Side-By-Side
Sit Side-by-Side with a professional player in an Oxford Philharmonic concert.
Our Side-by-Side scheme gives young musicians from Oxfordshire the opportunity to sit alongside a professional player in the opening work of up to three of our Oxford season concerts.
Sit Side-by-Side the Oxford Phil
About Side-by-Side
Our Side-by-Side scheme provides the opportunity for student string, wind, brass and percussion players from Oxfordshire to sit side-by-side with a professional player in the opening work of up to three of our Oxford season concerts. This is a unique performance experience reaching beyond what ordinary music education provides.
The Side-by-Side series of webinars, sectionals and tutti rehearsals with professional orchestral players will enable young musicians to gain unique insights into orchestral performance and perform their very best in concert.
How to apply
Applicants to Side-by-Side must be aged 14+ and play to Grade 8 standard or above. Applicants must be a student at school or university in Oxfordshire.
Applications for Side-by-Side 2023/24 are open. Fill in the form at the bottom of the page by Sunday 15 October.
Concerts
Thursday 23 November 2023
Tchaikovsky Polonaise and Waltz from Eugene Onegin, Op. 24
Cayenna Ponchione-Bailey conductor
Thursday 29 February 2024
Beethoven Egmont Overture, Op. 84
Maxim Vengerov conductor
Thursday 30 May 2024
Farrenc Overture No. 2 in E flat major, Op. 24
Cayenna Ponchione-Bailey conductor
Audition information
Sunday 29 October 2023, 10:00-17:00 at the Faculty of Music, St Aldate’s, Oxford OX1 1DB
Auditions will last 12 minutes and will consist of three components:
- 4-5 minutes of an accompanied solo work (this can be an excerpt of a longer work)
- Two orchestral excerpts provided 4 days in advance
- Sight reading provided in the audition
An accompanist will be provided although you may bring your own.
Musicians applying for both Side-by-Side and the Young Artists’ Platform will only need to audition once and should only fill in the Young Artists’ Platform form, ticking the box stating that you are also applying for Side-by-Side.
Auditions for these applicants will last 17 minutes and will consist of three components:
- Two contrasting pieces with accompaniment lasting no longer than 10 minutes in total (these can be an movements or extracts of longer works)
- Two orchestral excerpts provided 4 days in advance
- Sight reading provided in the audition
If you have any questions, please contact Cayenna Ponchione Bailey (Side-by-Side Scheme Coordinator) or Will Emery (Education Officer).
Side-by-Side
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