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General Enquiries: 01865 987 222
Box Office: 01865 980 980
Email: [email protected]

Side-By-Side

‘Side by side has been such an amazing experience – allowing me to play alongside professional musicians, enjoy performing amazing repertoire and learn so much along the way.
Having one to one lessons on the music with an OPO appointed player has been really helpful as well. I would highly recommend this programme to anyone!’

Alice Bolton, Side-by-Side cello

Sit Side-by-Side the Oxford PhilHarmonic

About Side-by-Side

The Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra’s Side-by-Side programme gives emerging orchestral musicians the opportunity to gain professional experience performing in three concerts throughout the season.

Side-by-Side participants will learn from OPO’s world-class players in dedicated sectionals before each performance. Sectionals and rehearsals take place on the day of performance in Oxford.

There are 19 places available in total: 1 flute, 1 oboe, 1 clarinet, 1 bassoon, 1 horn, 1 trumpet, 1 trombone, 1 percussion, 3 violin I, 3 violin II, 2 viola, 2 celli, 1 bass.

Eligibility

Applicants must be enrolled full or part-time at an institution of higher education in the UK on any course of study.

Applicants must be resident in the UK for the duration of the programme (October 2025 – June 2026).

Applicants must be aged 18 or over, and born after July 1999.

Applicants must ensure that they are available to play in the dates listed below.

Participants are responsible for their own travel expenses. In exceptional cases support may be available to enable participation.

‘The first violins were so warm and encouraging, making me feel very much at home. This was undoubtedly one of the highlights of my term!’

Joel Hoe, Side-by-Side violin I

How to Apply

Side-by-Side repertoire, dates and location are as follows:

  • Shostakovich Festive Overture in A major, Op. 96
    6 November 2025, Oxford Town Hall.
  • Dvořák Carnival Overture, Op. 92
    29 January 2026, Oxford Town Hall.
  • June 2026
    details tbc.

Application and Blind Audition Process

  • To apply for the OPO Side-by-Side scheme please complete the application form at the bottom of this page.
    NB: No personal identifying information will be shared with the audition panel.
  • Please ensure that the writing in Part 2 of your application is anonymised as this will be shared with the audition panel.
  • Prepare and provide links to two video recordings:
    Please ensure that all video and audio links are accessible by the panel (e.g., ‘unlisted’ rather than ‘private’).

    • Solo performance, an excerpt 3-5 minutes in length. We would prefer that applicants submit performances of accompanied repertoire to demonstrate their ensemble skills, however applicants may also apply with an unaccompanied performance. This recording can be from anytime in the last six months.
  • Prepare and provide links to audio-only versions of the two video recordings. These will be used for the blind audition process. Administrators will use the video to validate that it is the same performance in both the video and audio submissions.

Application deadline: 5pm on Wednesday 15 October, 2025

If you have any questions about the audition process or any of the student performance opportunities, please contact Lydia Bennett, Education Officer.