Auditions

The Akron Symphony Orchestra & Christopher Wilkins, Music Director, announce the following vacancies for the 2026-2027 season:

PRINCIPAL TRUMPET
2ND BASSOON (1-year position) †
PRINCIPAL VIOLIN II *
NON-ROTATING SECTION VIOLIN I (4th Chair)*
SECTION VIOLIN I & II (9 positions) *
PRINCIPAL VIOLA *
NON-ROTATING VIOLA (3rd Chair) *
SECTION VIOLA (1 position)
SECTION CELLO (1 position) *
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL SECTION BASS*
SECTION BASS (2 positions)

*If this position is won by a current ASO contract member, the resulting vacancy may be offered to the next best-qualified candidate.
† 1-year positions may become permanent.

Audition Dates

Compensation

The base compensation rate for the 2025-2026 season was $124.80 and 156.00 for Principals.

Minimum Service Requirements

Contract musicians are required to play a minimum of 4 classics concerts and 2 non-classics evening concerts. Daytime, summer, and 3rd party hired concerts are not required.

Repertoire Lists

(Pending repertoires will not display active links)

PRINCIPAL TRUMPET
2nd BASSOON
ALL VIOLIN POSITIONS
ALL VIOLA POSITIONS
ALL CELLO POSITIONS
ALL BASS POSITIONS

Appointments

All applicants are required to demonstrate either U.S. Citizenship or a legal eligibility to accept employment with ASO.

As a large volume of candidates is expected, please do not schedule an appointment if you are not certain you can adequately prepare for and attend the audition. If you are not certain, please wait until closer to the audition date to schedule your time.
Committed applicants may schedule an audition appointment beginning August 3 by contacting the Akron Symphony Office via email to Sharon Smith at ssmith@akronsymphony.org. Please send an attached résumé with your request.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I schedule my audition appointment through the Personnel Manager?
A: No. The sign-up list is managed by the staff at the Akron Symphony Office.

Q: Can I choose my audition time?
A: No. Auditions are scheduled late to early. If you prefer an earlier time you should wait to schedule your appointment.

Q: Are there multiple rounds?
A: Yes. Unless you are auditioning for the sub list only, you should plan to remain or return for final rounds.

Q: What if I am not available on the advertised audition date. Can I schedule an individual appointment at another time?
A: No. Our collective bargaining agreement requires the symphony to convene and compensate an audition committee. It is too costly and time-intensive to organize private auditions.

Q: Can I audition for the sub list only?
A: All candidates will be considered for the sub list, though you must attend the appropriate audition as the committees are constructed from the instrumental area we are auditioning.

Q: My instrument is not being auditioned. How can I schedule a substitute audition?
A: We can only accept your résumé and send it to the section principal.

Q: Do I need to supply a résumé?
A: Yes. Please plan to send one with your appointment request.

Q: Will you supply excerpt music at the audition?
A: Yes, though feel free to use your own.

Q: Does the orchestra pay mileage?
A: Currently, the symphony pays a modest stipend of $3.50 per trip for musicians traveling farther then 50 miles each way.

Q: Does the orchestra provide per diems?
A: We do not.

Q: Does the orchestra provide housing or lo ate host families?
A: We do not, though we have a number of musicians that travel from out of state and may be helpful resources for finding housing.

Q: If I win a position, do I have to join the union?
A: As per our contract, all ASO contract musicians must join Akron Federation of Musicians Local 24. Other questions regarding union membership can be answered by Gary Davis, Secretary-Treasurer of local 24 at info@akronmusicians.org.

Q: If I take work as a substitute musician with the Akron Symphony Orchestra am I required to join Akron Federation of Musicians Local 24?
A: Not at first. You may play 16 services with the orchestra before you are required to join the union. Other questions regarding union membership can be answered by Gary Davis, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 24 at info@akronmusicians.org.

Please address all other questions to Jerry Miskell, Personnel Manager, via email at jerry@icloud.com.

ASC Audition Information for 2026-2027 Season 

The Akron Symphony Chorus and Chorus Director Chris Albanese will hold auditions for new members for the 2026-27 season on August 13-14 at Faith Lutheran Church, Fairlawn. Auditions are by appointment only. The upcoming season for the Akron Symphony Chorus includes Mozart’s Requiem, a selection of holiday favorites, and the season finale of Rachmaninoff’s The Bells as part of the Tchaikovsky IV concert.

Akron Youth Philharmonic Audition Information for 2026-2027 Season 

All students interested in performing with the Akron Youth Philharmonic will need to audition. There is no fee to audition. Students who auditioned for the Akron Youth Symphony during the spring or summer but were not selected must audition for the Akron Youth Philharmonic to be considered. If they are accepted, their audition fee will be applied to their Akron Youth Philharmonic participation fee.

Auditions will take place at Miller South School for the Visual and Performing Arts from 3:30 – 7:00 pm on:
Wednesday, September 16 
Thursday, September 17

For more information, contact Director of Education and Outreach Orzella Matherson by email at omatherson@akronsymphony.org or by phone at 330.535.8131.