Sphinx Orchestral Partners Auditions

The Sphinx Orchestral Partners Auditions (SOPA) Excerpt Competition provides Black and Latinx orchestral musicians the unique opportunity to audition for a panel representing several orchestras seeking to identify musicians for invitation to auditions, pre-advancement at auditions and/or placement on substitute player lists. The panel will include excerpt competition judges who will select outstanding performances as winners of cash prizes ranging from $250 to $3,500. Initiated and designed by Weston Sprott and Titus Underwood in partnership with Sphinx Organization, the ultimate goal of this initiative is job placement for Black and Latinx musicians in American orchestras.

Excerpt Competition
Invited instrumentalists will have a chance to not only play for a panel of musicians representing dozens of orchestras for placement opportunities, but also to compete for cash prizes ranging from $250 to $3,500. The first round of this year’s SOPA activities will be virtual with a submission date on December 1st. Round 2 will take place live, in Detroit’s Orchestra Hall on January 26th, 2022.

There will be two rounds of auditions. Applications will be open to the following instrument categories: Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone and Bass Trombone, Tuba, Percussion and Timpani, Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass, and Harp.

Key Dates
Competition Repertoire Available: October 5, 2021
Application Deadline: October 20th, 2021
Round 1 invitations: By November 1st, 2021
Round 1 Submission Date: December 1st, 2021 between 1pm-3pm ET
Round 2 Live Audition: January 26th, 2022

Eligibility
Preferred applicants:

• Are U.S. citizens or legal residents
• Have completed or are within two years of completing undergraduate studies
• Are in the midst of advancement pursuits for permanent orchestral employment opportunities
• May be currently employed in an orchestra, or be an independent contractor with an orchestra
• The SOPA Excerpt Competition is intended for musicians that are actively taking auditions through the 2021-22 season.

For more info, visit: https://www.sphinxmusic.org/sphinx-orchestral-partners-auditions/