Guest Musicians

Charleston Symphony; Charleston (SC); On-site; USD 1,012,000 - 1,441,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Housing provided

Travel reimbursement

Per-diem

W-2 wages

Job summary

The Charleston Symphony is inviting video auditions for Guest Musicians across all orchestral instruments. These per-service engagements help expand the 24-member Core Orchestra for large-scale works in Charleston, with typical residency Wed–Sat for Masterworks.

Auditions require 3 excerpts plus a concerto, unedited video in the past six months, and documentation to work in the United States. Compensation includes $890 per service (including $540 wages and $350 non-taxable travel/per-diem) and

Qualifications

• Submit 3 contrasting standard orchestral excerpts and the exposition of a standard concerto.
• Excerpts must be recorded in one continuous take and unedited.
• Include 3 additional excerpts for auxiliary instruments if applying for winds or brass.

Responsibilities

• Engage as Guest Musician on a per-service basis to support the Core Orchestra.
• Be available in Charleston from Wednesday through Saturday for Masterworks series where required.
• Comply with audition instructions and provide required documentation and resume PDFs.

Skills

Video audition prep

Excerpts selection

US work eligibility

Job description

The Charleston Symphony is accepting video auditions on a rolling basis from qualified applicants for all orchestral instruments for our Guest Musician call lists. Guest Musicians are engaged on a per-service basis to expand the 24-member professional full-time Core Orchestra to present large-scale symphonic works.

While engagement lengths vary by series, a common Masterworks series requires Guest Musicians to be in Charleston from Wednesday through Saturday and pays $890 [$350 in non-taxable travel reimbursement/ per-diem and $540 in W-2 service wages, with free housing with a host-family available upon request; note that musicians staying with a host family will still receive full travel & per-diem reimbursement].

Auditions should be submitted per the instructions below. All applicants must already possess all documentation that allows them to work legally in the United States (for foreign nationals, such documents might include a green card or an F-1 student visa with ability to do Curricular Practical Training, etc). Successful applicants will then be contacted as we have need for their services.

Instructions for CSO Guest Musician Video Applicants

Application Requirements: Please submit 3 contrasting standard orchestral excerpts and the exposition of a standard concerto (accompaniment not necessary). The three excerpts must be recorded in one continuous take. All recordings must be unedited, have a stationary camera angle, and should have been recorded in the past 6 months. We strongly recommend that your selections be recorded at the highest quality possible. For Wind and Brass players wishing to be considered for auxiliary instruments, please include 3 additional excerpts for each auxiliary instrument. Percussion and Timpani applicants, please see below for audition requirements.

Once your video is uploaded to YouTube or a file-sharing site, you will need to visit and complete the following form:

Enter contact information as well as the URL for your video; you will also need to upload a pdf of your resume (the file name of the resume pdf should be your name and instrument, e.g. “SmithJack_trumpet.pdf”). When you complete this process, you will get an auto-generated message from the system saying your submission has been received, and an email will be generated to the personnel manager. (Submissions without working URLs or with no resume attached will not be considered.) If your audition is successful, you will then be contacted by the orchestra when we need your services.

For Percussion and Timpani applicants – please submit the following excerpts with your resume:

PERCUSSION

• Xylophone – Gershwin:Porgy and Bess: Opening
• Cymbal – Tchaikovsky:Romeo and Juliet, E-F

TIMPANI

• 5 standard orchestral excerpts of your choice

Note that you DO NOT need to submit a ‘standard solo concerto exposition’ or any other solo piece for either Percussion or Timpani auditions.And if you have a somewhat recent pre-existing video which approximates our list (i.e., orchestral excerpts, not a recital, and ok if excerpts are not in one take), you may submit rather than making a whole new video; please let us know when the video was made and for what purpose (e.g., preliminary audition for River City Philharmonic)

If you have any questions, please contact: [e-mail]

• Mission: To inspire and engage our community through exceptional musical and educational programs
• Vision: To be a premier cultural destination and leading performing arts organization that sparks lasting connections and transformative impact for all of Charleston

The Charleston Symphony is one of the fastest growing Orchestras in the United States and is a forward-thinking orchestra in one of the nation’s most dynamic and thriving cities. Concert attendance has increased by over 75% since before the pandemic, reflecting the community’s strong support for live music. Following a successful inaugural endowment campaign that surpassed $15 million, a second campaign is underway to further strengthen the Symphony’s long-term artistic and financial foundation. In 2025, the CSO marked a major milestone with its debut at Carnegie Hall.

Rooted in 90 years of artistic tradition and guided by core values of excellence, collaboration, integrity, and innovation, the CSO is focused on attracting and retaining outstanding talent while building a sustainable future that supports competitive compensation and artistic fulfillment. Musicians have the opportunity to play a meaningful role in a thriving orchestra while living and performing in a vibrant cultural city known for its rich history, dynamic arts scene, and coastal beauty.