The position of Assistant Conductor is a bursary funded 12-month position which provides an opportunity for a conductor of a professional standard at the start of their career or about to leave post-graduate study. The Assistant Conductor will work closely with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra in a supportive and inspiring environment as well as being closely involved with our BSO Participate work, including school and family concerts.

The role — which was previously known as the BSO Young Conductor in Association — was previously held by Marta Gardolińska, who is rapidly developing into one of the most exciting young conductors worldwide and has since worked with the LA Philharmonic and Gustavo Dudamel and was last year appointed as Music Director of Opéra national de Lorraine.

Auditions for the new position start on Wednesday 20 July, with six applicants auditioning in the morning and four auditioning in the afternoon. The four works to be conducted on the first day are:

Brahms                                Variations on a Theme by Haydn (St Anthony Chorale)

Copland                               Buckaroo Holiday (from Rodeo)

Sibelius                                Symphony No.2  1^st movement (up to Letter ‘O’)

Tchaikovsky                        Symphony No 6  2^nd movement

It will then be up to the Orchestra to vote by ballot on who they think the best candidates are. Out of the initial ten, four candidates will be chosen for the second round.

On Thursday 21 July the four successful candidates will conduct the following pieces by Britten and Elgar:

Britten                                 Four Sea Interludes, from Peter Grimes

Elgar                                    Enigma Variations

Members of the Orchestra will vote for the final two candidates and in the afternoon the two finalists will choose either the Britten or Elgar to conduct again (with 30 minutes rehearsal time ahead of this).

There will also be an invited audience of BSO members. Once again it’s down to members of the Orchestra to make the final decision!

We spoke to CEO Dougie Scarfe to find out what they’ll be looking for on the day…

Now it’s on to the auditions! We’ll be taking some videos over the next few days so keep your eyes peeled on our social media channels for live updates… 

The Assistant Conductor role in 2022/23 has been generously supported by The Calleva Foundation, in memory of Jack Butt.