Open call for 7 available places in 2024

MEDELLÍN PHILARMONIC ORCHESTRA CORPORATION 

Open call for 7 available places in 2024 

The Medellín Philharmonic Orchestra Corporation (Filarmed) opens the call and invites all interested parties to participate in selection processes for 2024. 

The Medellín Philharmonic Orchestra is a professional, private orchestra with 40 years of experience, dedicated to transforming the city with music. In addition to performing seasonal concerts in theater, Filarmed performs different programming slots in unconventional settings such as churches, museums, outdoor stages, educational concert slots, chamber music, among others, covering repertoires ranging from symphonic music to genres. as diverse as Colombian music, rock and pop tributes, children's music, etc., using different formats within the orchestra's template (full orchestra, reduced orchestra, chamber ensembles). In addition, it has social and educational programs in which the participation of the orchestra's musicians is expected in events such as school concerts, rehearsals and concerts for vulnerable populations and different social programs (I am a Musician, Reconciliation Choir), among other activities that They require the search for the improvement of artistic quality and commitment to social transformation. 

Filarmed has defined an artistic plan with which it aims to be a bold orchestra, rooted and committed to the community, and become a musical benchmark in Latin America. The following aspects are pillars of the plan: sound, rhythmic precision, style and confidence; and includes innovative programming capable of addressing different genres and fusions, experiences that go beyond music. Look for musicians who understand and value their role in building community, who are interested in being versatile, who adapt easily, and who are capable of developing skills and competencies beyond musical matters. 

The Medellín Philharmonic Orchestra opens the call for the places of:

• Assistant Concertmaster
• Violin Principal II
• Violin Row Assistant II
• Tutti Violin
• Viola Tutti
• Violoncello Principal
• Bassoon Principal (in charge for two years)

 

STAGES OF THE CALL 

The selection process will be divided as follows: 

1. Registration and receipt of videos and documents. 
2. Review of registrations and documents. 
3. Video review. 
4. Live audition. 
5. Publication of results. 
6. Interview 
7. Medical entrance examinations. 
8. Hiring. 

Dates: 

1. Registration opening: Friday, November 24 from 2023 
2.  Registration closing: Wednesday, January 31, 2024 at 11:45 pm, Colombia time. This condition was modified in the Explanatory Notice published call on January 26, 2024. 
3. Publication of people summoned to present in-person audition: Friday 2 February 2024. 
4. In-person auditions: between Monday, February 12 and Sunday, February 25. 
5. Interview: Monday February 26 

The auditions will take place in the city of Medellín between Monday, February 12 and Sunday, February 25. The audition schedule and specific location will be published on Monday, February 5, 2024. 

 

INFORMATION  

All information related to the different stages of the process will be published on the Medellín Philharmonic Orchestra website ( https://filarmed.org/ ) and sent to the emails of those registered according to the information provided in the registration form. Given this, each subscriber assumes the responsibility of checking both the website and their email (including the spam or junk email folder). These will be the only official means of communication.  

The musicians who are active members of the Medellín Philharmonic Orchestra Those who wish to participate in this call must register in the respective form, but are exempt from presenting the documentation required in the first stage of the call.

Additionally, musicians who are active members of the Orchestra are exempt from presenting the video:

Tutti manager who aspires to Tutti

Tutti who aspires to be an assistant.

Assistant who aspires to be a line leader.

 

Registration, receipt of videos and documents must be completed at the following link:  

Assistant Concertmaster 

https://forms.office.com/r/G6mdNRwD5P 

Violin Principal II 

https://forms.office.com/r/DBEy9xT1xx 

Violin Row Assistant II 

https://forms.office.com/r/z1suMz85gL 

Tutti Violin  

https://forms.office.com/r/YrRx3z36Jr 

Viola Tutti 

https://forms.office.com/r/710xPfaCf2 

Violoncello Principal 

https://forms.office.com/r/zp3gv4E8qt 

Bassoon Principal (in charge for two years)  

https://forms.office.com/r/XgHSRtrVhJ 

Doubts or queries can be raised by writing to the email gestionorquestal@filarmed.org before December 18, 2023. 

 

Material that must be provided: 

A video must be submitted for the pre-selection round. It must be a link to the video hosted on YouTube with the complete repertoire without audio or video cuts or edits. The video must have been recorded by the candidate after January 21, 2023. It must be an unlisted Youtube link. In the event that the link is restricted or the video cannot be opened by the jury, the participant will exit the process (see Video specifications point). 

Additionally, the following documents must be attached: 

1. Copy of identity document (Foreign applicants who do not have permission to work in Colombia must sign a letter where, if selected, they commit to resolving their immigration status within the month following the publication of the results of the auditions.) This condition was modified in the explanatory notice of the call published on November 29, 2023. 
2. Study certifications (see Required training and experience point). 
3. Experience certifications (see Required training and experience point).  

Filarmed will review the documents provided, as well as the information shared. Candidates whose information is inconsistent or incomplete will not be considered..  

 

Required training and experience 

The applicant must be a professional musician with emphasis in the instrument to be auditioned or mastery in it. You must attach diplomas and certificates of your studies and experience.  

For the Tutti violin and Tutti viola seats At least 3 years of orchestral experience must be certified, of which at least one must be in professional orchestras*. 

For Assistant Concertmaster positions, Principal Violin II, Assistant Principal Violin II, Principal Violoncello and Principal Bassoon (in charge) At least 5 years in professional orchestras must be certified*. 

*Professional orchestras are considered those with a stable concert season and permanent remuneration. Experience certified in international residency processes such as the Philharmonic Youth of Colombia, Ibercademy, the Orchestra of the Americas, and similar will also be taken into account as experience in a professional orchestra. 

 

Sheet music orchestral passages 

To obtain the scores, the applicant must write to the email scores@filarmed.org specifying which call you wish to submit to and requesting their submission. The scores will be sent to the email provided in the registration form along with the legal restrictions that may apply. 

 

Video specifications 

The entire repertoire described in the following button must be recorded:

Video call repertoire

The recording must show the applicant's full body, without filters, and cannot be cut or edited. There may be a cut between the concerto and the orchestral excerpts, but not between the excerpts. In the video description on Youtube MUST INCLUDE your name, information about the concert and the excerpts to be performed, and you must say at what minute of the video each of the excerpts or works begins.  

The concert must be recorded with piano accompaniment, verify that it is in tune, in a well-lit space. The candidate, his instrument and his movements must be in front and within the frame of the image at all times. 

 

Video review  

In the review of the videos, it will be verified that they meet all the requirements of the call. Participants may be disqualified if their video does not allow the interpretive quality or the identity of the interpreter to be appreciated, or if it presents alterations or editions in its content.  

The videos that meet the conditions will be evaluated by the jury according to the criteria of rhythmic precision, intonation, sound quality, expression and style. 

The results of the candidates who will be selected to participate in the live audition stage will be communicated according to the information contained in the calendar of this call.  

 

Live audition

The auditions will be held in the city of Medellín on the dates and places that will be published according to the call calendar. The people selected for this stage must prepare the entire required repertoire for each instrument, which can be found in the following button:

Live call repertoire

The selected person who lives outside of Medellín must cover their travel expenses to the city. The Medellín Philharmonic Orchestra is not responsible for any expenses such as tickets, lodging or food of any participant, or any other additional expense, which must be covered by each of the applicants. 

 

Conditions for live audition 

The live audition will be held in two rounds.  

The candidate must appear punctually at the place established for the audition and announce himself to the person designated for this purpose. You must identify yourself with your name and ID number. 

Before starting the auditions, a draw will be held to determine the order in which the candidates will enter the live audition. This will be strictly adhered to and no changes are permitted. Candidates must avoid any element that allows them to be identified in the behind-the-curtain audition.  

If any candidate, due to force majeure or medical reasons, must be absent, they must inform this and it will be understood that they withdraw from participating in the audition. 

The jury will ask all candidates to interpret the passages corresponding to the audition. The jury may interrupt the candidates at any time they deem appropriate. Likewise, if the jury considers it necessary, they may ask the candidate to repeat a specific passage. 

 

Conditions for audition in the first round 

1. The first round will be done behind the curtain. 
2. In the evaluation of the first round the jury will evaluate five aspects:  

Rhythmic precision, tuning, sound quality, expression and style. 

Each member of the jury will evaluate each candidate by assigning one of these qualifications: SUITABLE either UNFIT. 

When all the candidates have auditioned, and without their presence, the results will be reviewed with all the juries counting the number of SUITABLE and NOT SUITABLE. Candidates who have more than half of the votes will go to the second round. SUITABLE. 

Conditions for audition in second round 

1. The second round will take place behind the curtain, unless the jury unanimously decides otherwise. 

The second round will be judged in a similar manner (rhythmic precision, intonation, sound quality, expression and style, which will be averaged for an average score by each jury). 

Each item will be evaluated from 1 to 10, with 1 being the lowest rating and 10 being the highest. The qualifications of the juries will be averaged and the candidate who obtains the highest score, and who is higher than: 

– Tutti: 8

-Assistant: 8.5

-Main: 9

-Assistant concertmaster: 9.5

 

In case of a tie:  

If after the second round there is a tie, a third round will be called, under the terms and conditions determined by the jury.  

The candidate chosen in the auditions will be summoned for an interview with the Human Talent area. This interview is considered part of the selection process.  

 

Accompanying pianist 

For the live audition Filarmed will provide candidates with an accompaniment pianist. Candidates who wish to do so may perform with the pianist of their choice.  

Each candidate will have the right to one hour of rehearsal with the pianist, at the times established by Filarmed. The scores must be provided by the participants. 

 

Audiovisual recording of the hearing 

By registering, the candidate authorizes Filarmed to make an audiovisual record for archival purposes only. The video can only be consulted by the candidate at the Filarmed facilities. It is prohibited to make a copy of the video during said review. 

The Medellín Philharmonic Orchestra reserves the right to declare the seats deserted.  

The selected applicants will sign a service provision contract starting March 1, 2024. The first contract will be signed for 6 months, and  then it will be signed for periods equal to those of the orchestral plant.