Auditions - About TMSO

As of November 15, 2022

Percussion (Limited openings)

  • Qualification
    • Anyone who has the ability to be a player of a professional orchestra regardless of age and nationality. However, ability to communicate in Japanese language is required at an adequate level to deal with his/her work at TMSO and daily life.
  • Application
    1. Document and VTR Screening
      ★Deadline: Application must arrive no later than 5:00pm(Japan local time)Friday, January 20, 2023.
      *For VTR, record the listed works below, upload them to YouTube and submit.
      *For application, please see “How to apply” below.


      ■Performance order of VTR screening is as follows.

      a.【Snare Drum】
      (1) Heinrich Knauer / “Kleine Trommel Schule“ No. 25 4/4 Langsam (p.22~23)
      (2) Siegfried Fink / “Trommel-Suite” 2. “toccata” until the end of cadenz (end of p.4)
      (3) Sergei Prokofiev / “Peter and the Wolf” op.67, [49] L’istesso tempo~before [51]

      b.【Xylophone】
      Morris Goldenberg /
      Modern School for Xylophone Marimba Vibraphone (Alfred ed.), XVIII (No. 18) (p.76)

      c.【Cymbals】
      Please use the music shown on the last page of this audition guideline.

      ※Applicants should obtain their own music for a. and b.
      (In case of having difficulties in obtaining the music, please contact the persons in charge of the audition. See contact information.)

      ※How to upload video to YouTube – see the official link below for help
      【Japanese】 https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/57407?hl=jp
      【English】 https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/57407?hl=en

      [Guideline to video recording]

      ※Video must be shot where the applicant’s entire body will show in the size of 3/4 of the screen during the performance.
      ※Applicant’s face, hands, and instrument must not be hidden by any objects, such as music stand etc. They should be visible and clearly shot.
      ※Editing is not allowed within one piece. (Background view should remain the same throughout the performance.)
      ※Even if the performance is videotaped separately for each instrument and each piece, the entire performance should still be put together in one URL.
      ※Utmost care must be taken so that there will be no background noise that might affect the screening.
      ※Be sure to check the overall image and sound quality before submitting. (If the video cannot be played, it may be considered unsubmitted.)

      ★Results of the Document / VTR Screening will be sent off on Wednesday, February 15, 2023.
      1st round audition schedule and the music (for set pieces and orchestra excerpts) will be sent to the successful applicants.


    2. 1st round audition (held for successful applicants of Document / VTR screening)
      Wednesday, March 22, 2023 OR Thursday, March 23, 2023
      (Audition will take place on either date depending on the number of applicants.)
      ・Audition date will be notified to the successful applicants of Document / VTR screening, when sending the results.

      〇Set Pieces
      〇Orchestra excerpts
      ※The music for set pieces and orchestra excerpts will be sent together with the meeting time for the audition to the successful applicants.

      ★Successful applicants of the 1st round audition will participate in the TMSO concerts and play as a guest musician for a certain period of time. (Applicant’s schedule will be taken into consideration when deciding which concerts he/she will participate. )


    3. 2nd round audition (screened by all musicians of TMSO)
       Date of audition will be decided upon coordinating the schedule with the applicants and will be notified along with the content of the screening.

    4. Aptitude evaluation for an orchestra player (screened by all musicians of TMSO)
      After passing the 2nd round audition, applicants will participate in the service of the orchestra.

  • Audition Venue(s)

    2 Tokyo Bunka Kaikan and respective concert halls
    3 Tokyo Bunka Kaikan
    4 Respective concert halls

  • Notification for Results
    • Results for the 1st round audition will be notified on Friday, March 24, 2023
    • Results for the 2nd round audition will be notified in due course.
    • Results for the aptitude evaluation will be notified immediately after screening.
  • Interview

    Held for applicants by the executives of the TMSO management.

  • How to Apply
    • Resume -use the resume format specified by TMSO- including names of teachers, musical experiences with ID photo attached, and your URL for VTR screening should be emailed at audition@tmso.or.jp no later than 5:00pm (Japan local time), Friday, January 20, 2023.
      Audition department will send you a confirmation when your application is received. If you have not heard from the audition department after several days from the day you applied, please contact the person in charge of the audition stated below.
      *Applicants applying from outside of Tokyo Metropolitan Area may consult the audition time for the 1st round audition. In such case, please note the preferred time in the remark column of the Resume.
      *The resume and VTR will be used solely for the purpose of the audition and will not be returned.

      Please download resume from here
  • Terms of Employment
    • Salary will be on an annual salary scheme in accordance with the TMSO regulation.
      - Initial 3 year contract (with renewal, with conversion to an un-limited term contract)
      - No retirement allowance provided
    • Commuting allowance, expenses for expendables, maintenance and repairs of instruments are provided.
    • Social Insurance (health insurance, employees pension insurance, employment insurance) provided.

    *For candidates who cannot begin work immediately because of being a student or for any other reasons may consult.

  • Others
    • Applicants should be responsible for his/her expenses for transportation, travel and accommodation for the 1st round audition.
    • Fee is provided in accordance with the TMSO regulation when participating in the TMSO concerts.
  • Contact information

    Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra
    Att. Percussion Audition
    Mr. Tateoka, Ms.Murata
    C/O Tokyo Bunka Kaikan
    5-45, Ueno-Koen, Taito-ku, Tokyo Japan 110-0007
    TEL: +81 3 3822 0728

    https://www.tmso.or.jp

    ※When emailing your application, please state “Application for Percussion Audition” for the email subject line.

    ※For inquiries email at: audition@tmso.or.jp
  • PDF

    Please download the resume.PDF(PDF)
    ・resume
    ・application details