Concertmaster
- The offered per-service rate range for Concertmaster is $252 – $300, negotiable upon experience.
- Lodging provided and travel fees negotiated as necessary.
- The Symphony offers approximately 75 services in a typical season, plus education/community engagement events throughout the year including the opportunity to curate a “Concertmaster Series” of more intimate recitals both solo and with special guests.
How to apply
Please complete the online application below, including one unlisted YouTube link to an unedited video of the required repertoire by Wednesday, July 15, 2026.
Important Dates to Remember
May 15–July 15, 2026: First Round Online Audition submission window. All candidates must submit a video link.
July 31, 2026: Applicants notified of first-round results
August 31, 2026: Live Audition in Winston-Salem for those advanced from online round
September 1, 2026: Chamber Music round for selected candidates
Trial Week during the 26/27 Season: Finalists from the audition will be asked to play a trial week with the Winston Salem Symphony, which will also feature a public chamber music performance to be curated by the candidate.
Applications for the initial online round must be received by Wednesday, July 15, 2026.
Applicants invited to the live audition will be asked to email confirmation of their intent to attend the live round(s) and send a $50.00 deposit check to confirm their participation. Both the email and deposit check must be received on or before August 15th, 2026. The check should be made payable to the Winston Salem Symphony and include ‘Concertmaster Audition’ along with your name in the check’s memo line. Checks should be mailed to:
Jeff Whitsett, Orchestra Personnel Manager
Attn: Concertmaster Audition
Winston-Salem Symphony
P.O. Box 1545
Winston-Salem, NC 27102
Deposit checks will be returned to applicants at the audition. Checks will not be returned to applicants who withdraw after August 15th, 2026.
Repertoire Requirements
A PDF of all audition repertoire is available for download here.
The Winston Salem Symphony tunes to A=440 Hz.
First Round
Interested applicants should submit one unedited YouTube video (via unlisted link) with the following pieces to the online application form below. Only the audio will be reviewed by the committee. Repertoire should be performed solo, without piano accompaniment. No editing or sound enhancements of any kind are permitted. The audition video must be filmed in one continuous take without any speaking from the musician and include, in this order:
1. Solo Requirement
| Mozart, W. A. | Violin Concerto No. 4 (K.218) or No. 5 (K.219), Mvt. I (no cadenza) |
2. Orchestral Excerpts
| Brahms | Symphony No. 1 Mvt. 2: m. 90–128 (solo) |
| Rimsky-Korsakov | Scheherazade Mvt. 1: m. 14–18 |
| Mendelssohn | A Midsummer Night’s Dream Scherzo, m. 17–99 |
| Strauss, R. | Don Juan, Op. 20 Beginning to 13 after [C] |
Live Round
Applicants who advance into the Live Audition in Winston Salem will be asked to prepare the following:
1. Solo Requirement
| Mozart, W. A. | Violin Concerto No. 4 (K.218) or No. 5 (K.219), Mvt. I, with cadenza |
| Performer’s Choice | First movement of a Romantic-era concerto, with cadenza |
| Bach, J. S. | One movement from an unaccompanied solo Sonata or Partita |
2. Orchestral Solos
| Bach, J. S. | St. Matthew Passion No. 47, Erbarme dich: m. 1–9 |
| Beethoven | Missa solemnis Sanctus: m. 110–184 |
| Brahms | Symphony No. 1 Mvt. 2: m. 90–128 (solo) |
| Rimsky-Korsakov | Scheherazade Mvt. 1: m. 14–18, [C] to [D], [G] to [H] Mvt. 2: Beginning to m. 5 Mvt. 3: m. 8 of [K] to [N] Mvt. 4: m. 8–9, 29–30, and m. 7 of [Z] to end |
| Strauss, R. | Ein Heldenleben One measure after [22] to [32] |
3. Orchestral Excerpts
| Bartók | Concerto for Orchestra Mvt. 5: m. 21–86 |
| Beethoven | Symphony No. 9 Mvt. 3: m. 99–114 |
| Brahms | Symphony No. 4 Mvt. 4: m. 33–80 |
| Mahler | Symphony No. 1 Mvt 4: [16] to [19] |
| Mendelssohn | A Midsummer Night’s Dream Scherzo: m. 17–99 |
| Mozart, W. A. | Symphony No. 39 Mvt. 2: m. 96–125 Mvt . 4: beginning to m. 104 |
| Prokofiev | Symphony No. 1 Mvt. 1: beginning to m. 61 Mvt. 2: beginning to m. 20 |
| Schumann | Symphony No. 2 Scherzo: m. 1–54 (no repeats) |
| Strauss, R. | Don Juan, Op. 20 Beginning to 13 after [C] |
| Tchaikovsky | The Nutcracker Overture: [8] to the end (last 50 measures) |
Chamber Music Round
Applicants who advance from the Live Audition Round on August 31st will be asked to play chamber music with members of the Winston Salem Symphony the following day on September 1st:
| Beethoven | String Quartet in B-flat Major, Op. 18 No. 6 Mvt. 1, Allegro con brio |
Further Information
A PDF of all audition repertoire is available for download here. The Winston Salem Symphony tunes to A=440 Hz.
The Winston-Salem Symphony will offer accommodations and travel stipends only for trial-week finalist candidates.
The Winston-Salem Symphony is a member of the Black Orchestral Network and a partner orchestra of the Sphinx Organization’s National Alliance for Audition Support. Candidates are encouraged to visit these helpful resources.
Concert Cycle Schedule: A typical Classics concert cycle includes 3 evening rehearsals (Wednesday-Friday, 7:00 – 9:30pm), 1 Saturday dress rehearsal (10:00am – 12:30pm), and 2 concerts (Saturday evening, 7:30pm; Sunday afternoon, 3:00pm). Pops series concert cycles are generally single-rehearsal, single-performance, and both services may be on the same day.
Please note Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of audition and for the duration of employment. The Winston‑Salem Symphony does not sponsor employment visas or provide immigration-related support.
Technical questions regarding video submission can be directed to Brian French, at bfrench@wssymphony.org. All other questions can be directed to Jeff Whitsett, Orchestra Personnel Manager, at jwhitsett@wssymphony.org
About the Winston-Salem Symphony
The Winston-Salem Symphony is one of the Southeast’s most highly regarded regional, per-service orchestras and will celebrate its 80th Anniversary throughout 2027. In the past year, the Symphony has been highlighted in the latest League of American Orchestras Catalyst Guide for its efforts regarding workplace inclusivity, and in May, The New York Times featured our latest recording among top recent classical albums. Since Michelle Merrill’s appointment as Music Director in May 2023, the Symphony has enjoyed inspired programming, artistic growth through the filling of key positions in the orchestra, and a renewed community interest. Our education and philanthropy initiatives remain vibrantly thriving, and new organizational leadership, along with an engaged board of directors, are steering us ever forward.
Online Application
"*" indicates required fields