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Auditions - About TMSO

As of September 30, 2025

Clarinet (Principal) 1 (one)

  • Qualification
    • Anyone who has the ability to be a principal player of a professional orchestra regardless of age and nationality.
  • Application

    ① Document and Video Screening
    Deadline: Application must arrive no later than Friday, November 28, 2025.
    *For preparing the Video, record the listed works below, upload it to YouTube and submit.
    *For application, please see “How to apply” below.

    The order of pieces for Video screening is to be as follows.
    (The parts (music) should be prepared by the applicant him/herself.)

    【Set Piece】
    Mozart: Clarinet Concerto in A major, K.622, 1st movement
    (Edition is not specified)
    From 8 bars before the solo entry (3rd beat) to the beginning of bar 154 (1st beat)

    【Orchestra Experts】excerpts published in ORCHESTER PROBESPIEL / Peters edition
    1．Beethoven：Sinfonie Nr.6 F-dur op.68（“Pastorale”） [P.1]
    　1.Satz from 418～7th bar of 486
    2．Prokofieff：Peter und der Wolf op.67 [P.18]
    　229 ～4th bar of 239　*Choice of instrument (A,B♭) is left to the applicant’s decision.

    ※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 in 1 (one) take and 1 (one) track. Everything must be videotaped on the same day at the same place. Applicant is free to take breaks between the pieces, but be sure to stay in the screen.
    ※Video must be shot by a fixed camera (no editing) and the applicant’s face, hands and the instrument have to be clearly visible. Audition videos that are suspected to have been edited will be disqualified.
    ※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. Poor recording quality may result in disqualification.

    ★Result of the Document / Video Screening will be sent on Monday, December 22, 2025 by email. (1st round audition schedule and the orchestra excerpts will be notified to the successful applicants.)

    Email will be sent from audition@tmso.or.jp. Make sure that your email is set to receive messages from this address. If you have problems with the reception, contact the person in charge of the audition below.

    ② 1st round audition (judged by the Clarinet section: held for successful applicants of Document / Video screening)
    2nd round audition (judged by the Woodwind section: held for successful applicants of the 1st round audition. 2nd round audition is scheduled to be held on the same day as the 1st round audition.)
    Tuesday, February 3, 2026

    【Set Piece】
    Mozart: Clarinet Concerto in A major, K.622, [The entire concerto]
    (Edition is not specified)
    【Orchestra Experts】several pieces

    ③ 3rd round audition (judged by the entire orchestra musicians (final): held for successful applicants of the 2nd round audition)
    Sunday, March 1, 2026
    【Set Piece】
    Mozart: Clarinet Concerto in A major, K.622, [The entire concerto]
    (Edition is not specified)
    【Orchestra Experts】several pieces

    ④ Aptitude evaluation for an orchestra player (held for successful applicants of the 3rd round audition)
    *To be engaged in the services of the TMSO (In principle within 5 months period)
    *Fee is provided in accordance with the TMSO regulation

  • Audition Venues

    ②＆③ Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, TMSO rehearsal studio
    ④ Respective concert halls where TMSO concerts are held

  • Notification for Results
    • Results for the 1st round audition and the 2nd round audition will be notified on Tuesday, February 3, 2026
    • Results for the 3rd round audition will be notified on Sunday, March 1, 2026
    • Results for the aptitude evaluation will be notified immediately after screening.
  • Interview

    Held for applicants by the executives of the TMSO management before or after the Aptitude evaluation for an orchestra player.

  • How to Apply

    Email your resume -use the resume format specified by TMSO- including names of teachers, musical experiences with ID photo attached, and your URL for Video screening at audition@tmso.or.jp no later than 5:00pm (Japan local time), Friday, November 28, 2025.A letter of recommendation should accompany the application for applicants who are students. 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 Resume.
    *The resume and Video will be used solely for the purpose of the audition and will not be returned.
    * Download resume form from HERE

  • Terms of employment
    • Annual Salary: JPY6,010,000 and over. (additional fees in accordance with working experience and achievements)
      [Initial three(3)-year contract with; renewal of contract, system of conversion to an unlimited term contract. No retirement allowance is provided]
    • Commuting allowance, expenses for expendables, maintenance, and repairs of instruments are provided.
    • Social Insurance (health insurance, employees pension insurance, employment insurance) provided.
    • Workplace includes Tokyo Bunka Kaikan and various other places in Japan.
    • Secondhand Smoke Detectors are installed. (no smoking allowed on the premises of Tokyo Bunka Kaikan)

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

  • Others
    • Applicants should bring his/her own piano accompanist needed for 1st ~ 3rd round audition. (For applicants who find it difficult to bring his/her accompanist due to residing overseas or outside Tokyo Metropolitan Area, TMSO will arrange an accompanist if needed. Please be sure to state so in the entry column for accompanist)
    • Applicant should be responsible for his/her expenses for transportation, travel and accommodation.
  • Contact information

    Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra
    Att. Clarinet (Principal) 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 Clarinet Audition” for the email subject line.
    *For inquiries email at: audition@tmso.or.jp

  • PDF

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