Orchestral Vacancies
Open positions and general information about the ASO’s audition process.
Vacant Positions
Section Principal Bass
Commencing 2027
This position is open to Australian and international applicants
Adelaide Symphony Orchestra invites expressions of interest for the position of Section Principal Double Bass. This is a unique opportunity to join a supportive, collaborative orchestra that values exceptional artistry and the contribution of every musician. Led by internationally acclaimed Chief Conductor Mark Wigglesworth, the ASO brings together exceptional musicians and some of the world’s leading conductors, soloists and creative artists. It’s a place to grow your artistry, contribute your voice and help shape an ambitious new chapter for the orchestra.
We believe great music belongs to everyone. From the concert hall to classrooms, recording studio to communities, your work will make a difference to thousands of people.
And you’ll do it from Adelaide – one of Australia’s great cultural cities, home to internationally renowned festivals, great food and wine, a thriving arts community and an enviable quality of life.
We are committed to supporting our musicians on and off the stage. In addition to a generous instrument insurance scheme and remedial health subsidy program, Orchestra members receive five weeks of annual leave and a paid mid-year break of at least nine days.
Closing date for applications 5pm, Wednesday 14 October 2026.
How To Apply:
To express interest in this role, please submit the following to employment@aso.com.au:
- Current CV outlining relevant musical, leadership and orchestral experience.
- Recording submission (See Recordings below).
For queries about this position, please contact Rachel Grant, People and Culture Manager, at grantr@aso.com.au.
Recordings:
Required Work: First movement of a standard concerto, with or without piano accompaniment, performed in orchestral tuning. The ASO tunes to A441Hz. Digital recordings made on phones are acceptable, and recording should contain both audio and video.
Submission instructions: Please label your recording submission with your name and contact details and submit via Dropbox to aso@aso.com.au with grantr@aso.com.au and library@aso.com.au on copy.
Assessment Process
Completed applications, including recordings, must be submitted by 5pm on Wednesday 14 October 2026.
Applications will be assessed on Wednesday 28 October 2026.
Shortlisted applicants will be invited, in priority order, to play in the position for a short assessment period. As part of the assessment, they also will be required to perform a short recital that includes selected orchestral passages.
Each shortlisted candidate will be offered a three-week invitation period. The timing will be arranged according to the candidate’s availability and the ASO calendar. The ASO will seek to schedule a mutually agreeable time for the candidate to perform with the orchestra within six months of the invitation being issued.
During the invitation period, the candidate will be required to play with the orchestra and perform a recital for ASO members.
Recital works:
The recital will comprise 15 minutes of repertoire chosen by the candidate, plus the orchestral excerpts listed below.
Orchestral Excerpts:
- Haydn Symphony No. 31 – (4th movement solo with repeats).
- Stravinsky Pulcinella solo (No.7)
- Mozart Symphony No.40 (1st movement excerpt).
- Beethoven Symphony No. 9 (Recitative from the 4th movement).
- Strauss Ein Heldenleben (Figure 9: ‘Lebhaft bewegt’)
- Britten Variations on a theme of Frank Bridge (March).
If a successful candidate is identified at any stage, they will proceed to a trial in the position, and the invitation process may cease.
Travel/Accommodation for Invitation periods
Musicians invited to play with the ASO will be provided with one economy class airfare from their places of residence, including instrument freight. International return travel will be provided from the closest international airport in the candidate’s country of residence. The ASO is pleased to offer accommodation and travel allowances in Adelaide for the duration of the trial period.
Further Information:
For further information on this position please see the separate ‘General Information Document’.
The Audition Process
If you’re coming to the ASO for an audition, the process is intended to assess your playing as fairly as possible. You will be required to play a number of orchestral excerpts and/or set piece(s) for an audition panel. The panel consists of ASO players, including players of your instrument or an instrument related to yours. Download our Audition Protocol Information to read more.
Audition FAQs
Orchestral Excerpts
What pitch does the orchestra tune to?
The ASO tunes to A=441Hz.
I have a query about the orchestral excerpts, who do I contact?
Please contact our Library team at library@aso.com.au and they will be able to assist you with your query.
One of the notes listed for a work in the orchestral excerpts is different to other editions of this work I have seen. Which note should I play?
You are welcome to contact our library team for clarification, however if in doubt, our advice is to play what is listed on the page in the orchestral excerpts. Where there is a variation the audition panel will be made aware of this and will be instructed to accept either note. The panel will not mark down candidates for playing the notes as is printed on the page in the excerpts.
Live Auditions
I am flying in to attend the audition. Can you arrange an audition time slot to accommodate my flight times?
Where we are notified of this, we will endeavour to accommodate where we can. Please note however that in terms of timings on the day, these are subject to change depending on the audition rounds – i.e. whilst we will provide in advance your timeslot for the first round, if there are subsequent rounds on the day, the timing of when the auditions will finish is flexible. We will endeavour to be finished prior to 5pm, and if on the day there are any issues, operations staff will be present to assist and you can advise them.
Will I have a session with the accompanist prior to the audition day?
Our accompanist has access to the Grainger Studio the day before the audition to work with applicants. You will be given the accompanists contact details and will be required to liaise with them directly about a mutually suitable time that day. This session will be at your own cost.
Will there be a practice room available the day before the audition?
Practice room availability is limited. To enquire about booking a practice room the day prior to the audition, please contact us at employment@aso.com.au and provide your name, preferred timeslot and contact details (mobile number & email).
What time can I come in on the day? Do I need to be there from the audition start time?
Our building will be open from 8:30am so please feel free to arrive any time after that and be ready to play at least 20 minutes before your scheduled audition timeslot. Please note that as practise rooms are limited, you will be allocated one in applicant audition time order.
I am running late/am unable to attend on the day, who do I contact?
If you are running late, or find that you are unable to attend, please phone and ask for operations
staff immediately on 8233 6233.
Recording Submissions
I am not using a sound engineer, can I have a witness sign my recording declaration instead?
Yes, you can get a witness to sign the video declaration form – they just need to be able to verify
that the recording is a true and recent record of your playing and that no editing or re-recording of
the musical performance has taken place.
What is the order for recording, and can I take breaks in between the pieces, or does the tape need to run continuously?
Recording needs to be done in one session (i.e. All recorded in the same session, although the tape can be stopped where breaks are indicated) and in the following order:
i. Orchestral excerpts – These are to be done in numerical order and recorded in groups of five (5) excerpts in one continuous take, with no editing or re-recording. A short break is permitted between each group of excerpts. The last group of excerpts can be less than five. Each excerpt needs to be given a separate track listing number as the panel may need to jump from one to another as necessary.
To give an example of how these should be recorded – Excerpts 1-5 (short break permissible), Excerpts 6-10 (short break permissible), Excerpts 11 & 12.
ii. Set pieces (as per the advertisement). Each required solo repertoire piece (concerto, recital pieces etc.) must be recorded as an entire piece, as if it was being played as a performance (no editing or re-recording & no stopping between movements). Rest breaks in the recording schedule can take place between these pieces. An applicant may replay a section of the
required material in the same take, if dissatisfied, however the original attempt must remain recorded (i.e., no editing).
iii. Any requested works of the applicant’s choice
Some of the excerpts have multiple parts (a) and (b). If one work has been split into an “a” and a “b” excerpt does that count as 1 or 2 excerpts for the group?
Please treat this as 2 excerpts and please label in your track listing the start time of each excerpt.
Do I have to use an accompanist?
The recording should have a piano accompaniment if required by the repertoire. Whilst not essential, we strongly recommend a piano accompaniment where required by the repertoire, as unaccompanied recording does not necessarily do the playing justice.
Do all instruments need to be visible for the entire recording? Or just the instruments that are being played?
Any instrument you are playing needs to be within the shot when being played. Try to have all
instruments within the shot as much as is possible.
Post Audition
Can I seek feedback on my audition?
Whilst some details of the audition and the rounds must remain confidential, we are happy to provide individual feedback on your performance. Please contact us via employment@aso.com.au to request a copy of the feedback. Our Panel Chairperson will collate the panel’s feedback on each candidate post audition and once this has been collated, will contact individual candidates who have requested feedback to provide this.
Further Queries
Should you have any further queries on the audition process, please contact us at employment@aso.com.au