THE BIG CONCERT this autumn will also launch La Serenissima’s 2026 Emerging Artist Chairs; opening doors to a new generation of period string players, who will rehearse, perform and record as part of one of Europe’s most vibrant early music ensembles.

Thanks to generous support from the Fidelio Charitable Trust, Thriplow Charitable Trust and Alan Sainer, La Serenissima is running a summer audition day and autumn training day, preparing up to four emerging artists to perform and record THE BIG CONCERT in October. Successful players will join the freelance pool of La Serenissima musicians.

The scheme is open to all players of period stringed instruments who are in their final year of undergraduate study OR are postgraduate level OR are within five years after graduating from a suitable training. We expect most applicants to hold, or be working towards, a performance degree from a conservatoire or university. 

Selected musicians will:

• join La Serenissima’s training day on 29 September
• perform in THE BIG CONCERT this autumn: London (St Martin-in-the-Fields, 1 October), Liverpool (The Tung Auditorium, 3 October) and Gloucester Cathedral (9 October)
• record THE BIG CONCERT as an album at Cedars Hall, Wells (27–30 October)

La Serenissima is awaiting the outcome of several outstanding grant applications. Further funding could enable the scheme to be expanded to offer opportunities to successful artists across the full concert season, with personalised mentoring from Artistic Director Adrian Chandler and members of the La Serenissima team.

The audition

Players should be prepared to play two contrasting pieces (or excerpts) lasting not more than 15 minutes. Please bear in mind that La Serenissima specialises in Italian baroque music; ideally at least one piece should be Italianate in style.

Applicants will be asked to perform some sight-reading. 

A harpsichord & accompanist will be provided on the day at Venetian pitch (A=440Hz); all auditions should be performed at A=440Hz. There will not be a chance to rehearse beforehand, so bring continuo parts ready to play.

Key dates

Applications close on 26 June 2026. Successful applicants will be offered a time (confirmed before 6 July) for an audition which will take place at The Amadeus Centre, London from 12 noon on Saturday 18 July. Please state any limitations to availability for the audition day when applying.

To apply, complete the application form: https://forms.gle/8EGFyDBVtamXr43X6. 

Please note that La Serenissima is unable to cover any expenses for artists wishing to audition. 

For any queries, please contact Sarah at Sarah@laserenissima.co.uk.

About La Serenissima

La Serenissima is the UK’s leading exponent of Italian Baroque music and “one of the most vibrant early music ensembles in Europe today” (John Gilhooly CBE, Wigmore Hall). Praised by Gramophone for an “all-too-rare ability to make one’s pulse race afresh with every new project” and by The Telegraph as “one of Britain’s best-loved chamber orchestras… whipping up a storm with Vivaldi,” the ensemble has uncovered a wealth of neglected music and made it available to all through live performance, recording and outreach with its entire repertoire edited from source material by founder and violinist Adrian Chandler.

Founded in 1994, La Serenissima is regularly featured on BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM, in advertising (Beats, 2022) and on film (Portrait of a Lady on Fire, 2020); its latest recording of The Four Seasons was winner of BBC Radio 3’s Building a Library. The group has twice won the Gramophone Award for Baroque Instrumental — for The French Connection (2010) and The Italian Job (2017) — and topped the UK Classical Chart in 2018 with Vivaldi x2. In 2024–25 it celebrated its 30th anniversary with a residency at London’s Wigmore Hall. La Serenissima is proud to have as its Honorary Patron His Excellency The Italian Ambassador to the UK.Find out more at www.laserenissima.co.uk