Join the Houston Symphony Team

Founded in 1913, the Houston Symphony is one of America’s oldest performing arts organizations with a distinguished musical history. The Houston Symphony performs over 170 concerts for more than 350,000 people every year, featuring an innovative and broad spectrum of classical, popular, education and community-based symphonic programming.

Get Inspired by One of the World’s Leading Orchestras

Please view the below for information on positions currently available at the Houston Symphony. As of July 2022, the Houston Symphony employs 60 full- and part-time employees. The Houston Symphony is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against otherwise qualified applicants on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected class. The Houston Symphony follows all recruiting and hiring laws and guidelines set by federal, state and local government agencies, including but not limited to, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

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HOUSTON SYMPHONY AUDITIONS

 

The Houston Symphony announces auditions for the following full-time positions. To apply, please use the application procedure detailed below.

ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL AND E-FLAT CLARINET (one position)
Audition Dates: Preliminary and Semifinal Rounds on November 2, 4, 5, 2024, Final Round on December 2, 2024
Auditions to be held at Jones Hall for the Performing Arts, Houston.
Applications must be received by: September 23, 2024
Cancellation Deadline: October 18, 2024
• CLICK HERE FOR AUDITION REPERTOIRE

ASSOCIATE CONCERTMASTER
Audition Dates: Preliminary, Semifinal and Final Rounds on January 11, 13, 2025; Final Round on February 4 – 5, 2025
Auditions to be held at Jones Hall for the Performing Arts, Houston.
Applications must be received by: November 18, 2024
Cancellation Deadline: December 20, 2024
• CLICK HERE FOR AUDITION REPERTOIRE

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL DOUBLE BASS
Audition Dates: Preliminary and Semifinal Rounds on February 10-11, 2025, Final Rounds on February 12, 2025
Auditions to be held at Jones Hall for the Performing Arts, Houston.
Applications must be received by: December 9, 2024
Cancellation Deadline: January 27, 2025
• CLICK HERE FOR AUDITION REPERTOIRE

PRINCIPAL KEYBOARD
Audition Dates: Preliminary and Semifinal Rounds on February 23 – 25, 2025,
Final Rounds on March 18 – 19, 2025
Auditions to be held at Jones Hall for the Performing Arts, Houston.
Applications must be received by: January 7, 2025
Cancellation Deadline: February 9, 2025
• Audition Repertoire to be available soon.

 

HOUSTON SYMPHONY AUDITIONS FOR SUBSTITUTE AND EXTRA MUSICIANS

 

The Houston Symphony Announces Audition for Per Service Substitute and Extra Musicians for the following instruments. To apply, please use application procedure detailed at the bottom the page

TIMPANI SUBSTITUTE AND EXTRA
Audition Date: November 20, 2024
Auditions to be held at Jones Hall for the Performing Arts, Houston.
Applications must be received by: October 30, 2024
• CLICK HERE FOR AUDITION REPERTOIRE 

HORN SUBSTITUTE AND EXTRA
Audition Date: January 7, 2025
Auditions to be held at Jones Hall for the Performing Arts, Houston.
Applications must be received by: December 7, 2024
• Audition Repertoire to be available soon.

TRUMPET SUBSTITUTE AND EXTRA
Audition Date: January 20, 2025
Auditions to be held at Jones Hall for the Performing Arts, Houston.
Applications must be received by: December 23, 2024
• CLICK HERE FOR AUDITION REPERTOIRE 

BASSOON SUBSTITUTE AND EXTRA
Audition Date: February 17, 2025
Auditions to be held at Jones Hall for the Performing Arts, Houston.
Applications must be received by: January 15, 2025
• Audition Repertoire to be available soon.

PERCUSSION SUBSTITUTE AND EXTRA
Audition Date: March 17, 2025
Auditions to be held at Jones Hall for the Performing Arts, Houston.
Applications must be received by: February 21, 2025
• Audition Repertoire to be available soon.

OBOE SUBSTITUTE AND EXTRA
Audition Date: April 14, 2025
Auditions to be held at Jones Hall for the Performing Arts, Houston.
Applications must be received by: March 15, 2025
• Audition Repertoire to be available soon.

 

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

 

To be considered for an invitation to audition, highly qualified candidates should submit an audition application, to be received no later than the indicated date.

Please complete the audition application form linked below and email your audition application to: hssauditions@houstonsymphony.org

Please indicate the name of the position for which you are applying in the subject line of the email.
No phone calls please.
The audition committee reserves the right to dismiss any candidate not meeting the highest artistic standards.
The Houston Symphony is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

 

EMPLOYMENT

 

The Houston Symphony has a 52-week season which includes 9 weeks of paid vacation with a minimum annual salary of $109,200 for the 2024-25 contract year for all permanent musicians. Benefits include health/dental/vision insurance, instrument insurance, disability insurance, and pension contributions to the AFM-EPF.com

Successful candidates from the Houston Symphony substitute and extra musician auditions will be placed on the substitute pool list for possible engagement with the orchestra as needed. Substitute and extra musicians are engaged on per-service basis at the rate of $210.00, as of October 6, 2024.