Job Introduction

The BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales is one of the UK’s most versatile orchestras, with a varied range of work as both a broadcast orchestra and the national symphony orchestra of Wales. It performs live to tens of thousands of people across the UK and beyond each year including annual performances at the BBC Proms and other International Festivals. The Orchestra has a busy schedule of concerts, broadcasts and recordings for BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Television. Education and community work is central to the organisation, developing exciting, distinctive and memorable experiences for all ages. The Orchestra is supported by the Arts Council of Wales, and forms part of BBC Wales. BBC National Orchestra of Wales is based at BBC Hoddinott Hall, part of the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay and is Orchestra-in-Residence at Wales’ National Concert Hall, St David's Hall, Cardiff. We are proud to work with an outstanding group of conductors including Principal Conductor, Ryan Bancroft and Conductor Laureate, Tadaaki Otaka.

Role Responsibility

BBC NOW is seeking to appoint a Sub-Principal Second Violin (No.3) on a 50% job-share basis. The second violin section comprises 12 players including the Section Principal, Anna Smith.

The successful candidate will play as required by orchestration and work in accordance with the BBC/MU Orchestras Agreement. Candidates should have experience of performing in symphony orchestras and evidence through their application excellence in performance to a professional standard. BBC NOW will also consider candidates who are in the early stages of their career and can clearly show potential to fulfil the role. The ideal candidate will be an exceptional player and able to demonstrate commitment to delivering a very high standard of work.

The BBC is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. We believe that diversity enhances and enriches the arts sector and drives innovation. We positively encourage applications from candidates from all backgrounds and, particularly, from groups who are currently under-represented in the sector.

HOW TO APPLY

Round 1

Please register on the BBC Careers Hub and complete the online application form and equal opportunities monitoring form for this vacancy. 

Candidates are also required to submit a short (c.5 minutes) audio and visual recording of the Round 1 excerpts (please download the excerpt booklet from Careers Hub). The visual element will be removed before the panel shortlist to retain candidates’ anonymity.

Guidance for Submitting Round 1 Material

Please do not talk on your recording.

Please read the ‘Recording Audio/Visual Content Guide’ (downloadable from Careers Hub) before you record. This provides guidance for capturing the best quality audio.

Recording your audition material on your phone or tablet is perfectly acceptable; we are assessing certain quality of your playing, not the quality of the recording.

Recordings should be submitted as MP4 files only (not MOV files).

Recordings should be submitted as one continuous take and not edited in any way. Any videos that we perceive to be edited will be discounted.

Your file will be too big to email, so we recommend you use a file transfer website such as WeTransfer, Google Drive, Dropbox or One Drive. Please send your video to Vicky James, Assistant Orchestra Manager (vicky.james@bbc.co.uk).

The closing date for all Round 1 elements to be submitted is 5pm on Friday 5th November 2021.

If you wish to apply for multiple roles (Sub-Principal No.3 Second Violin (50% job-share) and/or Tutti First Violin and/or Tutti Second Violin), you only need to complete one application form on Careers Hub and submit one video (the Round 1 requirements are the same for all roles). Please indicate which position(s) you would like to apply for on the relevant question on the Careers Hub application form.

AUDITION DETAILS

Those shortlisted from the Round 1 recording submissions for a live, in-person audition will be contacted by Vicky James as soon as possible after the closing date.

Live, in-person auditions will be held in the week commencing 17th January 2021 at BBC Hoddinott Hall, Cardiff Bay.

Excerpt booklets for live auditions and details of what to expect on the audition day will be sent to shortlisted candidates in advance.

SHORTLISTING CRITERIA

Round 1

Musicianship (to include musical understanding of works performed, approaches to style, phrasing, and harmony)

Technical accomplishment (to include intonation, rhythmic stability and accuracy, clarity of articulation, and bow control)

The criteria for subsequent rounds of the process will be communicated to candidates in advance.

The Ideal Candidate

The successful candidate will meet the following criteria:

ESSENTIAL

• Have excellent professional orchestral and solo playing abilities;
• Have the knowledge of the range of repertoire of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales;
• Be able to contribute to performances that will meet the highest artistic standards;
• Be able to work effectively and flexibly within a diverse team environment; and
• Demonstrate respect for others by being fully prepared and ready to play at the start of every session.

DESIRABLE

• Expertise in a broad range of musical & performance activities including chamber music, education and studio soundtrack work; and
• Experience of performing in equivalent roles in professional orchestras.

PERSONAL SKILLS

• Excellent communication and organisational skills;
• Self-motivated and able to work under pressure;
• Ability to work co-operatively as part of a team; and
• Willing to develop positive working relationships with other members of the orchestra and the management team. 

This job advertisement and any audition materials can be provided in Welsh upon request.

Package Description

Sub-Principal Second Violin No.3 (Job Share)

For this role:

Welsh language skills are not necessary 

Applications may be submitted in Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English. 

We’re happy to discuss flexible working.  Please indicate your choice under the flexible working question in the application.  There is no obligation to raise this at the application stage but if you wish to do so, you are welcome to.  Flexible working will be part of the discussion at offer stage. 

• Excellent career progression â€“ the BBC offers great opportunities for employees to seek new challenges and work in different areas of the organisation.
• Unrivalled training and development opportunities â€“ our in-house Academy hosts a wide range of internal and external courses and certification.
• Benefits - We offer a competitive salary package, a flexible 35-hour working week for work-life balance and 25 days holiday with the option to buy an extra 5 days, a defined pension scheme and discounted dental, health care, gym and much more.

About the Company

We don’t focus simply on what we do – we also care how we do it. Our values and the way we behave are important to us. Please make sure you’ve read about our values and behaviours in the document attached below.

Diversity matters at the BBC.  We have a working environment where we value and respect every individual's unique contribution, enabling all of our employees to thrive and achieve their full potential.

We want to attract the broadest range of talented people to be part of the BBC – whether that’s to contribute to our programming or our wide range of non-production roles.  The more diverse our workforce, the better able we are to respond to and reflect our audiences in all their diversity. 

We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexuality, social background, religion and/or belief.  We will consider flexible working requests for all roles, unless operational requirements prevent otherwise. 

To find out more about Diversity and Inclusion at the BBC, please click here

Rydym yn canolbwyntio ar fwy na’r hyn rydym yn ei wneud – mae sut rydym yn gwneud pethau’n bwysig i ni hefyd. Mae ein gwerthoedd a’n hymddygiad yn bwysig i ni. Gwnewch yn siŵr eich bod wedi darllen am ein gwerthoedd a’n hymddygiad yn y ddogfen sydd wedi ei hatodi isod.

Mae amrywiaeth yn cyfrif yn y BBC.  Mae gennym amgylchedd gwaith lle yr ydym yn gwerthfawrogi ac yn parchu cyfraniad unigryw pob unigolyn, gan alluogi pob un o’n gweithwyr i ffynnu a chyflawni eu potensial yn llawn.

Rydym eisiau denu’r ystod ehangaf o bobl dalentog i fod yn rhan o’r BBC – boed hynny i gyfrannu i’n rhaglenni neu i’n hystod eang o swyddi nad ydynt yn ymwneud â chynhyrchu.  Po fwyaf amrywiol yw ein gweithlu, y mwyaf y bydd modd i ni ymateb i’n cynulleidfaoedd a’u hadlewyrchu yn eu holl amrywiaeth. 

Rydym wedi ymrwymo i gydraddoldeb cyfle ac yn croesawu ceisiadau gan unigolion, waeth beth fo’u hoedran, rhyw, ethnigrwydd, anabledd, rhywioldeb, cefndir cymdeithasol, crefydd a/neu gred.  Ac rydym yn hyrwyddo cyfleoedd i weithio’n hyblyg pan fo anghenion gweithredol yn caniatáu hynny.  

 Closing Date05 November, 2022