Overview
For the latest and most accurate information, please visit the official audition page.
Welsh National Opera is seeking an exceptional Leader of the Orchestra (Concertmaster) to join its outstanding ensemble.
WNO shares the transformative power of live opera and performance with audiences across Wales and England. The WNO Orchestra is a dynamic ensemble of artistic excellence, offering a diverse range of activities from grand opera to chamber work. Recent years have seen critically acclaimed new productions of Britten’s Peter Grimes (2025) and Death in Venice (2024), as well as international recognition through appearances at the Janáček Festival in Brno (2022) and the opening of the Prague Spring Festival (2023).
WNO is at a particularly exciting moment, having welcomed new co-Artistic Directors Adele Thomas and Sarah Crabtree in January 2025. The Company is also in the process of recruiting a new Music Director, following a decade under the artistic leadership of Tomáš Hanus.
Audition Process
Full audition requirements will be communicated to shortlisted candidates following CV review.
- In-person auditions: Cardiff — week commencing 12 October 2026, comprising screened and unscreened rounds
- Selected candidates may be invited to perform with the orchestra on the same day
- Trial periods: Commencing December 2026 for shortlisted candidates
Application deadline: 28 August 2026
