The Danish National Symphony Orchestra invites applicants to audition for the following position:

Principal viola with obligation to 2nd chair

The Danish National Symphony Orchestra is one of the world's oldest broadcasting symphony orchestras and is part of the Danish Broadcasting Corporation (DR) - a leading cultural generator, regionally, nationally, and internationally. The corporation includes 5 ensembles – a symphony orchestra, choirs, and a big band and is an important ambassador for Danish music and culture abroad.

The Danish Symphony Orchestra continuously collaborates with the world's leading soloists and conductors. Maestro Fabio Luisi has been the Chief Conductor since September 2016. Other internationally acclaimed conductors such as Herbert Blomstedt, Manfred Honeck and Jukka Pekka Saraste regularly visit and conduct the orchestra.

The DR concert hall is designed by French architect Jean Nouvel with acoustics by Yasuhisa Toyota and has been rated one of the world’s best concert halls by ‘Gramophone’. Most of the orchestra’s concerts are broadcast on DR’s platforms (radio, TV and digital) and to large regions of the world through the European Broadcasting Union.         

The Position:

The position is one of two equal section-leaders, both with the obligation to play second chair/associate principal to each other 50% of the time.

The applicant will join our viola section working closely together, for a total of 13 musicians in the group. The obligation to play second means that the two leaders will take turns to play second to each other (50/50) through the season. We are looking for a viola player with the highest musical and technical capabilities. A musician who has the leader's refined ability to be a part of the section's sound and musicality both within the group, as well as in the orchestra.

The audition will take place on:

◾ January 5, 2027 from 10:00 AM - (1st and 2nd rounds)

◾ January 6, in the afternoon (final round with the orchestra)

On November 13, 2026, we will announce by email who will be invited to the digital preliminary round, and who is invited directly to the 1st round. The preliminary round can only be attended digitally. If you are signed to the preliminary round, you will be asked to submit an audio file to us, which must be sent by us no later than Friday November 27, 2026, at 11:59 AM (CET).

At the audition, we would like to hear:

Preliminary and 1st Round:

• Exposition from Hoffmeister Viola concerto 1st movement, or
• Stamitz 1st Viola concerto 1stmovement, or
• Schubert Arpeggione Sonata 1st movement.

All concertos without cadenza.

Orchestra Excerpts – (which excerpts for the preliminary round to be announced on the invitation).

2nd round A:

Bartok or Walton Viola concertos (1st movement)

2nd round B:

The candidate will lead a rehearsal of the sextet-version of the 5 first minutes of the Verklärte Nacht.

Round 3 (with the orchestra):

Orchestral Excerpts

All excerpts will be sent by email before the audition. As a part of the audition, selected candidates may be invited to an interview with the Orchestra Personel Manager and representatives of the jury.

An accompanist for the audition will be provided.

Travel and accommodation for this audition is at the applicant's own expense.

Working in the Danish National Symphony Orchestra and in Denmark

The working schedule is based on 24 hours a week plus 15 hours individual preparation based on 42 weeks per year. Normally rehearsals are held Monday until Friday with concerts twice a week.

The Danish National Symphony Orchestra is artistically grounded in the great symphonic repertoire from the classical period to leading contemporary composers, with late romantic and early modern repertoire as areas of special emphasis. The orchestra is regularly involved in concerts, recording and broadcasting activities aimed at new audiences as part of the public service mission of the Danish Broadcasting Corporation. Domestic and international touring is also a contractual obligation.

The Danish National Symphony Orchestra is committed to the highest artistic standards and to continuously upholding a good working environment and collaboration build on mutual respect and good communication. The orchestra is located at DR Byen in Copenhagen in a smoke-free indoor environment, with good practice- and work facilities and a subway station close by.

The starting date for the position is in August 2027 or to be agreed upon.

The annual salary is calculated based on documented orchestral experience and is between 511.759 - 620.156 DKK

Further to the salary is a 22,6 % pension and an extensive public health care system as well as instrument insurance.

Employment is subject to confirmation of residence and work permit in Denmark.

Would you like to be a part of the Danish National Symphony Orchestra?

Please apply on this page (to your right) or by this link no later than November 9, 2026, at 23.59 (CET). All applications will be acknowledged and treated with strict confidence.

If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact orchestra manager Jakob Helmer Mørck at audition@dr.dk

The audition will take place at:

DR Byen,

Emil Holms Kanal 20, 0999

Copenhagen C,

Denmark.

The Danish Broadcasting Corporation wishes to reflect society. Therefore, we encourage any interested and qualified person regardless of gender, age, religion, disability and ethnic background to apply.