Principal No.3 French Horn, BBC National Orchestra of Wales (NOW)

JOB DETAILS

Continuing Contract:

Location: BBC Hoddinott Hall, Cardiff Bay

We offer:

• Excellent career progression - the BBC offers great opportunities for employees to seek new challenges and work in different areas of the organisation.
• Unrivalled training and development opportunities - 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 26 days (1 of which is a corporation day) with the option to buy an extra 5 days, a defined pension scheme and discounted dental, health care, gym and much more.

PLEASE NOTE:

In order to apply for this position, Candidates will need to register on Musicalchairs and apply via the 'Apply via musicalchairs' button to complete a short information form. Candidates will then follow the below application and audition process: The deadline to complete the form on Musicalchairs is Monday 14th July 2025. Previous applicants are free to re-apply for this position.

If you have any access requirements for the audition, or require the materials in an alternative format, please email Nick Olsen, Assistant Orchestra Manager - [email protected]

For this role / Ar gyfer y swydd yma:

Welsh language skills are not necessary / Nid yw sgiliau yn yr iaith Gymraeg yn angenrheidiol

Applications may be submitted in Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English. / Mae modd cyflwyno ceisiadau yn Gymraeg, ac ni fydd cais a gyflwynir yn Gymraeg yn cael ei drin yn llai ffafriol na chais a gyflwynir yn Saesneg.

JOB INTRODUCTION

THE ORCHESTRA

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.

THE POSITION

BBC NOW is seeking to appoint a Principal Horn No.3 within the horn section. The horn section comprises 5 players including the Section Principal, Tim Thorpe.

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.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

The successful candidate will:

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.

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

APPLICATIONS MUST BE VIA THE MUSICALCHAIRS WEBSITE - PLEASE CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK FOR FULL DETAILS ON HOW TO APPLY AND AUDITIONS INSTRUCTIONS:

https://www.musicalchairs.info/jobs/50834

CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS: MONDAY 14th JULY 2025

About the BBC

The BBC is committed to redeploying employees seeking suitable alternative employment within the BBC for different reasons and they will be given priority consideration ahead of other applicants. Priority consideration means for those employees seeking redeployment their application will be considered alongside anyone else at risk of redundancy, prior to any individuals being considered who are not at risk.

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 here.

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, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic 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.

Please note: If you were to be offered this role, the BBC will conduct Employment screening checks which include Reference checks; Eligibility to work checks; and if applicable to the role, Safeguarding and Adverse media/Social media checks. Any offer made is conditional on these checks being satisfactory.

DISCLAIMER

This job description is a written statement of the essential characteristics of the job, with its principal accountabilities, incorporating a note of the skills, knowledge and experience required for a satisfactory level of performance. This is not intended to be a complete, detailed account of all aspects of the duties involved.

WHY JOIN US

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Principal No.3 French Horn, BBC National Orchestra of Wales (NOW)

Content

Permanent - Full Time

Job Closing Date: 14 July 2025

THE ROLE

Job Description:

JOB DETAILS

Continuing Contract:

Location: BBC Hoddinott Hall, Cardiff Bay

We offer:

• Excellent career progression - the BBC offers great opportunities for employees to seek new challenges and work in different areas of the organisation.
• Unrivalled training and development opportunities - 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 26 days (1 of which is a corporation day) with the option to buy an extra 5 days, a defined pension scheme and discounted dental, health care, gym and much more.

PLEASE NOTE:

In order to apply for this position, Candidates will need to register on Musicalchairs and apply via the 'Apply via musicalchairs' button to complete a short information form. Candidates will then follow the below application and audition process: The deadline to complete the form on Musicalchairs is Monday 14th July 2025. Previous applicants are free to re-apply for this position.

If you have any access requirements for the audition, or require the materials in an alternative format, please email Nick Olsen, Assistant Orchestra Manager - [email protected]

For this role / Ar gyfer y swydd yma:

Welsh language skills are not necessary / Nid yw sgiliau yn yr iaith Gymraeg yn angenrheidiol

Applications may be submitted in Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English. / Mae modd cyflwyno ceisiadau yn Gymraeg, ac ni fydd cais a gyflwynir yn Gymraeg yn cael ei drin yn llai ffafriol na chais a gyflwynir yn Saesneg.

JOB INTRODUCTION

THE ORCHESTRA

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.

THE POSITION

BBC NOW is seeking to appoint a Principal Horn No.3 within the horn section. The horn section comprises 5 players including the Section Principal, Tim Thorpe.

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.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

The successful candidate will:

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.

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

APPLICATIONS MUST BE VIA THE MUSICALCHAIRS WEBSITE - PLEASE CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK FOR FULL DETAILS ON HOW TO APPLY AND AUDITIONS INSTRUCTIONS:

https://www.musicalchairs.info/jobs/50834

CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS: MONDAY 14th JULY 2025

About the BBC

The BBC is committed to redeploying employees seeking suitable alternative employment within the BBC for different reasons and they will be given priority consideration ahead of other applicants. Priority consideration means for those employees seeking redeployment their application will be considered alongside anyone else at risk of redundancy, prior to any individuals being considered who are not at risk.

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 here.

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, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic 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.

Please note: If you were to be offered this role, the BBC will conduct Employment screening checks which include Reference checks; Eligibility to work checks; and if applicable to the role, Safeguarding and Adverse media/Social media checks. Any offer made is conditional on these checks being satisfactory.

DISCLAIMER

This job description is a written statement of the essential characteristics of the job, with its principal accountabilities, incorporating a note of the skills, knowledge and experience required for a satisfactory level of performance. This is not intended to be a complete, detailed account of all aspects of the duties involved.

WHY JOIN US

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA