanding professional orchestral and solo playing abilities.
* Knowledge, passion and appreciation for the range of repertoire performed by the BBC Philharmonic.
* Ability to lead, motivate and work collaboratively – to provide artistic direction and to inspire members of the wider orchestra.
* Interpersonal skills: ability to participate as part of a diverse team and to support colleagues, conductors and freelancers
Auditions
Auditions will be held in the BBC Philharmonic's studio at MediaCityUK on October 25th to 27th 2026
Audition Format
1st round / shortlisting
All applicants to submit a short audio visual file to Musicalchairs. This will be used to shortlist and the process will be anonymised and redacted. The panel will be judging intonation and phrasing – not the quality of the recording and further guidance is given on this process upon application.
Musicalchairs will automatically remove the video content from your upload for this round and the audition panel will only access the sound files.
Second round unscreened and with piano accompaniment at the Philharmonic Studio in Salford, 25th to 27th October 2025
* Orchestral excerpts – pack available from the 20th August following your application to Musicalchairs
* Prepared sight reading
* Exposition of a concerto / piece of your own choice
Candidates who cannot attend the auditions in person will be able to submit a recorded second round audition after submitting their first round / shortlisting file.
Applications Must Be Via The Musicalchairs Website - Please Click On The Following Link For Full Details On How To Apply And Auditions Instructions
CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS: SUNDAY 14TH SEPTEMBER 2025
If you need any further information or have any questions, please contact
About The Bbc
We don't focus simply on what we do – we also care how we do it. Our values and the way we behave are important to us. Please make sure you've read about our values and behaviours in the document attached below.
Diversity matters at the BBC. We have a working environment where we value and respect every individual's unique contribution, enabling all of our employees to thrive and achieve their full potential.
We want to attract the broadest range of talented people to be part of the BBC – whether that's to contribute to our programming or our wide range of non-production roles. The more diverse our workforce, the better able we are to respond to and reflect our audiences in all their diversity.
We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief. We will consider flexible working requests for all roles, unless operational requirements prevent otherwise.
To find out more about Diversity and Inclusion at the BBC, please click here
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