Section Violin
The Winston-Salem Symphony has five (5) vacancies for Section Violin, a position that rotates between first and second violins, and will hold auditions for these per-service positions on September 15, 2026.
AP 2nd Violin
The Winston-Salem Symphony has a vacancy for Associate Principal Second Violin and will hold auditions for this per-service position on September 15, 2026.
P.L.A.Y. Music Site Coordinator
The Winston-Salem Symphony P.L.A.Y. Music Site Coordinator helps maintain a safe, joyful, and inclusive environment that advances P.L.A.Y. Music students’ musical and social-emotional growth between September and May, in alignment with the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School System’s calendar.
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P.L.A.Y. Music Assistant Teaching Artist
The Winston-Salem Symphony P.L.A.Y. Music Assistant Teaching Artist is responsible for assisting Lead TAs in providing high quality string or percussion pedagogy for beginning through advanced P.L.A.Y. Music Program students. Instructional efforts are based on the Lead TA’s lesson plans which are informed by established curriculum and pedagogy.
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P.L.A.Y. Music Lead Teaching Artist
The Winston-Salem Symphony P.L.A.Y. Music Lead Teaching Artist provides high-quality string or percussion instruction to P.L.A.Y. Music students and leads a classroom of string or percussion students with varying ability levels. Instructional efforts are informed by established curriculum and pedagogy.
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P.L.A.Y. Music Senior Lead Teaching Artist—Intermediate & Advanced Strings
The Winston-Salem Symphony P.L.A.Y. Music Senior Lead Teaching Artist – Intermediate & Advanced Strings provides high-quality string instruction to P.L.A.Y. Music students and leads classrooms of intermediate through advanced string students. Instructional efforts are informed by established curriculum and pedagogy.
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P.L.A.Y. Music Senior Lead Teaching Artist—Beginning Strings
The Winston-Salem Symphony P.L.A.Y. Music Senior Lead Teaching Artist – Beginning Strings provides high-quality string instruction to P.L.A.Y. Music students and leads classrooms of beginning string students. Instructional efforts are informed by established curriculum and pedagogy.
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Premiere Strings/Chamber Sinfonia Conductor
The Conductor of the Winston-Salem Symphony (WSS) Premiere Strings and Chamber Sinfonia (WSS-PS/CS) leads the WSS Youth Orchestras Program’s (YOP) two entry-level orchestral ensembles.
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The Sound of an American Moment
If one piece captures the spirit of American classical music in the mid-20th century, it might just be Aaron Copland’s Symphony No. 3.
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Concertmaster
The Winston-Salem Symphony has a vacancy for Concertmaster and will hold first-round online auditions (May 15-July 15 submission window), live auditions (August 31 & September 1) and trial week rounds during the 26/27 concert season.
Since Dawn
If you think the world feels politically anxious right now, imagine being a Jewish composer in Germany in 1933. That’s exactly where Kurt Weill found himself — and what he created on his way out the door is one of the most fascinatingly weird, sharp-elbowed pieces in the concert repertoire.
Seven Deadly Sins—and the Man Who Fled the Nazis to Write About Them.
If you think the world feels politically anxious right now, imagine being a Jewish composer in Germany in 1933. That’s exactly where Kurt Weill found himself — and what he created on his way out the door is one of the most fascinatingly weird, sharp-elbowed pieces in the concert repertoire.
Seven Deadly Sins—and the Man Who Fled the Nazis to Write About Them. Read More »
¡Olé! The Winston-Salem Symphony Brings Carmen to Life
Few pieces of music are as instantly recognizable — or as irresistibly exciting — as Georges Bizet’s Carmen. Whether you’re a lifelong opera devotee or someone who’s never set foot in an opera house, you already know this music. It’s in movies, commercials, figure skating routines, and pop songs. It’s everywhere — and for good reason
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Real Violins!
Students in Team Mozart—the youngest musicians of the Winston-Salem Symphony’s P.L.A.Y. Music program—graduated recently from the paper violins on which they learn respect for the instrument and proper holding technique for little hands, to their very own real violins! Learn more about P.L.A.Y. Music
A trombone with valves?
A trombone with valves? In a recent episode of our fun new series, Just In Case (in which Winston-Salem Symphony musicians show us what’s inside their mysterious cases), WSS principal trombonist Brian French displayed the things he carries in his case for rehearsals and concerts. Then he showed how he could remove his valve if
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Tree sap in the cello case?
Tree sap in the cello case? In a recent episode of our fun new series, Just In Case (in which Winston-Salem Symphony musicians show us what’s inside their mysterious cases), WSS cellist Jennifer Alexandra Johnston showed us some of the things she keeps inside her case for rehearsals and concerts. But rosin (tree sap) was
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Shhh! This post is about brass mutes!
Shhh! This post is about brass mutes! The latest episode of our fun new series, Just In Case (in which Winston-Salem Symphony musicians show us what’s inside their mysterious cases), features WSS trumpeter Ken Wilmot showing off the wide variety of “mutes” that he may need to use during the course of a season of
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Michelle Merrill to Lead the Winston-Salem Symphony through 2028-2029 Season
Michelle Merrill to Lead the Winston-Salem Symphony through 2028-2029 Season WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (June 26, 2025) – The Winston-Salem Symphony announced that it has negotiated a new contract with music director Michelle Merrill. Heading into her third season, Merrill will continue as music director of the Winston-Salem Symphony for an additional three years under the terms
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Reed Making
The delicate art of reed-making You may have seen our recent social media post featuring the kickoff to a fun new series, Just In Case, in which Winston-Salem Symphony musicians show us what’s inside their mysterious cases. In this episode, WSS principal oboist Claire Kostic displayed the interesting accoutrements inside her fancy backback case—including two
Winston-Salem Symphony Announces Retirement of President & CEO, Merritt Vale, and Appointment of Successor, Amanda Norman
The Winston-Salem Symphony is delighted to announce the appointment of Ms. Mandy Vollrath as its new Vice President, Chief Philanthropy Officer effective April 1, 2025. Ms. Vollrath was selected from a pool of fifteen applicants, seven semifinalists, and three finalists following a national search led by Aspen Leadership Group and an internal search committee that included Board and staff leadership.