Principal Double Bass for the Danish National Symphony Orchestra
The Danish National Symphony Orchestra invites applications to audition for:
Principal Double Bass
The position is one ot two equal section-leaders, both with the obligation to play second chair/associate principal to each other 50% of the time.
The Danish National Symphony Orchestra is one of the world’s oldest broadcasting symphony orchestras and is part of the Danish Broadcasting Corporation (DR) - a leading cultural generator, regionally, nationally, and internationally.
The corporation includes 5 ensembles – a symphony orchestra, choirs, and a big band and is an important ambassador for Danish music and culture abroad.
The Danish Symphony Orchestra continuously collaborates with the world's leading soloists and conductors. Maestro Fabio Luisi has been the Chief Conductor since September 2016. Besides the prestigious series of titular conductors, internationally acclaimed conductors such as Manfred Honeck, Vasily Petrenko and Jukka-Pekka Saraste have conducted and praised the orchestra. Maestros Herbert Blomstedt and Thomas Dausgaard are both appointed Conductors’ Laureate of the orchestra.
The DR concert hall is designed by French architect Jean Nouvel with acoustics by Yasuhisa Toyota and has been rated one of the world’s best concert halls by ‘Gramophone’. Most of the orchestra’s concerts are broadcast on DR’s platforms (radio, TV and digital) and to large regions of the world through the European Broadcasting Union.
The position
The applicant will join our double bass section as one of two equal sections-leaders working closely together, for a total of nine musicians in the group. The obligation to play second means that the two equal section leaders will take turns to play second to each other (50/50) through the season programs. We are looking for a player with the highest musical and technical capabilities. A musician who has the leader's refined ability to both spearhead, and be a part of the section's sound and musicality, both within the group, as well as in the orchestra. As a part of the audition, selected candidates will be invited to an interview with the Head of development and operations and representatives of the jury.
The audition will take place on:
- Monday June 20, 2022 from 10.00 AM (preliminary round)
- Tuesday June 21, 2022 from 10 AM (1st and 2nd rounds)
- Wednesday June 22, 2022 (3rd round with orchestra)
On Wednesday May 18, 2022, we will announce by email who will be invited in the preliminary round and who is invited directly to the 1st round.
The preliminary round can be attended digitally if you wish to do so. If you are signed to the preliminary round you will be asked if you wish to submit an audio file to us, which must be sent by us no later than Wednesday May 31, 2022 at 12 AM (CET).
At the audition we would like to hear:
Preliminary round
K.D. von Dittersdorf: From the 2nd Concert for Double Bass (sounding D Major), 1st mov. with cadenza by H.K. Gruber and 2nd mov. without cadenza. Played in ’orchestra-tuning’
Orchestra excerpts:
1.1) Mozart: Symphony 40, 1st movement
1.2) Wagner: Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Vorspiel
1st round
K.D. von Dittersdorf: From the 2nd Concert for Double Bass (sounding D Major), 1st mov. with cadenza by H.K. Gruber and 2nd mov. without cadenza. Played in ’orchestra-tuning’
Orchestra excerpts
2nd round
S. Koussevitzky: From the Concert for Double bass, 1st mov. (sounding E minor)
or
G. Bottesini: From the 2nd Concert for Double bass, 1st mov. with cadenza (sounding A minor)
Both pieces played in ’orchestra-tuning’
Orchestral Excerpts
3rd round:
Orchestral Excerpts with the Orchestra
All excerpts will be sent by email before the audition.
Working in the Danish National Symphony Orchestra and in Denmark
The working schedule is based on 24 hours a week plus 15 hours individual preparation based on 42 weeks per year. Normally rehearsals are held Monday till Friday with concerts twice a week. As principal player you will have 3 weeks per year as extra preparation time (with no obligation to play or be on stand-by), dates and details subject to approval by the orchestra director.
The Danish Symphony Orchestra is artistically grounded in the great symphonic repertoire from the classical period to leading contemporary composers, with late romantic and early modern repertoire as areas of special emphasis. The orchestra is regularly involved in concert, recording and broadcasting activities aimed at new audiences as part of the public service mission of the Danish Broadcasting Corporation. Domestic and international touring is also a contractual obligation.
The Danish Symphony Orchestra is committed to the highest artistic standards and to continuously upholding a good working environment and collaboration build on mutual respect and good communication. The orchestra is located at DR Byen in Copenhagen in a smoke-free indoor environment, with good practice – and work facilities and a subway station close by.
The annual salary is calculated based on documented orchestral experience and is between DKK 451.000-545.600.
Further to the salary is a 19 % pension and an extensive public health care system as well as instrument insurance.
Employment is subject to confirmation of residence and work permit in Denmark.
Would you like to be a part of the Danish National Symphony Orchestra?
Please apply on this page (to your right) or by this link, no later than Thursday April 21, 2022 11:59 PM (CET). All applications will be acknowledged and treated in strict confidence.
If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact orchestra manager Jakob Helmer Moerck (jahe@dr.dk)
The auditions will take place at: DR Byen, Emil Holms Kanal 20, 5-3, 0999 Koebenhavn C -Denmark.
Danish Broadcasting Corporation wishes to reflect society. Therefore, we encourage any interested and qualified person regardless of gender, age, religion, disability and ethnic background to apply.
