Festival Orchestra

Each year the Spoleto Festival USA Orchestra takes on a dynamic new identity with the participation of both returning and new musicians. Through nationwide auditions, an extremely talented group of young professionals and students of many nationalities is selected to form the Festival resident ensemble. The Orchestra works with the Festival Resident Conductor John Kennedy as well as with guest conductors in opera, symphonic, choral, chamber, and contemporary music performances.

The Festival Orchestra is central to the international excellence of performance at Spoleto Festival USA and has over the years proven to be one of the finest opportunities for young musicians to gain extensive performance experience. Alumni of the Spoleto Festival USA Orchestra can be found in almost every professional orchestra in the United States.

Spoleto Festival USA will be held in Charleston, SC from May 25 – June 10, 2012. The Festival Orchestra will perform in the American Premiere of the opera KEPLER by Philip Glass, as well as works by Cage, Durufle, Schoenberg, Stravinsky, Tchaikovsky, Verdi, Wagner, Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood, and others – with conductors including Joseph Flummerfelt and Anne Manson.

Dates of employment for the Festival Orchestra will be May 15 – June 9, 2012. Those accepted into the Festival Orchestra are expected to be available for all rehearsals and all performances during the full term of employment.

The audition application deadline for the 2012 Spoleto Festival USA Orchestra has passed and no further applications are being accepted at this time.

To apply for an audition for the 2013 Orchestra, please check back in mid-November 2012.  If you have questions about the audition process, please contact Orchestra Personnel Manager Christopher Powell at cpowell@spoletousa.org.