Orchestral Leader

As Orchestral Leader, you will:
•    Lead the first violin section. Provide guidance, support and nurturing of the violin section talent. 
•    Help maintain cohesion and direction across all the string family.
•    Inspire our violin players’ confidence. Support and build on their enthusiasm during rehearsals and in their practice between sessions. 
•    Build on the social and musical cohesion of the section. Set bowing decisions and technical guidance.
•    Collaborate closely with the conductor on musical direction across the whole orchestra.
 

What We’re Looking For:
•    Strong technical ability and musicality on the violin with previous professional orchestral experience.
•    Leadership skills and demonstration of an ability to coach, encourage and inspire players, ideally including in an amateur setting.
•    An understanding of the community orchestra ethos and how you could contribute to it.
•    Collaborative skills to support and work with the Musical Director and more widely across the orchestra. Commitment to regular rehearsals and performances.

The position will be vacant from January 2026.  Rehearsals are currently on Tuesday evenings 7.45 - 9.45pm in St. Mildred's Church, 30 Bingham Road, Croydon, CR0 7EB. It will be initially for a 12 month period with potential for an indefinite extension. 

A fee will be payable, negotiated with the successful candidate, for rehearsals and concerts.  In agreeing fees with you we will take into account your skills and experience, though note that we are an amateur, community orchestra and fees will be set within that context and up to a maximum of £60 per rehearsal. The concert fee is additional.

About Us
South London Sinfonia began in 1927 and brings together enthusiastic amateurs with a range of abilities to make music together. We are very welcoming and place significant emphasis on community engagement. We do not audition for membership but aim high. We have developed significantly over recent years in terms of membership size and degree of challenge and diversity in our repertoire though we aim to remain inclusive of all our players. Our Musical Director, since September 2024, is Christopher Braime who has extensive experience across a variety of different orchestras, choirs, wind bands, Opera and music teaching. Our website is www.southlondonsinfonia.co.uk
 

Application process:
Please submit your CV / biography, detailing your experience, which can be a link to your website, with a short covering email explaining why you are interested in the position and what you could bring to South London Sinfonia, taking into account what we are looking for.  

We aim to invite selected applicants to a very short interview (online) in w/c 20 or w/c 27 October. Shortlisted candidates would be invited to a trial rehearsal / audition, likely in w/c 3 or w/c 10 November.

Please submit your application or ay queries to the following e-mail address: slsinf@outlook.com